FILE PHOTO 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman. Image: Philippine Daily Inquirer/Armin P. Adina
Now it can be told. Precious Lara Quigaman took inspiration from her idol Miriam Quiambao to become a beauty queen ever since she was in high school.
Quigaman won the 2005 Miss International beauty pageant and was the fourth Filipina to win the title, the first being Gemma Cruz back in 1964, followed by Aurora Pijuan in 1970, and Melanie Marquez in 1979.
Quiambao was Binibining Pilipinas Universe in 1999 and won first Runner-Up at the Miss Universe pageant of the same year.
Quigaman recalled in an Instagram post how she, like her idol Quiambao, dreamt of becoming a beauty queen when she was just in high school.
“When I was in 3rd year high school, while lining up to go to our classroom, I clearly remember confidently telling one of my classmates that I will one day be like Miriam Quiambao. News of her victory was all over the news the night before and for some reason, I really felt that I will also be like her one day,” she recalled.
And in what could have been the biggest coincidence in their lives, not only did they both win because of their world-class beauty and brains, but they are also “daughters of Christ.”
“Fast forward to 2005 and you know what happened. But you know what I find more amazing- that 23 years after I declared those words, I would not only be like Miriam (the beauty queen), I would also be like her- a daughter of Christ!” she said, noting that they now serve and minister together to women through the @the700clubasia.
“Isn’t God amazing?” she said, adding that “it was a joy to work with you yesterday @miriamq888. See you again soon!”