Los Angeles – The first ever search for Miss World Philippines USA is officially on, after the recent kick off event hosted by McLelland Entertainment Production, the sole franchise holder of MWP-USA.
In an exclusive interview with Asian Journal on the sideline of the official launch of MWP-USA to the public last May 16 at Invincinal Village in Beverly Hills, MEP executive director Mary Jane McLelland said being able to bring to Miss World Philippines to the United States has always been part of her passion of inspiring and showcasing Filipino women’s beauty and talent to the world.
“It’s my passion and it’s my core and I want to inspire people. Specifically, I want to empower women. I want women specially Filipina women to shine not only in the Philippines, United States but to the whole world,” said MJ, as she is fondly called by her family and friends in the industry.
MJ is not new to the pageantry world. She owns the franchise for Miss World Philippines in six provinces in Western Visayas and Binibining Pilipinas Quezon City.
Targeting to hold the coronation night by August this year, MJ said even before the official launch of MWP-USA, they have been a number of interests to join the pageant coming in.
“This is the first ever Miss World Philippines USA pageant and we’re very excited. We’ve been getting a lot of inquiries before the launch. Now after the launch, we hope to get more girls from all over the U.S. to join the pageant,” she said.
Asked what will set this very first MWP-USA pageant apart from other beauty contests here in the U.S., MJ said “we will definitely step up on our production. This will set a high standard in pageantry. I want to make it big and memorable for not only the candidates but also to the whole Filipino-American community here in the U.S.”
MJ said they will make sure that this maiden MWP-USA event will raise the bar of excellence in the pageantry world. “I am confident that we will be able to produce and send Filipino-American beauty queens who will represent the Philippines and the United States (being a Fil-Am) to global beauty pageants with flying colors,” she said.
“MWP USA is dedicated to celebrating the Filipino culture and Filipino American excellence providing a platform advocacies to affect and affect a change to the vibrant world of pageantry and all its partnerships. With a growth on personal growth, community service and advocacy building. MWP USA is headed to set standards of who the global Filipino beauty with a purpose, is,” MJ said.
McLelland daughter, Francesca Beatriz, competed in Miss World Philippines 2022 and won one of the crowns and competed in Egypt and won the First Princess Crown.
During the launch, Beatriz said “When you join beauty contests you really need to know yourself, what you’re passionate about. What we are looking for in the US is someone who is proud of being Filipino… We give Fil-Ams a choice to represent the Filipinos, it’s all about breaking borders, it’s about finding the right Filipina that would represent both cultures and make sure she shines within.”
Miss World Philippines is a prestigious beauty pageant that selects the country’s representatives for the Miss World competition, one of the Big Four international beauty pageants. The pageant also sends representatives to minor international pageants such as Miss Eco International.
The pageant was officially launched on March 23, 2011, at the SMDC Showroom at the SM Mall of Asia. Arnold Vegafria took over as the national director on January 16, 2017, after serving as the talent manager for Miss World 2013 Megan Young. Under Vegafria’s leadership, the pageant now awards seven additional titles, including Miss Supranational Philippines, Miss Eco Philippines, Reina Hispanoamericana – Filipinas, Miss Multinational Philippines, Miss Philippines Tourism, Miss Eco Teen Philippines, and Miss Environment Philippines.
Notable title holders include Megan Lynne Talde Young, who was also crowned as Miss World in 2013, making her the first Filipina to win the title, and Catriona Gray, who won in 2016 and later became Miss Universe in 2018.
Two titles would be at stake at the MWP-USA 2024 pageant: Miss World Philippines USA 2024 and Miss Grand Philippines USA 2024.The two winners will compete in Manila for the Miss World Philippines 2024 and Miss Grand Philippines 2024 later this year.
MJ said as they have already started with some preliminary screenings of candidates, they are hoping that they would be able to announce the list of candidates by end of June.
According to MJ, the qualifications to join the MWP-USA are: age must be 17-27 years old; at least 5’4 in height, Filipino-American citizen; female,never been married nor borne a child; beauty and brain.
For more inquiries please contact this number 562-541-2267 or email at [email protected] n
