April 2015 B13
MetroVanIndependent.com
Lifestyle/Entertainment
Visiting Various Elementary schools. These school children
greeted Melanie with a beautiful song.
Miss Earth Delegates poolside
Miss Universe. 1969 - Miss Gloria Diaz.
Beauty Titlists of the World:
Where are they now?
By Melanie Grace Bennett
So te ll me something, do you
like Pageants?
Well, for those of you who do not know
me, I do, and I know there are a lot of
women who love pageants too.
When I was recruited to compete in
my first pageant, I was so shy, really shy
actually, but a dress maker who was
fitting me for a dress insisted I join, and she
called the director right on the spot. So the
next thing I knew a few days later I was in
a studio where the registration took place.
The director was there. She asked
me to make one full turn, unsmiling, she
looked at my face, stone cold. It felt like an
audition. She expressed nothing to make
me feel, like I was good enough to join.
There was this lady with her --I guess you
could say she was her assistant. She would
write down all the comments she made
about the applicants. I guess she liked me
because she continued to start scheduling
training days.
I found myse lf subme rge d in
personality development, proper dieting
& nutrition, exercising tips, skin care,
hair care, beauty care and included the
basic stage walk, stage presence and
confidence. There was emphasis on the
movement of the neck, the face, and
hands, how to sit, how to smile, how to be
proper and how to be completely lady like.
It was all quite overwhelming. What did a
young 18 year old girl got herself into?
It wasn't easy as I thought to myself,
if I'm really going to go through with this,
I better start practicing every day until the
show.
I am sure, most of the girls who decided
to join, experienced the same feelings. The
director had instilled into the girls to be
their best, to do their best and to train to be
the best that they could possibly be. She
pushed the girls to their limits emotionally,
day in and day out, but she did it from a
place of love for the girls, something that
Miss Earth contestants.
Hungary, Canada, Dominican Republic, Uganda
Tree planting charity event.
a lot of directors and coaches may have
trouble with.
She has the talent for seeking that
potential in a young woman. She has
been a great mentor to not only me, but
to many young women that have had the
opportunity to cross paths with. She would
like to remain anonymous but with all due
respect, all of the credit goes to her. She
is now celebrating 25 years in the world
of prestigious pageantry, has planned
& judged many pageants, and she knows
her stuff!
Ok, so flash forward to the show. All my
hard work paid off.
I won the title of Bb. Pilipinas BC, Best
in Long gown, Best in National costume,
and Best in swimsuit, I was so honored
to take home four awards. I was sent to
compete in Ontario. and competed in Bb.
Pilipinas of the World International. I
became 2nd Runner-Up and 1st Runner-Up
in Talent.
I went home happy.
A few short weeks later, I got a
phone call from a casting director in
Toronto telling me I had been selected to
Represent Canada as Miss Canada for the
Miss Earth Pageant, to be held in Manila,
Philippines.
I was just about to finish high school
at that time. I packed my dresses and
high heels and off I went! I became
an ambassador of Canada, a model,
a spokeswoman for environmental
Island Beaches of Cebu
awareness issues, and worked hard to
raise money for the charities that the
organization supported.
To be honest, looking back, everything
happened so incredibly fast, it was hard
to enjoy it in a moment. It just felt like hard
work. I am truly grateful, however, for my
experiences. A year later, after training very
hard, I decided to audition in Vancouver,
BC to compete in the Miss Universe
Canada pageant in Ontario.
I was selected as a finalist to represent
my hometown. I didn't win. But I was
very happy and proud that my career in
pageants like these was fulfilled.
I love yoga, staying active, fit and
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
I am a Licensed Esthetician/Spa
Therapist, I operate my own business,
I cater to corporate clients, I am a mom
and a wife. I continue to be a role model
to those who seek my advice.
As one of the co-hosts of an up-andcoming Web-TV program of Le Pageant by
STAR 7 MEDIA.TV
I have been appointed as one of the
Directors of Le Pageant Inc.
I am looking forwa