Teen beauty tilts clash on TV Sunday night

Two revitalized teen beauty pageants are facing off on television this Sunday night.

The May 27 coronation ceremony of the Miss Teen Earth Philippines and the May 31 pageant night of the Miss Teen Philippines will compete for TV viewers on two major networks.

GMA 7 will air the environment-driven Miss Teen Earth at 10:45 p.m., while the more education-oriented contest is slated for an earlier 9:30 p.m. slot on TV5.

The Miss Teen Earth Philippines, along with the Little Miss Earth Philippines, saw recently a changing of the guard, as the copyright for the two pageants were turned over to 24-year-old businessman Vas Bismark.

New team

The Miss Teen Philippines pageant, meanwhile, was revived after a seven-year hiatus when the owners struck a deal with a new team.

Organizers of both pageants pulled out all stops for their return, staging ceremonies that could put more established national pageants to shame.

Aspirants for both teen searches displayed charm and confidence, and were products of stringent screenings and rigid training sessions.

Even the choice of venue was notable.

The SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City hosted the Miss Teen Earth and Little Miss Earth Philippines contests, while the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in the same city was the venue for Miss Teen Philippines.

Star power

In terms of celebrity power, the environment-centered pageant had the edge, with musical numbers provided by local artists Bayang Barrios, Joey Ayala, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia, Jay-R, Kyla and Gloc-9. They were accompanied by the AFP Big Band, under musical director Mel Villena.

The education-driven tilt only had young crooner Brian Termulo, who sang the theme song, but the pageant made up for it with the highly energetic opening number of the 40 aspirants, and the “funwear” and long gown segments.

It also had an “Advisory Council” composed of 1993 Miss World second runner-up Ruffa Gutierrez, 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman, fashion blogger Laureen Uy, hairstylist Jing Monis, makeup artist Robbie Piñera and actor Jasmine Curtis-Smith, who was also the pageant’s ambassador.

The Miss Teen Earth competition had several beautiful women as hosts—2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj, 2011 Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup, 2011 Miss World first runner-up Gwendoline Ruais, 2008 Miss International finalist Patricia Fernandez and actor Carla Abellana.

Meanwhile, celebs Rovilson Fernandez and Georgina Wilson cohosted Miss Teen Philippines.

Triumphant teens

Two very young queens emerged victorious: 14-year-old Vanessa Mae Walters of Cebu City bested 19 other contenders for the Miss Teen Earth Philippines crown, while 15-year-old Reissha Nicole Magadia of Antipolo City brought home the Miss Teen Philippines title. Nine-year-old Maria Bernadette Datu won Little Miss Earth.

Walters is expected to participate in activities spearheaded by the Climate Change Commission and conduct her own environment-centered project in Cebu. Magadia will become the Department of Education’s ambassador for education and will represent the country in the Southeast Asian Youth Program and the National Youth Parliament.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a media partner in both competitions.