It’s GAME ON for the remaining Binibining Pilipinas winners who are set to compete for their respective titles. With Philippine candidate Elizabeth Clenci being the first to fly off to Vietnam, where she was named Miss Grand International Second Runner-up, the pressure is surely heating up for the remaining six candidates including Miss World Philippines 2017, Teresita Sean “WinWyn” Marquez. Joining her in their quest for back-to-back wins are Rachel Peters (Miss Universe Philippines 2017), Maria Angelica de Leon (Bb Pilipinas International 2017), Chanel Olive Thomas (Bb Pilipinas Supranational 2017), Katarina Sonja Rodriguez (Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental 2017), and Nelda Ibe (Bb Pilipinas Globe 2017).
Ibe is currently in Albania competing for Miss Globe 2017, while De Leon, Marquez and Peters are getting ready for Miss International, Miss World and Miss Universe, respectively.
Miss International will be held on November 14 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Japan, Miss World will be held on November 18 at the Sanya City Arena in China,
while Miss Universe is on November 26 at The AXIS, Las Vegas, Nevada.
As for Thomas, she will be flying to two countries, Poland and the Slovak Republic, where Miss Supranational 2017 will be taking place. Finals will be held on December 1, 2017 in the spa resort city of Krynica Zdroj, Poland. Rodriguez, on the other hand, will be vying for Miss Intercontinental 2017 to be held in Sri Lanka on December 21.
The Philippines has consistently been in the top 5 of each of these beauty pageants over the last six years, rendering the country as a strong contender, like a force to reckon with. That might be proven true again this year because our line-up of candidates is pretty solid.
In fact, our 24-year-old pilot beauty queen Nelda Ibe from Tarlac came out like a vision when she was decked out in a Sampaguita-inspired national costume. Ibe was clad in a white and grass green mermaid Filipiniana gown designed by Fredrick Berches. Before winning Bb. Pilipinas Globe, she was 2014 Miss World Philippines second Princess.
Gearing up for the upcoming Miss International and also aiming for a back-to-back victory is Mariel De Leon. The reigning Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza would be very happy to crown Mariel as her successor as they have set their eyes on achieving the first back-to-back victory in the said pageant. De Leon is 23 years old and is from Las Pinas. She is an opera singer. She was a Bb Pilipinas semifinalist in 2013 and the daughter of veteran actor Christopher De Leon and actress Sandy Andolong whom she definitely got her looks and charm from.
Speaking of Miss International, one of the candidates and Miss International UK Ashley Powell has recently returned from the Philippines as part of her preparation for the Miss pageant. You heard that right! She actually went to the Philippines for pageant training and collect her evening gown that was designed by none other than world-renowned Filipino designer Leo Almodal. Almodal is famous for his creations for Miss Universe candidates especially Miss Great Britain and Miss US Virgin Island. Looks like our country is becoming famous not just in producing “pageant-winners” but “winner-gowns.”
Going back to our candidates who are dead set on winning the crown: one of them is actress WinWyn Marquez. Marquez joined Binibining Pilipinas in the same year Pia Wurtzbach won the title and, eventually, the Miss Universe crown. And this time, upon winning Miss Philippines-World, it is Marquez’s turn to bring pride to our country, starting with her celebrity parents Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno who have been very supportive of her journey. Among her achievements as a beauty queen was being crowned Reina Hispanoamerica 2017. She is the first Filipina to compete in the said pageant. It was held in Bolivia.
With just weeks away from the pageant, Miss Philippines-Universe Rachel Peters
could not wait to get out there and show the ‘Universe’ that the Philippines has still got it! Peters is 25 years old and is from Camarines Sur. She is a graduate of La Trobe University in Australia. She won Best in Swimsuit, She’s so Jag, and Miss Photogenic in Binibining Pilipinas 2017. Her flawless performance, energy and fierceness got are her best assets. Watch out Universe, you may witness another “Pia Wurtzbach” this year.
Christmas may even come early this year because come December, our Miss Supranational and Miss Intercontinental 2017 candidates are off to Poland and Sri Lanka to compete – and boy, are they fixed on bringing home the crown. Chanel Olive Thomas is competing for Miss Supranational 2017 and is determined to sweep the judges off their feet with her confidence, spontaneity and great runway skills. The 26-year-old from Nueva Ecija won 2015 Miss Philippines Earth-air and might just get lucky again this year.
Last but not the least is our 24-year-old Davao beauty and a Top 3 finalist during the “Asia’s Next Top Model” cycle 2. Katarina Sonja Rodriguez is oozing with personality and would no doubt win over the judges the moment she walked on stage. Rodriquez is set to leave for Sri Lanka next month for the Miss Intercontinental 2017 on December 21.
My heart leaps in excitement as I write about our beauty queens. All of them have what it takes to achieve that winning streak that we seem to be quite known for in the past couple of years. And though I say “Good luck” to all of them, I know that luck has nothing to do with it. They have the potential to put our name — The Philippines — as the ‘strongest’ contender that beauty pageants ever encountered.
To our gorgeous candidates: Have a safe trip and remember to have fun! We will be cheering for you with pride and optimism!
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Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at [email protected]
