HEAVY favorite Megan Lynn Young from Olongapo City bested 24 other candidates in the 2013 Miss World Philippines pageant last August 18 at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City. She took home the coveted title, P1 million worth of management contract from the pageant organizer, plus gifts and services from the contest’s sponsors.
The 23-year-old beauty is a local TV personality who first gained prominence as an “avenger” in the GMA 7 reality talent search, Starstruck. She later moved to ABS-CBN 2 where she scored hosting gigs and other acting projects.
In her first foray in the pageant scene, Megan also bagged special awards such as the Best in Fashion Runway, Miss Sports by Fila, Miss Reducin, Miss Olay, Miss Laguna World, Miss Bold and Glamorous by Revlon, Miss Figlia and Miss Bench Body.
Palawan native Janicel Lubina placed second and was proclaimed First Princess, which comes with a P150,000 prize money.
The 18-year-old Janicel, who is also the reigning Miss Bikini Philippines, is set to represent the country in the Miss Bikini International competition later this year. She was also proclaimed Best in Swimwear and Miss Photogenic.
Zahra Bianca Saldua from Las Pinas City, a Muslim, was crowned Second Princess and received P100,000. She was the lone candidate to parade in a one-piece swimwear and did not take off her sarong in the competition. She was also proclaimed Miss Friendship and Miss Pantene.
Nueva Ecija’s Bianca Paz, who placed fourth in the pageant’s maiden edition in 2011, landed in the same spot this year and was proclaimed Third Princess. She took home P75,000, along with the distinction of being Miss Redoxfat and Best in Long Gown, the same award she receive during her first shot at the title.
Rounding up the Top 5 is Omarie Linn Osuna, 20, from Olongapo City.
Megan will try to bag for the Philippine its first victory in the 63rd Miss World pageant in Indonesia on September 28.
The closest chance the Philippines had in the crown was in 1973 during the 23rd Miss World pageant held at the Royal Albert Hall in England. That year, Miss United States Marjorie Wallace was crowned, with our very own (and my very dear friend ) Miss Philippines Evangeline Pascual as first runner-up. However, Miss Wallace was fired from her duties and the pageant organizers offered Evangeline the remaining duties of Miss World— without the title—for the remainder of the year. She rejected the offer.
Evangeline went into show business after her stint in Miss World, playing lead roles with famous Philippine actors such as the late Fernando Poe, Jr., Ramon Zamora, Tony Ferrer and Rey Malonzo. Aside from being an actress on film and TV, she also has a long-running radio talk show, Echoes of the Heart on DWIZ 882 kHz AM in the Philippines. Evangeline is also an artist, having had exhibits in the Philippines and abroad.
The Miss World pageant started in 1951, as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations, founded by the late Eric Morley. At present, the pageant is headed by its Chairman, my dear friend Julia Morley and it has franchises in over 130 countries, raising over $400 million for charities and organizations. It is also the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. fef
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Mea culpa: Last week, I mistakenly wrote that Star of All Seasons and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos is married to Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, when in fact she is actually married to Sen. Ralph Recto. Pangilinan is the husband of Megastar Sharon Cuneta. My apologies to the readers for this mix up!
