Crossover beauties pursue dreams via Bb. Pilipinas

EMMA Tiglao feels she’s more than ready to compete in an international pageant.

The Binibining Pilipinas title is so appealing that even winners from rival pageants are crossing over to try their luck.

For 2013 Miss Philippines-Air Kimverlyn Suiza and 2012 Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up Emma Tiglao, the opportunity to represent the Philippines in an international beauty tilt came so close, and they hope the Bb. Pilipinas pageant will give them that chance.

“My dream is to compete internationally,” the 19-year-old Tiglao told the Inquirer during the candidates’ recent trip to the Philippine Daily Inquirer head office in Makati City. “Every pageant has its own direction. Mutya is for tourism promotion and Binibini is for charity,” added the student from Mabalacat, Pampanga.

“I joined because of the opportunity to become a role model and become a better version of myself,” said Suiza, 25, from Marikina City.

The 2010 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Intercontinental Carla Jenina Lizardo is a different case. As a Mutya titlist, she should have been sent to compete abroad.

“There were many reasons I couldn’t go, and not just because I was still in school at the time. It was taken away from me,” explained Lizardo, 24, from Pasig City. “It was probably a

KIMVERLYN Suiza’s goal is to be a role model.

blessing in disguise. I might not have done so well then. I’m a better person now… I’m going for my dream and no one can stop me.” Lizardo used to be captain of the Ateneo de Manila University’s varsity badminton team.

Disqualified

Another crossover beauty is Joy Marie Gangan, who bagged the less-known Miss Tourism World-Philippines title in 2012.

She represented the country abroad and was proclaimed Best Model of the World (the international competition for Miss Tourism World). But the road to that title was far from easy, she said.

Gangan related: “The national organizers didn’t seem prepared; everything was rushed. I had been disqualified and was not supposed to go, but they begged the international organizers to let me join, even if I wasn’t supposed to win anymore.”

CARLA Jenina Lizardo was captain of Ateneo’s varsity badminton team.

Still, she gave it her all for her country. “And I won!” exclaimed Gangan, 19, from Ilagan, Isabela.

So far, the crossover beauties are enjoying their stint as Bb. Pilipinas candidates.

“I asked friends who joined previously and they all said the schedule was long and exhausting. But so far, it’s been fine,” said Lizardo.

Tiglao agreed: “I was warned  we would have late nights and early calls the next day. It’s not like that.”

It surprised Suiza that “it’s not as stressful as I thought it would be.”

The 2014 Bb. Pilipinas coronation ceremony is on Sunday, 7 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

JOY MARIE Gangan won in a contest abroad.

The program will be aired that same evening on ABS-CBN.

Reigning Miss Universe Maria Gabriela Isler from Venezuela will be one of the judges.