Miss Globe winner: PH now a powerhouse in beauty pageants

MISS Globe 2015 Ann Lorraine Colis

Many pageant pundits consider Ann Lorraine Colis’ victory in the Miss Globe pageant in Canada a lucky charm that paved the way for the Philippines’ winning streak in international tilts in 2015.

Colis, the first of the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas beauties to compete abroad, snagged the Philippines’ first-ever victory in the 42-year-old Miss Globe pageant in Toronto.

“Aside from being the first Filipino woman to win Miss Globe, people tell me that I was the one who set the trend! I’m glad they considered me a lucky charm because I was the first to  win a crown last year,” Colis said during a press conference at the Pool Bar of Novotel Manila in Quezon City recently.

Last year, the Philippines had five more international winners—Miss Earth Angelia Ong, Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International Leren Mae Bautista, Miss International Queen Trixie Maristela, Miss Scuba International Cindy Madduma and Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

“I’m proud of our batch, because we’ve accomplished a lot,” Colis said.

In 2013, Mutya Datul bagged the country’s first Miss Supranational crown and paved the way for a record-breaking haul for the Philippines in international competitions.

That year, Bea Rose Santiago was also proclaimed Miss International, and Megan Young became the first Filipino Miss World winner. Angeli Dione Gomez’s Miss Tourism International win made it a four-crown harvest for the country.

The record set in 2013 seemed impossible to replicate at the time, but 2015’s six-crown haul proved otherwise.

“I’m very happy that the Philippines is now considered one of the powerhouses in international beauty pageants,” declared Colis.

And the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) is hopeful that the momentum will continue, now that the 2016 national search is in full swing.

Arduous task

The organization is currently accepting applicants who are courageous enough to take on the arduous task of replicating, or surpassing, the Philippines’ impressive 2015 performance.

And Colis, along with her 2015 batchmates, will be on hand to help choose the new crop of aspirants.

“They have to have the heart. Aside from looks and intelligence, they need to have determination. Representing the country is tough. You have to be strong,” Colis shared.

And because she is currently busy with the 2016 national search, Colis said she’d wait for the dust to settle before she could continue with her duties as Miss Globe.

Although no date has been set for the 2016 Miss Globe pageant, Colis is just waiting for the global organization’s notice, which she hopes would come after the culmination of the 2016 Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

But she already brushed aside calls for her to join another pageant. “I’m happy with what I have. I already made our country proud—and that’s good enough for me,” Colis declared.

“Let us give others a chance. There are others who aspire to be [like] us. It’s their time to shine,” she continued.

For information on the 2016 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, visit www.bbpilipinas.com.

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