Miss World PH finalist Isabelle Bilasano to have former queens as mentors

Face of Beauty Philippines Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano/ARMIN P. ADINA

As a rookie in any field, having a mentor with a wealth of experience is great to have. And reigning Face of Beauty Philippines Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano has not just one, but three seasoned international beauty queens to guide her as she joins her first global competition.

The young lady, who received her national title after making it as a finalist in the 2024 Miss World Philippines pageant in July, has 1984 Miss Universe third runner-up Desiree Verdadero, 1991 Miss International semifinalist Patty Betita, and 1992 Binibining Pilipinas-Maja Marina Benipayo among her pool of “advisors.”

The three seasoned beauties are the pillars of the young pageant training camp “The Crown Initiative” (TCI), that also includes famed designer and queenmaker Renee Salud. The team has already fielded Bilasano in the 2023 Bb. Pilipinas pageant, where she finished in the Top 11 and took home the Best in National Costume award.

“I think it’s a big privilege. Not everybody can work with everybody like them, so I’m very thankful to be working with them for two years now,” Bilasano told INQUIRER.net in an interview at her send-off press conference held at Pandan Asian Café in Quezon City on Friday, Sept. 6.

“I think I’m on the right path, because these women walked that path, and it’s very important for me that I look up to them, and then get them to guide me to the parts of my journey, because it really is an experience like no other,” continued the registered speech pathologist from Albay.

Bilasano also shared what she learned in particular from some of the most well-loved beauty queens in the Philippines. “Tita Patty told me to always find rhythm in my life, because she said that it could be monotonous, you know, the pageant life, the glitz and glamor, it could be very similar, the same thing you do every day. But she said that it’s always important to find life outside of it so you can stay focused. And, you know, true to yourself pa rin (still),” she said.

“From what I’ve observed from them, Tita Patty, Tita Des, they are always, always, always very particular with manners. They say, ‘a queen is what she makes herself.’ And that’s very important that I learn to practice that in my daily activities, in my daily events,” Bilasano continued.

Beauty queens and TCI advisors (from left) Desiree Verdadero, Patty Betita, and Marina Benipayo/ARMIN P. ADINA

INQUIRER.net also asked her what role pageants play in the global community that is battling famines, wars, and calamities. She responded: “I think lately we have been struggling to establish what pageantry is all about. I think it’s also important that we go back to what it is for. It’s a celebration of beauty. And for me, right now, the standard of beauty is no longer the physical. It’s how you can change someone’s life because of how you are as a person, and that’s the true embodiment of beauty.”

Bilasano added: “I think when we celebrate that kind of beauty, we are able to focus on our causes and the advocacies that we represent, and we fight for. And right now, it’s still a good platform for everybody to know more about issues, and how we can solve or contribute to our communities as well.”

The 27-year-old Bicolana maiden said she is excited to represent the Philippines in the 12th edition of the Face of Beauty International pageant because of the platform for discussion that the competition offers to the ladies competing, that encourages them to collaborate and use their voices.

“I think in this era we should establish a different standard of beauty. It no longer should be what we see on the outside. Because for me, real beauty is what’s inside, and I believe I have that. Because when you have a beautiful soul, you are able to have beautiful impacts from your beautiful queens,” Bilasano said.

The 2024 Face of Beauty International pageant will hold its “Global Grand Finale” at the Lin Palace in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, on Sept. 19. No Filipino woman has ever won the title. About 40 ladies are competing this year.