Louise Theunis to compete in the US with Miss Summit PH win
Miss Summit Philippines Louise Theunis/LOUSIE TAN THEUNIS FACEBOOK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Louise Theunis already has a national beauty title, but she still has not represented the country in any international competition. But now she will be able to wave the Philippine flag on the Miss Summit International pageant in the United States next year.
When she captured the Miss Bikini Philippines crown in 2019, it did not come with a global pageant for her to compete in. The thought of representing the country on the international arena lingered, and she took part in several national contests to get that chance, but fate would have other plans for her.
While pursuing her master’s degree, Theunis learned about the Miss Summit International pageant from her friend and reigning Filipino queen Nica Zosa who won the global crown in Las Vegas in February. This ignited her desire to get into pageantry once again.
“The Miss Summit International Pageant brings together women representing different countries to share their stories, purpose, and plans on how to create brighter futures for people all over the world, especially women who need to be empowered,” Theunis told the Inquirer in an online interview.
She said the international pageant’s winners not only promote the organization’s core mission and vision, but can also pursue their own respective advocacies as well.
She juggled her studies with a whirlwind of pageant preparations. Pressed for time, she was only able to mobilize a team to take care of her wardrobe and to work on her beauty. What made it extra challenging was the fact that would be staged in Australia and not in the Philippines.
“The decision to hold the pageant in Australia was made by the national director, Hector Alcancia, who is also the founder of International Pageant Org. (Europe-Asia Pacific-Philippines). They offer women the chance to promote their advocacy and their country as they travel abroad,” Theunis explained.
This also robbed her of the time to train for “pasarela” (pageant walk) and interview. But she said her handler Leo Sanchez “believed in me, saying that my natural walk is already very nice and that I am very capable of handling the question-and-answer round.”
Her perseverance paid off, and on Nov. 5, at Palazzo Versace in Gold Coast, Australia, Theunis not only bagged the Best in National Costume and Best in Evening Gown awards; she also received the Miss Summit Philippines crown that will serve as her ticket to the Miss Summit International pageant.
“It will be a tough competition, especially considering that other countries are stepping up their game after the Philippines won in 2022. There is a lot of pressure on me and a lot of obstacles I have yet to overcome. But I can assure everyone that I will give it my utmost best as your Miss Summit Philippines 2023,” she declared.
“I will work even harder to achieve a fit and toned body, train to improve my pasarela and Q-and-A, carry out more advocacy-related activities, and do everything and more in order to bring my A-game on the international stage and hopefully bring home the crown,” Theunis continued.
She is set to fly to Florida in the United States in August next year for the 2023 Miss Summit International pageant, that will culminate in September. EDV
