‘Imported’ beauty queens on the local movie screen

Michelle van Eimeren

Helen Morgan

If past experience is our guide, we may not have seen the last of this year’s Miss Universe bets. In 1974, Filipinos became so enamored of them that quite a number of the tilt’s finalists ended up acting in local films!

Winner Amparo Muñoz of Spain appeared in “Hayop sa Ganda” with our own Miss U-turned-film star Gloria Diaz.

Interestingly and instructively, other members of her court also ended up on the big screen. First runner-up Miss Wales, Helen Morgan, acted in “Isang Gabi sa Buhay ng Isang Babae.”

For her part, second runner-up Miss Finland, Johanna Raunio, played a mermaid in “Lorelei,” costarring with popular Pinoy comedian Chiquito. Not to be outdone, fourth runner-up Miss Aruba, Maureen Ava Vieira, not only appeared in a local flick, but opted to live and work in local show biz for some years.

Truth to tell, even the first Miss Universe, Armi Kuusela, chose to marry a Filipino businessman, Virgilio Hilario, and lived here for keeps. She also appeared with her husband in a local photoplay, “Now and Forever,” that documented their unique, West-loves-East romance.

More tantalizing trivia: It turns out that Helen Morgan may have lost the Miss U tilt, but she went on to compete and win in the Miss World competition soon after.

Unfortunately, she did not complete her reign, because it was later revealed that she was already a single mother.

For her part, Amparo Muñoz went on to become a movie star in her native Spain. In 1979, she acted in a comedy flick, “Mama Turns 100.” This was followed by “Todo Un Hombre,” “A Paradise Under the Stars,” “El Tahur” and “Familia.”

Chalita Suansane

Johanna Raunio

What about the 1994 Miss Universe tilt, which was also held in Manila? The 1993 winner Dayanara Torres became a local TV-film star for some years, before she “went international.” Miss Philippines, Charlene Gonzalez, also ended up in show biz, as actress, dancer and program host.

In addition, Miss Australia, Michelle van Eimeren, opted to join local show biz and appeared in movies like “Isko,” “Manolo and Michelle Hapi Together,” “Siyempre Ikaw Lang” and “Puwera Biro, Mahal Kita.”

She was even busier on TV, with regular shows like “’Sang Linggo nApo Sila” and “Brunch,” as well as guest appearances on “Coney Reyes on Camera” and “Mikee.”

What we appreciate most about Michelle to this day is that she went out of her way to “go local” and even learned to speak Tagalog almost like a native. Other “imports” and even tisoys should abashedly take their cue from her sterling example. If Michelle could do it, so should they!

What about the 2017 edition of Miss Universe—who are the likeliest bets to end up in local show biz?

A popular finalist, Miss Thailand, Chalita Suansane, says she’s open to offers to appear and perform—and other standout beauties could grace our TV-film screens, if the right and most “financially persuasive” incentives are enticingly put into play!