Jojo Bragais/JOSE JOAQUIN BRAGAIS FACEBOOK PHOTO
Filipino shoe maverick Jojo Bragais surprised many pageant fans when he sat at the judging panel for the preliminary competition of the 2024 Miss USA contest on Aug. 3 (Aug. 4 in Manila), making him the first Philippine-based Filipino in recent memory to join the board.
Bragais had earlier revealed that his brand is the official footwear of the Miss USA and its sister pageant Miss Teen USA this year, but Bragais’ team and the two contests did not announce that he will also be part of the judging panel. The preliminary competition was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
In an exclusive interview with INQUIRER.net, Bragais said, “just like R’Bonney [Gabriel] a Filipino-American product of the Miss USA pageant, and [who] then eventually won Miss Universe, this is clear evidence that we Filipinos are world class.”
He said Miss USA President Layla Rose first got in touch with him in May about his possible judging of the pageant. “I was kind of hesitant, because I am not an American. And to choose the next representative of a very powerful country, the United States of America, is a huge responsibility. It took me a while before I said yes,” he shared.
Bragais also said he consulted Miss Universe Philippines officials Voltaire Tayag and Mario Garcia during a brief vacation in Boracay on his apprehensions about Rose’s invitation. “But they told me to look at it in the angle of pageantry, and the amazing opportunity it gives to women, a platform that they can use to speak about the causes they believe in,” he said.
He saw that the Miss USA pageant and his shoe brand both serve as platforms that help women become who they want to be. “I believe this is important not just for my company, Bragais Shoes, but also to us Filipinos that we are being recognized in the field of pageantry internationally, and the contributions we can give to the world of pageantry,” he added.
Bragais also shared with INQUIRER.net that his judging duties for the Miss USA pageant cover both the preliminary competition and the final show. The new queen will be crowned on Aug. 4 (Aug. 5 in Manila), also at the Peacock Theater.
“Other than physical beauty, the qualities that I am looking for in a Miss USA candidate is her ability to communicate, someone who has a beautiful back story, and someone who can use that story to inspire and connect to many people, and create a positive change to those whom she can reach,” he said.
Filipino-American model and former Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities Savannah Gankiewicz from Hawaii will relinquish her Miss USA title to the new winner. She was first runner-up in last year’s competition, and assumed the position after Noelia Voight abdicated the throne in May.
The 2024 Miss USA titleholder will represent the United States at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant that will be held in Mexico later this year. The Philippines will send model and tourism management graduate Chelsea Manalo to the international competition.