Mrs. Universe (Official) bets from Philippines crowned

Mrs. Universe (Official) Philippines Ellen Poyaoan-Santos (L) and Mrs. Universe (Official) Asia Pacific Ann Marie Morales will take part in the inaugural Mrs. Universe (Official) pageant in December. Image: Philippine Daily Inquirer/Armin P. Adina

MANILA, Philippines — Two Filipino women will take a break from their motherhood duties to sashay on the international pageant stage. Both accomplished in their own fields, Ellen Poyaoan-Santos and Ann Marie Morales have received their respective national titles which will take them to Australia later this year.

In a “sashing and crowning ceremony” held at Hotel Celeste in Makati City on Sept. 24, Mrs. Universe (Official) national director for the Philippines Christine Escalante bestowed on Santos and Morales the Mrs. Universe (Official) Philippines and Mrs. Universe (Official) Asia Pacific titles, respectively.

Asia Prime Phils. Corp. president Lerma Bernabe and Aura Beauty and Wellness CEO Bennilyn Molina helped hand over the titles to the two queens.

The national director also holds her own title, Mrs. Universe (Official) Australasia, which qualifies her to compete in the Mrs. Universe (Official) pageant. But a pending appointment to a government position prevents her from joining the international beauty contest.

Mrs. Universe (Official) national director for the Philippines Christine Escalante (center) has appointed Ellen Poyaoan-Santos (left) and Ann Marie Morales to compete in the Mrs. Universe (Official) pageant. Image: Philippine Daily Inquirer/Armin P. Adina

In her stead, Escalante will send two women who are both respective in their circles. Santos and Morales are expected to fly to Sydney for the preliminary events of the Mrs. Universe (Official) pageant, which will culminate in a grand coronation night on Dec. 4.

This should not be confused with the Bulgaria-based Mrs. Universe pageant established in 2007, where another Philippine organization sends the country’s representatives to.

The Australia-based Mrs. Universe (Official) pageant is mounted by Sydney-based Filipino Maryrose Salubre, and hopes to “discover the world’s outstanding married, divorced, annulled women” to work on various charity projects.

Morales is a 62-year-old civil engineer who received an honorary doctorate. She raised three children on her own ever since her husband’s passing more than a decade ago. Santos, 46, holds a degree in computer science and has earned graduate and honorary post-graduate degrees.

The grand coronation night of the 2022 Mrs. Universe (Official) pageant’s inaugural edition will be staged at the Grand Pavilion of Rosehill Gardens in Australia, on Dec. 4. More than 50 women from all over the world are expected to take part. JB

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