SHAMCEY Supsup (left) and Elaine Kay Moll (MISSOSOLOGY.INFO/PINOYAMBISYOSO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ)
Shamcey Supsup sees herself in a young Binibining Pilipinas beauty, who will represent the country in the 2012 Miss Supranational pageant in Warsaw, Poland.
Supsup, third runner-up in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant held in Brazil, said she and 2012 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up Elaine Kay Moll had a lot in common, especially during the early part of their pageant lives.
“At first, Kay wasn’t really fixing herself—just like me before. I see very much of my younger self in her. This is why I feel compelled to help her,” Supsup told the Inquirer during Moll’s sendoff party at the Gateway Suites in Quezon City last week.
Leaving today
Moll is set to leave for Warsaw today; the pageant will be held on Sept. 14.
Supsup continued: “She didn’t know how to put on makeup. We taught her and … fortunately, she’s very open to advice, never took it the wrong way. I think she knew that we were really just concerned.”
She saw great potential in the 5-foot-11 tall Moll, Supsup said—the height, the figure, the face. “She’s very striking on stage. And I’m always telling her that she just has to be confident. She has to believe that she is the best person for the job.”
Further, Supsup said Moll’s decision to use her second name “Kay” for the international competition instead of her first name “Elaine” was a good move. “It helped with the transformation.”
Recent decision
When Moll was proclaimed first runner-up in the 2012 Bb. Pilipinas last April, competing in an international contest did not come with the prize. Only three titleholders were declared representatives to global pageants—Miss Universe-Philippines Janine Tugonon, Bb. Pilipinas-International Nicole Schmitz and Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Katrina Dimaranan.
The decision to send Moll to the fourth edition of the Miss Supranational pageant came just three weeks ago, according to Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. chair Stella Marquez-Araneta. “Elaine is a beautiful girl. She could have been one of the three winners. Not that the others were not deserving; it’s just that she has many of the qualifications for an international contest,” Araneta told the Inquirer.
Araneta said the organizers of the Miss Supranational pageant had approached her during the contest’s maiden edition. “This was three years ago. Supranational waited for me to send a delegate,” she revealed.
She added: “I’m happy that I decided to join because this is another opportunity for the Philippines to be talked about in different parts of the world.”
Moll is just as jubilant about Araneta’s decision. “Right now I’m very happy and really grateful,” said the 20-year-old, who used to play basketball for the National University, where she is studying Business Management.
“Supranational is more about empowering women,” the beauty from Northern Samar explained.
Her appeal: “Please support me and vote for me online. I’ll do my best to make you all proud.”
Moll’s fellow Bb. Pilipinas queens have generously vowed support.
Said Tugonon, who will be sent to the Miss Universe pageant later this year, “I know that when you learned about this pageant, you were rattled. But I also know you are doing your best. We believe in you.”
Sweet, funny
Dimaranan, who will join the Miss Tourism Queen International pageant, added: “We watched you prepare for this pageant. We know how excited you are about this and we are sure that you will do all you can to win. Do not be afraid; you can do it. We are behind you 100 percent.”
Schmitz, who is bound for the Miss International pageant, said Moll’s being “sweet, funny and happy-go-lucky,” would spell success.
(To vote for Moll online, log on to www.misssupranational.com/VotingPage.html. The delegate with the highest number of online votes will automatically advance to the semifinals.)