Ruffa Gutierrez says no to rejoining pageants, wants to mentor instead
Ruffa Gutierrez during a launch for a beauty drink. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
Thirty-two years after representing the Philippines in Miss World, Ruffa Gutierrez said she does not see herself joining pageantry anew, saying she would rather be a mentor to up-and-coming beauty queens.
The now-50-year-old Gutierrez said she received offers to rejoin beauty pageants but would rather dedicate her efforts to helping aspiring beauty queens who want to represent the Philippines in global tilts.
“Ang daming offers sa’kin (I received a lot of offers) through the years even during the pandemic,” she said during a question-and-answer segment of a beauty drink launch.
“Pinapasali nila ako sa ‘mom’ pageants (They’re asking me to join mom pageants). Honestly, I’ve been there, done that. I would love to mentor those who are starting in the industry and those who want to be a beauty queen,” she continued.
The actress-beauty queen also recalled the time she had the support of Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez and Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz during her beauty queen days.
“I’ve been there. If they ask me for advice, [I would rather be] the same way Miss Melanie Marquez was there for me during my time, same with Tita Gloria Diaz,” she said. “Kung may mga beauty queens who are aspiring to [go international], nandito lang ako para tulungan sila and mentor them.”
(I’ve been there. If they ask me for advice, I would rather be the same way Ms. Melanie Marquez and Tita Gloria Diaz were there for me during my time. If there are beauty queens who are aspiring to go international, I’m here to help and mentor them.)
Image: Screengrab from Instagram Stories/@iloveruffag
Gutierrez was prodded about the topic during an ambush interview after the event, although she reiterated that she has different priorities in life.
“Hindi na. Iba na ang gusto kong gawin sa buhay ko. I’ve been there and done that,” she said.
“But I hail all the women that want to continue their legacy being a beauty queen. Maganda ngayon kasi pwede ka nang mag-all shapes and sizes, pwede ka nang maging mother. I embrace that because it goes with the times. For me, hindi na ako sasali,” she further explained.
(Not anymore. I want to do something different with my life. I’ve been there and done that. But I hail all the women who want to continue their legacy as a beauty queen. It’s nice to see that women of all shapes and sizes, as well as mothers, can join. I embrace that because it goes with the times. For me, I won’t join.)
The actress-beauty queen’s response echoed Miss Earth 2024 Priscilla Meirelles, who said she was not open to joining Miss Universe in an interview earlier this month as she already had “her time” in pageantry.
Gutierrez represented the Philippines at Miss World 1993. She ended her stint being the second runner-up spot with Jamaica’s Lisa Hanna bringing home the title.
Since its 72nd edition in 2023, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) opened its doors to married women and mothers. Transgender women have also been allowed to join the pageant in 2012 as long as they win their respective national titles.
The MUO also scrapped its age limit since its 2024 edition.
