STEPHANIE Stefanowitz Arnold Almacen
Single mothers will be pitted against single ladies in the first edition of the Miss Global Philippines pageant, which welcomes all unmarried women, including those with kids.
“We’re giving single moms this unique chance,” Pauline Laping, Miss Global Philippines chief executive officer, told the Inquirer at a press conference held at Hotel H2O in Manila.
She said she took her cue from the international organizers, who also accepted single moms in the global tilt’s maiden edition last year.
Good speaker
Stephanie Stefanowitz, pageant chief operating officer of the franchise, said the competition seeks a woman who is “beautiful, intelligent and a good speaker.” She explained, “The winner will travel around the country to promote local tourist destinations.”
Stefanowitz said being 2012 Miss Philippines-Earth and 2012 Miss Earth-Air gave her the opportunity to tour the country.
She said Laping’s connections with local government units is sure to help the pageant promote the country’s untapped natural wonders.
Cold cash
Organizers promised a cash award of P300,000 for the winner.
“This is in cash, not a contract’s worth,” clarified Stefanowitz. All four runnersup will receive P50,000 each, she added.
The international Miss Global tilt will be held in December, “on the Crown Princess cruise ship that will take delegates from California in the United States, to Mexico, in a period of one week,” Laping said.
The pageant is open to single Filipino women aged 18 to 27. For details, log on to www.missglobalphil.com. Deadline for applications is July 5.
Coronation night is on Aug. 24, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. GMA 7 will air the show on Aug. 31, at 10 p.m.