School teacher in Manila crowned in new pageant
Newly-crowned Lueur Lauren Calendar Girl Johansson Ver/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Johansson Ver, a high school teacher from Manila, was proclaimed the first-ever Lueur Lauren Calendar Girl in a competition held during the celebration of the homegrown international beauty company’s third anniversary at the SM Skydome in Quezon City on Jan. 31.
She bested 10 other aspirants in the competition, where she also received the Best in Swimsuit, Best in Long Gown, and Best in Talent awards.
Estephanie Ladignon from Ilocos Norte, who was earlier proclaimed Miss Personality, finished as first runner-up, while Danica Mojica from Cebu was second runner-up.
Lueur Lauren Calendar Girl Johansson Ver (center) beams with first runner-up Estephanie Ladignon (left) and second runner-up Danica Mojica./ARMIN P. ADINA
During the final round of the competition, reigning Miss Global Shane Tormes asked Ver what beauty product she would be if she would become one.
“I would be sunscreen, because sunscreen brings protection for our skin so that we won’t be harmed by the sun. And when we say protection, it’s very close to my heart, because I’m a licensed professional teacher, and I have students, and inside the four corners of my classroom I want to protect them. And I’ve always wanted to protect them,” Ver responded.
“Aside from protecting them, I’ve always taught them about the true value of education, that education is not just the key to success but also a ticket to a better and brighter future…And I do believe that education is forever and it should have no boundaries, and it should have no ending,” she continued.
Ver also told the Inquirer after her coronation that she has been following Tormes’ journey from the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, to being the first Filipino woman to bring home the Miss Global crown.
“I drew Tormes before, and she shared it on social media. So I don’t know if she still remembers me,” Ver shared. Tormes was among the pageant’s judges, together with 2019 Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental and Net25 news anchor Emma Tiglao, who the new queen said she also idolizes.
Ver said she hopes her victory could inspire her students at the Ramon Avanceña High School to believe in themselves. “Work hard for the things that you want. You cannot just want something, you have to work hard for it, you have to prepare for it, and pray to God,” she said.
The Lueur Lauren Calendar Girl search is the first nationwide pageant that Ver has participated in. She was crowned Miss Universidad de Manila and Miss University Belt in 2022.
Lueur Lauren General Manager Niña Corazon Alvarado said Ver will be the company’s “ambassadress” for the whole year. “She’ll be traveling with us, and then all the products that we will launch in the future, she’ll be the model. She’ll be with us all throughout,” the official said. EDV
