Mrs. International Global Philippines Marjorie Barillo Orito/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Marjorie Barillo Orito has been known as “Queen Clau” since setting foot on the local pageant stage in 2019, in a “Mrs.” contest. But the moniker is so far from her given name. She shared with select members of the media who sent her off at the airport that she has been using the nickname for a long time.
“My friends called me ‘Claudia Zobel’ because they say I resemble her. When she passed at a young age, they prodded me to ‘replace’ her and be an actress. I did not have any plans to enter show business, but they began calling me ‘Clau, Clau,’” Orito told the Inquirer in Filipino at her brief send-off press conference at the Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Jan. 8.
The 34-year-old mother of two girls from Olongapo City will represent the Philippines in the 2022 Mrs. International Global pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is her second global competition since joining the 2019 Mrs. Asia Pacific pageant, which also took place in the Malaysian capital.
“I was in the Top 10, and received a special award, Mrs. Charming Asia Pacific,” Orito shared of her first international pageant, where four other Filipino contenders joined.
This time, she will be the lone delegate from the Philippines. While this added more pressure, Orito said she has been waiting for this chance since 2019. “I have committed to this already, we have been planning for me to join. This is my last foray in pageantry, so I will really give it my all,” she said.
Lovely Tajan, who was crowned Mrs. International Universal in the global pageant’s most previous edition in 2019, was the one who appointed Orito to succeed her in the competition.
With so many national and international pageants happening everywhere, attracting a multitude of demographics, Orito said there is still a place for “Mrs.” contests because it provides a platform for married women and mothers to “show their talents to others and gain confidence.”
And now that the Miss Universe pageant will start accepting contestants who are married or with children, she said this could show single ladies that working on a goal has no deadline. “Take the chance to pursue your dream, it will not end just because you got married or had children. Just continue on dreaming,” she said.
The Mrs. International Global pageant will hold its 2022 edition at the HGH Convention Hall in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. EDV