Indeed, the Philippines broke into the scene in a major, major way this 2013 with a chain of victories that prompted a parody website to “ban” the country from future contests. However, there’s nothing satirical with the fact that the Pearl of the Orient is home to gems of international beauty pageants this year.
Amidst the controversies and the tragedies that the country faced, the triumphs in the beauty contest scene provided joy and relief. There isn’t’t a sad face in the nation when actress Megan Young from Olongapo City bagged the first Miss World title at the Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia over 126 other aspirants.
After which, Masbate’s Bea Rose Santiago will have her final walk in the next Miss International after winning this year’s title at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall in Tokyo, Japan against 66 other hopefuls. But the victory that started the good times is Mutya Datul’s claiming of the Miss Supranational crown at the Sport’s Palace in Minsk, Belarus. The Santa Maria, Isabela native became the first Asian to win the competition and she also took home the pageant’s Miss Personality award.
There were other Filipino beauty contest winners as well that did not receive much fanfare than the previously mentioned. Management student Maria Isabelle Mendoza of San Beda College was hailed Miss Campus World 2013 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia while 14-year-old Amber delos Reyes scored the Miss Teen Expoworld Universe title last November 21 in Guatemala.
Aside from these triumphs, there are other Pinay beauties that have done enough to make the country proud. At the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia, Ariella Arida of Alaminos, Laguna achieved a third-runner-up finish in the 2013 Miss Universe pageant last November 9. She was the only Asian in the Top 5 of the said competition.
Meanwhile, Annalie Forbes was declared third-runner-up at the first-ever Miss Grand International pageant in Bangkok, Thailand last November 19. A similar third-runner-up finish was also bestowed to Star Magic talent Koreen Medina at the Miss Intercontinental competition held at Magdeberg, Germany on December 14.
Other Filipina beauties, 26-year-old Angelee delos Reyes from Olongapo City and Joanna Cindy Miranda from Nueva Ecija gained top finishes in the Miss Earth and the Miss Tourism Queen International respectively. Delos Reyes was included in the Top 8 while Miranda was in the Top 10 of the pageant which was held last October 3 in Xianning, China.
The luck of the Philippines in beauty competitions have spilled over into the male card with the likes of Roland William de Dios, Alvin de Joya and Gil Wagas. De Dios won first runner-up in the Mister Campus World competition and also took home the Best National Costume award. Meanwhile, former Mr. Philippines World De Joya clinched third place in Asia Television Limited’s Mr. Asia contest held last November 15 in Hong Kong. Finally, Wagas was named fourth runner-up in the Mister International competition in Jakarta, Indonesia.
With a long list of accomplishments for 2013, the Philippines is becoming a force to reckon with in international beauty competitions. There’s no doubt that beauty overflows in this diverse nation. As for the rest of the world, you have been warned. Filipino domination is just starting to unfold.
Thank you for reading this post! If you like this post, please share it on Facebook, Twitter or Google+. Invite us to your events and gatherings for a write-up or coverage: press/blog conferences, product launching, food tasting, demonstrations, exhibits, advocacy events, etc. If you have something to say – comments, suggestions, reactions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below. For more, email us at aolionheart@yahoo.com
