#InquirerSeven Fast facts about Miss Universe-Philippines MJ Lastimosa
MANILA, Philippines – Less than 24 hours before the Miss Universe grand finals, INQUIRER.net has compiled the #InquirerSeven list of fast facts and interesting trivia on 5-foot-7 Mary Jean “MJ” Ramirez Lastimosa, the Philippines’ bet in the 2014 Miss Universe competition.
1. She won the crown after two previous attempts.
Miss Universe-Philippines Mary Jean Ramirez Lastimosa (center) blows a kiss with other winners during the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 coronation night. INQUIRER PHOTO
By now, Lastimosa has spoken of her “never say never” motto countless times in interviews, after winning Bb. Pilipinas 2014 on her third attempt. In 2011, she was second runner-up and in 2012, she failed to make it to the semifinals but took home the awards for Bb. Avon and Bb. Philippine Airlines.
The beauty queen almost did not compete, too, deciding to try a third time only because the age limit was raised to 26 years old from 25 in 2014. (That year, Lastimosa was already 26.)
Lastimosa, however, is not the first beauty queen to achieve such a feat. In 2004, Maricar Balagtas was crowned Bb. Pilipinas after failing to make it to the semifinals in 2000 and emerging second runner-up in 2001. Not surprisingly, Lastimosa considers Balagtas her inspiration.
Lastimosa represented Davao City – where she studied university and pursued a modeling career – in 2011 and 2012, while she represented her hometown of North Cotabato in 2014.
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2. She also competed in, and won, 9 previous pageants.
Lastimosa was no newbie to the beauty pageant scene even before she competed in Bb. Pilipinas. Aside from Bb. Pilipinas, she has competed in at least 9 local pageants.
- Mutya ng Tulunan, 2003
- Lakambini ng University of Mindanao, 2004
- Mutya ng North Cotabato, 2004, first runner-up
- Davao’s Loveliest, 2005, first runner-up
- Mutya ng University of Mindanao, 2006
- Miss Regional PRISAA (Private Schools Athletic Association), 2007
- Miss National PRISAA, 2007, second runner-up
- Mutya ng Davao, 2008
- Reyna ng Aliwan, 2008
3. She took up computer engineering in college.
Ariella Arida took up Chemistry, Janine Tugonon finished Pharmacy with cum laude honors, Shamcey Supsup graduated BS Architecture as magna cum laude and Venus Raj majored in Journalism. Lastimosa remains a successor to this tradition of beauty-and-brains, graduating from University of Mindanao with a BS Computer Engineering degree.
This year’s Bb. Pilipinas also said she maintained three scholarships while in university.
4. She was Supsup’s bridesmaid and is close with other Miss Universe 2014 front-runners.
Speaking of Supsup, Lastimosa has always maintained that the former is a close friend of hers, evidenced by her role as bridesmaid when Supsup got married to Lloyd Lee on Dec. 29, 2013. The two competed together in Bb. Pilipinas 2011, when Supsup won the competition.
A photo posted by Mary Jean Lastimosa (@mj_lastimosa) on Dec 28, 2013 at 11:47pm PST. Screengrab from Mary Jean Lastimosa’s instagram account
Lastimosa is also friends with some purported front-runners – a group the Philippines’ representative also belongs in – in the run-up to the Miss Universe grand finals. She has been seen more than once in photos with Miss Universe-Venezuela Migbelis Lynette Castellanos and Miss Universe-Serbia Andjelka Tomasevic, and is friends with the representatives from Myanmar (also her roommate), India, Kenya, Tanzania and more.
Screengrab from Migbelis Lynette Castellanos’ instagram account
