THIRD time’s a charm they say, and it came true for Mary Jean Lastimosa. MJ, as her friends and family fondly call her, was crowned Miss Philippines Universe 2014 during the Binibining Pilipinas pageant at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City last March 30.
The other winners are Bb. Pilipinas-International Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti; Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational Yvethe Marie Santiago; Parul Shah, who won the Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism title, and Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental Kris Tiffany Janson. Laura Lehmann and Hannah Ruth Sison won first and second runner up respectively.
MJ first joined the pageant in 2011 but just placed as second runner-up. On her second attempt in 2012, she failed to make it to the Top 5 but was able to take home special awards for Bb. Avon and Bb. Philippine Airlines. This year was her chance to shine.
“It’s my third time! I want to show everyone [to] ‘never say never,’ she said in an interview with Inquirer.net. “A dream is a dream. If you have a dream, work on it. If it’s in your heart, then never give up.”
The 26-year-old beauty almost failed to make the cut because the previous age limit in the pageant was 25 years old. However, organizer changed the age limit to 26 to accommodate those still qualified under the age requirement for other global competitions.
MJ has been in the beauty pageant circuit for years, and her previous titles include Mutya ng Dabaw and Reyna ng Aliwan, both in 2008. In 2012, she represented the Philippines in the Miss Asean pageant in which she was included in the Top 10.
Born and raised in North Cotabato, MJ holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree from the University of Mindanao. She is a devout Catholic, and various Filipino Catholic groups in her advocacy offered Holy Mass intentions and prayers for her coronation. She is also a fitness advocate and entrepreneur, and has established a slimming center in Davao City.
The pressure is on MJ now, who hopes to continue the Philippine’s winning streak in the Miss Universe pageant. In the last four years, the country’s representatives have been winning top spots, which started in 2010 when Venus Raj placed fifth. In 2011, Shamcey Supsup finished fourth, while Janine Tugonon almost bagged the crown the following year. Ariella Arida finished third runner-up last year.
It has been forty years since the Philippines won the Miss Universe crown with Margie Moran in 1973. Gloria Diaz was the first Filipina to be proclaimed in 1969. Will MJ continue her “third time charm?”
