Miss Globe Maureen Montagne (left) and Miss Cosmo World Meiji Cruz/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — When Meiji Cruz won the Miss Cosmo World pageant late last year, it was a first victory for the country in the competition, and the first international title for herself. This time, she is also marking another first in her life — going on a Valentine’s date.
“This will be my first time to celebrate Valentine’s, because I really didn’t believe in Valentine’s, I don’t want to go with the trend,” Cruz told the Inquirer at the sidelines of the final screening of applicants for the 2023 Binibining Pilipinas pageant held at the New Frontier Theater at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Feb. 6.
She said she plans to have a date in a fine dining establishment with her boyfriend. “I want to experience this, a date on Valentine’s Day, so it would be more romantic. And because it’s my first time to celebrate, I wanna look good, I’ll put on a ‘show’ for Valentine’s, it will be different,” she continued.
Her Bb. Pilipinas batchmate Maureen Montagne, who captured the Miss Globe crown in 2021, said celebrating Valentine’s Day this year has a deeper significance, especially after becoming a global beauty queen.
“I think winning an international title really tests your relationship. A lot of girls don’t survive that. So I’m super thankful that Dan has been my rock, and that we’ve survived all of the obstacles that we faced,” Montagne told the Inquirer. “It definitely made us stronger and made us hold on to each other tighter. So I’m excited to celebrate our third Valentine’s Day together,” she added.
The beauty queen said she already told her boyfriend Dan to surprise her. “I think we’re going to have a fine dining experience, let’s see. I told him, ‘give me some romance baby,’ so I’m expecting a lot of romance,” she shared.
Montagne also encouraged Filipinos to share their love on Valentine’s Day. “Don’t be shy, tell your crush how you feel, and don’t be afraid to show love to your friends, your family as well. Everybody needs love in their life,” she said.
Cruz agreed with her. “This Valentine’s is not only for couples, for partners, but also for friends and family. This is a great time to be extra sweet to your mom, to your dad, to your family members and to your friends, of course. Share kindness and love, because it will surely bounce back to you 10 times, I believe in that,” she said.
Montagne and Cruz are just two of the international titleholders among the 2021 Bb. Pilipinas queens. Another global queen in the batch is 2021 Miss Intercontinental Cinderella Faye Obeñita. EDV