Marco Gumabao ‘shocked’ by sis Michele’s transformation into a beauty queen

Marco Gumabao—ARMIN ADINA

Actor Marco Gumabao said he never thought he would see his sister Michele—a volleybelle—sashaying on the pageant stage, much less bag a national crown.

But now that he can call himself a beauty queen’s brother, the Kapamilya hunk said he is completely supportive of his sister’s quest for international recognition.

Michele—one of the celebrity housemates for “Pinoy Big Brother” in 2014, along with Jane Oineza, Alex Gonzaga and Daniel Matsunaga—will compete in the Miss Globe pageant in Albania on Oct. 21 (Oct. 22 in Manila).

“Ever since we were kids, my sister and I have been into sports. I knew then that she was going to be an athlete, but I never thought she would be a beauty queen,” Marco told Inquirer Entertainment on the sidelines of his sister’s sendoff press conference at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center in Quezon City recently.

Michele Gumabao—EDWIN BACASMAS

Marco said he was surprised when he learned that Michele signed up for Binibining Pilipinas earlier this year.

“I knew then that she would make it. I know she can do anything she puts her mind into. I was surprised, yes, but I’m also proud to have a beauty queen for a sister,” he said.

Marco said he had noticed his sister’s drastic weight loss when she decided to pursue a crown.

Still strong, competitive

“She lost not only fat, but also muscles, for the competition. Before, she was ‘ripped’ with muscles for volleyball. I was shocked with how much she has transformed, given the short period of time,” he said.

“The good thing is, she’s still a strong volleyball player. She lost weight, but maintained her strength,” he continued.

Michelle acknowledged these changes since bagging her Binibining Pilipinas crown, but maintained that “I’m still the same competitive girl. I’m still the same girl balancing everything in her life, wanting to do her best in everything that she does.”

But she added: “I have a different mindset, now that I have a different goal, which is to win a crown for the Philippines. This is not just for me, my camp, or my family, but for the Philippines—and that’s a bigger calling. I have to step up big-time.”

Marco said that what made him even more proud of his sister was the fact that “she has touched a lot of lives, and inspired a lot of people.”