Bb. Pilipinas 2024 bet inspired by domination of ‘independents’ in 2023 pageant

Binibining Pilipinas 2024 bet Samantha Acosta. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina

Pageant training camps have established themselves quite well in the local scene by producing a battalion of winners in national and even international competitions, putting “independent” candidates at a slight disadvantage. But the results of the 2023 Binibining Pilipinas pageant has encouraged a “camp-less” aspirant to give it a try.

In last year’s pageant, three of the four finalists were independent candidates, with Bb. Pilipinas Globe Anna Lakrini being the only one fielded by a camp. The top title of Bb. Pilipinas International went to Angelica Lopez, with Katrina Anne Johnson and Atasha Reign Parani as runners-up.

This outcome has ignited a glimmer of hope on Samantha Acosta that she could prosper in pageantry even without belonging to a pageant training camp. “I am confident that an independent candidate can win,” she told INQUIRER.net in an interview.

“I have a team that is right behind me, my family, my friends, my ‘SAMazing force’ (supporters),” she said. She has also tapped Lopez’s mentor, Georgette Garrido, who the ladies lovingly call “Mommy G,” to train her.

Acosta confessed that going under the care of the person who molded the reigning queen indeed adds pressure. “But I think I also have a competitive advantage because I have the hype to bag the crown,” she continued.

She said she has learned a lot from the triumph of Lopez, Johnson and Parani last year. “Looking back at the past queens, I watched [the pageant], I have seen their vision, their determination. And with Mommy G’s guidance, she always told me stories about Angelica on how determined she is, on how motivated she is, and that gave me the extra push to work hard in order to win the crown,” Acosta shared.

“I have so much respect for my fellow candidates who have their own respective camps. But I think our edge as an independent is that you have a team that strongly believes in us, strongly supports us, and we are their focus,” she said.

Acosta also said that what led her to the pageant is the organization’s charity work. “I’ve always had the heart towards children, and I’m very much happy that BPCI’s (Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc.) vision is the same as my advocacy, Harvesting HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Empowerment). And I’m really looking forward to more of our charity events with Binibini,” she explained.

The Binibini from Bulacan is among the 40 aspirants from all over the country who are competing in the 60th anniversary edition of the longest-running national pageant in the country.

The 2024 Bb. Pilipinas Grand Coronation night will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City on July 7. The winners will represent the Philippines in the 2025 Miss International and 2024 The Miss Globe pageants.

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