Shamcey Supsup-Lee promotes Pinoy pride in newly-opened store

Beauty Queen Philippines founder and Miss Universe Philippines Dir. Shamcey Supsup-Lee/ARMIN P. ADINA

After raising the flag in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant, architect and entrepreneur Shamcey Supsup-Lee continues to promote Filipino pride, this time through a retail store that carries locally-made merchandise.

Aptly called “The Beauty Queen” store, Supsup said the shop “evolved from our desire to showcase Filipino-made products.” A grand launch was held on Jan. 11 at its physical store at a high-end mall in Mandaluyong City.

Lee was third runner-up in the international competition, and eventually became the national director of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant (MUPH). She is still one of the officers of the national organization.

“For the longest time that I’ve been a beauty queen and being part of [MUPH], we’ve always been championing the Filipina. Sabi ko nga (I said), whenever we go abroad, we cheer for our ladies. There’s this pride when we say, ‘we’re supporting the Philippines,'” she said.

And Lee said she hopes that the same pride Filipinos have for their queens will transcend beyond pageantry. “I want to be able to champion the Filipino craft, whether it’s clothing, shoes, bags, eventually skincare,” she declared.

“I want to be a platform now, not just for women to pursue their dreams, to inspire others, but our store to become a platform for up-and-coming designers, up-and-coming, crafters, artists,” she added.

Currently, much of the collection the store houses is everyday lifestyle wear. “We started with just the shirt. And I said that if you’re wearing a Smilee or a Beauty Queen shirt, you’re not just helping the retail store, but you’re helping every body who made that shirt. Galing sa sinulid hanggang naging fabric, hanggang naging shirt (From the thread, that became fabric, and then made into a shirt). And I can say that I’m very proud that it’s all made by Filipinos,” she said.

The store also sells bags, and offers pieces from seasoned pageant designer Erjohn Dela Serna using indigenous woven textiles, such as stylized barong, polo, and Filipiniana attire.

“This is just the start, and this is the beginning. We’re excited for our future collaborations. Eventually we also wanted to sell shoes, and then cosmetics and skincare, soon” Lee shared.

She said she envisions the Beauty Queen Philippines store to be a one-stop-shop where pageant contestants can get all that they will need for their competition.

Lee also said the MUPH accredited partners in the provinces are encouraged to put up their own Beauty Queen stores in their turf, so the ladies outside Manila will no longer need to travel to the capital just to purchase their essentials.