Joanne Thornley, left, and Selena Antonio-Reyes, right. Images from Facebook / Miss Universe Philippines – Angeles City; Antonio-Reyes’s Instagram
Angeles City’s erstwhile Miss Universe Philippines 2024 delegate Joanne Thornley continues to receive support for her decision to withdraw from the competition, this time from Pasig City’s bet to the national competition, fitness advocate and mother of two Selena Antonio-Reyes.
“I’m in support of what she decided to do. I don’t blame her. I mean, I’m happy that she was able to focus on her health,” she told INQUIRER.NET at the sidelines of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant’s signing event with a lead sponsor last March 21.
“If she hadn’t made that decision, she could suffer in the end,” continued the 38-year-old seasoned contestant, who has also completed international marathon events, competed in Spartan contests, and joined the Century Superbods competition, ironically in Angeles City in 2022 at the age of 36.
Thornley’s exit was announced by the Miss Universe Philippines-Angeles City organization in a statement posted online. Although they declined to disclose the specific medical condition that the Kapampangan lass is experiencing, the announcement said, “her health concerns required her to prioritize her well-being above all else.”
For Reyes, it is very important for a beauty contestant to be in her optimal health condition when embarking on a journey to the crown. “You should be in full force, 100-percent prepared mentally, because it can really break you,” she explained.
She also cited photoshoots that end early morning, that will be followed by an early call time. “It will consume you. Everything will consume you in the pageant. But you just have to have 100 percent of yourself, of your confidence level as well. If not, then nothing will happen,” continued Reyes.
Driving force
The Pasigueña also shared that participating in a pageant as a married mother of two kids is “more intense” compared to her first time as a single woman at the 2010 Binibining Pilipinas pageant. “I want to make my kids very proud of me. Of course, they are my driving force for this one,” she said.
Miss Universe Philippines Pasig City Selena Antonio-Reyes/ARMIN P. ADINA
Reyes said she wants her son Theon and daughter Savi to be proud of her whatever the outcome of the pageant may be. “I’m sure they will always look up to me as their mom, who is a true beauty queen in their eyes,” she said.
And to those who disapprove of having mothers and married women in the Miss Universe pageant, this was what she said: “There’s nothing wrong with trying. In life we always try something new. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with trying someone new that you can bring to the international stage.”
Reyes also said that it is intrinsic in mothers to play a big role in everybody’s life. “So if we can play an important role in our family’s life, I’m sure we can also play an important role to the entire universe,” she declared.
It is the second year that the Miss Universe Philippines pageant has accepted mothers and married women to the competition, following the modification of the international contest’s qualifications. But this is the first time that the maximum age restriction has been lifted, also in accordance with the global tilt’s new directive.
Aside from Reyes, the other mothers in the competition are Johanna Puyod Yulo from Davao Region, Eleanor Hollman from Mariveles, and Denise Nicole Yujuico from the Filipino community of Virginia.
The 2024 Miss Universe pageant will select the national successor of Michelle Marquez Dee, who finished in the top 10 of the international competition last year. The winner will be sent to the 73rd Miss Universe pageant that will be held in Mexico later this year.