Maggie and Parul prove beauty queens can survive ‘Amazing Race’
Parul Shah and Maggie Wilson-Consunji. NOY MORCOSO
There’s a misconception that beauty queen-models Maggie Wilson-Consunji and Parul Shah of Team Philippines can’t survive a physically and emotionally challenging reality show like “The Amazing Race Asia”, which starts its Season 5 run on Thursday night at 9 on AXN.
“I like the fact that people underestimate us and look at us and just see only hair-and-make-up and high heels and pageant waves and visible crowns on our heads,” says Wilson-Consunji in a recent interview.
Wilson-Consunji, a British-Filipino model, is Bb. Pilipinas Miss World titleholder in 2007. Parul Shah is an Indian Filipino model who won the Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism in 2014.
Compared with joining beauty pageants, the two agreed there’s not much difference.
“You’re given tasks. It’s a constant thing in the race but in terms of competitiveness, fitness levels, being strong mentally and emotionally, very, very similar,” Wilson-Consunji says.
“I think you’re going to see a different Paruh here,” Wilson-Consunji says.
The two said if they win, they will use the prize money of US$100,000 to fund the medical and hospital bills of Paruh’s father, who recently had a stroke.
“He had stokes before and he had another major one while we were having the race,” says Paruh.
“Paruh is the breadwinner of the family,” says Wilson-Consunji.
Asked about how they survive the race, they agreed it’s having confidence in each other. “It’s being ying to her yang,” says Wilson-Consunji.
“We’re very close but we’re very different at the same time,” she adds. “As much as possible, try not to argue. Don’t lose faith and never give up.”
Most of all, they considered the whole experience of being part of the race as the most memorable for them.
“No one will ever understand what we went through unless they’ve become part of the race. I think we’re going to talk about [the experiences in the race] for the next 40 years,” says Paruh.
“Tara Season 5” premieres Thursday, October 13, at 9pm on AXN. It airs every Thursday on AXN, same time, on Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, GSat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49.
