Beauties face great pressure to excel

THIS year’s Bb. Pilipinas candidates on a recent visit to PDI. Photo by KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ

Forty aspirants face the challenge of replicating, if not surpassing, the Philippines’ impressive performance in international beauty pageants last year.

Joy Marie Gangan during the pageant fashion show at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday

The Binibining Pilipinas pageant presented this year’s candidates to local media recently at the Luzon Ballroom of Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City. The girls are vying for the chance to become the country’s representatives to four tilts: Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Supranational and Miss Tourism Queen International.

Last year’s winners reaped honors. Mutya Johanna Datul, in Belarus, became the Philippines’ first Miss Supranational; Bea Rose Santiago bagged the country’s fifth Miss International crown in Japan. Ariella Arida placed fourth in the Miss Universe pageant in Russia and Joanna Cindy Miranda cracked the Top 10 in the Miss Tourism Queen International in China.

Earlier winners likewise registered impressive finishes. Venus Raj placed fifth in Miss Universe 2010, Shamcey Supsup was fourth in 2011 and Janine Tugonon finished second in 2012. Elaine Kaye Moll placed fourth in Miss Supranational 2012.

Miss U in the panel

Four national titles—Miss Universe-Philippines, Bb. Pilipinas-International, Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational and Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism—will be awarded during coronation night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 30. The rites will be graced by three reigning international titlists—Santiago, Datul and 2013 Miss Universe Maria Gabriella Isler from Venezuela (who will sit in the judges’ panel).

BPCI also said Russian musician Emin, featured in last year’s Miss Universe pageant, will perform a musical number in the 2014 Bb. Pilipinas coronation program, to be aired by ABS-CBN. Arida and other selected Miss Universe contestants appeared in Emin’s music video for his song “Amor.”

Aiza Faeldonia during the pageant fashion show at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday

Last year’s Bb. Pilipinas winners said they were excited for this year’s batch, and expressed high hopes for the Philippines in this year’s international events.

Competitive stunners

“This is an amazing batch,” exclaimed Arida, “all beautiful and competitive.” Datul added, “And all well-prepared.”

Miranda finds the search for her successor exciting. “They are stunning,” she said.

The former titleholders noted that the competition has leveled up. “I can see that they trained for the international stage,” Raj told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“Had I competed with them, I probably wouldn’t stand a chance,” said 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman.

This batch includes returning runners-up Pia Wurtzbach (2013) and Mary Jean Lastimosa (2011); and former semifinalists Diana Arevalo (2009, 2011), Parul Shah (2013) and Ellore Noelle Punzalan (2013).

There are former winners from rival pageants—2013 Miss Philippines-Air Kimverlyn Suiza, 2010 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Intercontinental Carla Lizardo, 2012 Mutya ng Pilipinas 1st runner up Emma Tiglao and 2012 Miss Tourism World-Philippines Joy Marie Gangan.

Reigning Reyna ng Bulacan Vessica Sambo, 2012 Miss Bicolandia Yvethe Marie Santiago and 2009 Miss Cebu Kris Tiffany Janson are also competing. Pageant rookies Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti, Joy Antonette Diaz and Laura Lehman have caught the attention of many pageant observers.

The Inquirer is a media partner of the 2014 Bb. Pilipinas pageant, which marks its 50th anniversary this year.