Hataw Beauties

So how come Miss Philippines' Queenierich Rehman didn't win the Talent?

2012-08-21T22:56:00.012-07:00

Miss Philippines Queenierich Rehman received an standing ovation for her not-your-typical talent choice for a beauty pageant. Her beatboxing performance was said to be the first of its kind in the long history of Miss World pageant. Miss Philippines' video performance during the Miss World 2012 Talent Finals has gone viral online. (Video Captured: live.wsj.com/video)

..all of the contestants have been overshadowed by Miss World Philippines, Quenerich Rehman, who has gone viral with her beatboxing performance of “Teach Me How to Dougie” and other hip-hop songs. Definitely not something you’d see at the Miss Universe pageant.
-Miss World Pageant: What in the world is it?
washingtonpost.com/blogs

The Philippines' Miss World 2012 contestant Quenerich Rehman amazes the audience with an unusual beauty pageant performance.
-Miss Philippines Shows Off Her Beatboxing Skills
Wall Street Journal

Miss Philippines has surprised observers at the Miss World 2012 pageant with her hidden talents. The teasing introduction - "the first ever performance of this type in this world" - gave little away. The 23-year-old Queenierich Rehman took to the stage to show off beatboxing skills and it was quite an impressive performance..
-Miss World 2012: Miss Philippines Shows off Beat-Boxing Skills
International Business Times

A video of the 23-year-old Las Piñas City beauty’s beatboxing performance—said to be the first of its kind in the history of the long-running pageant—during the recently held Miss World Talent Finals Night in China has gone viral online, earning considerable mention from various no-nonsense foreign publications.
-PHL’s Miss World Bet Wows The World With Beatboxing PerformanceManila Bulletin

The results of the 2012 Miss World pageant won't be announced until Saturday, but anyone who's seen footage of one contestant beatboxing onstage during the talent portion of the competition can agree: Miss Philippines has already won the title of "Miss Buzzworthy" It's a perfectly lovely and very typical pageant performance -- until the beat is dropped, straight from the contestant's mouth.
-Beat-boxing beauty queen wows Miss World judges
CBC News

We’ll say one thing for Queenierich Rehman: she can sure drop a beat. During the talent segment of the Miss World 2012 competition, Miss Philippines strode out on stage in an evening dress and began singing — but that was only a prelude to some serious funkiness. The 23-year-old then proceded to bust out some serious beat-boxing, ’80s style, while singing and air-record scratching for good measure.
-The Philippines’ Beat-Boxing Miss World Contestant
TIME

When it comes to the talent portion of beauty pageants, the typical menu of items includes singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument and the occasional death-defying stunt (blazing fire batons, anyone?). Then there is Queenierich Rehman, the Filipina pageant contestant who may singlehandedly make talent acts cool with her wildly impressive skillz (yes, skillz with a z). For the talent portion of Miss World 2012, currently happening in China, Rehman sang... and beatboxed. At the same time. And girl is one hell of a beatboxer.
-Queenierich Rehman, Philippines' Miss World 2012 Contestant, Beatboxes
The Huffington Post

Miss Philippines Queenierich Rehman made crowd go wild as she took on hits by Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Usher. She put on the unconventional performance during last week’s Talent round where competitors are encouraged to show something special on stage, a requirement which Miss Rehman definitely fulfilled.
-Miss Philippines beauty queen competitor reveals secret talent and stuns audience with awesome beatbox routine
Daily Mail

So how come Miss Philippines' Queenierich Rehman didn't win the Talent? Everyone thought it was a given.

Like Miss Philippines Queenierich Rehman for Miss World's Multimedia Award

2012-08-15T00:14:00.010-07:00

Hit LIKE: Help Queenierich Rehman conquer Miss World.

Like:Miss World - Philippines

By this time, Miss World Philippines 2012 Queenierich Rehman, has already competed in some of the fast track events of the 2012 Miss World in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China.

Customary to the Miss World pageant, fast track events like Top Model, Beach Beauty, Sports, Talent and Beauty with a Purpose let candidates earn points in the Miss World scoreboard.

Just a few days ago, Rehman received a standing ovation from the audience and fellow contestants in the Talent Competition for showcasing her beatboxing prowess, an unusual talent in beauty pageants.

She also made it to the top 47 candidates who will strut their stuff in the runway for the final Top Model Competition on August 12, also a fast track event.

New to this year’s edition is the Miss World Multimedia Award. Candidates will have a section in the Miss World website where they can update their fans and followers through their official Facebook page.

The candidate with the most impressive presentation will gain points in the Miss World scoreboard that will help her advance in the next stage of the competition.

To win the Miss World Multimedia Award, Queenierich is relying on all her social media-savvy kababayans for support.

By liking her official Facebook Page, our Miss World contender can bring glory to the country. Queenierich currently has 20,000 likes and ranks behind Nepal and Vietnam.

The Miss World Finals will be held on August 18 and will be aired live from Ordos on TV5.

Featured Article: interaksyon.com

Miss Philippines Queenierich Rehman's Beatboxing on Miss World 2012 Talent Finals

2012-08-14T00:27:00.004-07:00

Here's the beatboxing performance that brought Miss World - Philippines Queenierich Rehman on Top 5 Performing Talent Finalist.

Miss World 2012 Fashion: Meet The Designers

2012-08-13T21:48:00.032-07:00

Meet some of the world's best designers and check out their stunning creations.

Philippines

Michael Cinco

Michael Cinco, another Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer, was featured twice on the popular America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) last year—as guest designer in Cycle 16 early in the year, and as finale designer in the last quarter’s Cycle 17 ANTM All-Stars. After about a decade in the Gulf, Samar-born Michael, a fine arts scholar of the University of the Philippines, is moving into the international limelight.

Michael has been in the Middle East since 1997. “Dubai is a melting pot in the Middle East. You usually experience racial discrimination anywhere in this world. Most of my clients are women from the Gulf area. At first I had clients who had doubts about me because of my nationality. But the moment I am able to convince them with the beautiful creations I make for them, they become confident.

His advice to aspiring fashion designers: Dream great dreams. Believe in yourself and in God. “Believe that impalpable dreams do come true.”

Australia

BELLUCCIO

Created by Julie Sufi in 2009, BELLUCCIO has been derived to provide eminent red carpet evening wear, bridal wear and formal wear. BELLUCCIO has gained recognition for its exclusive dressmaking expertise. Every dress is hand made to the highest standards of couture reflecting their exclusivity and unicity.

The extraordinary designs tend to be influenced by vintage and Asian influences giving them its unique edge within the fashion industry. BELLUCCIO’s signature lays on the use of embellishments such as sequins, glass beads, bugle beads, seed beads, swarovski crystals, diamontes and pearls resulting in our creations to shine and reflect every ray of light.

United States

Alexander Berardi

The Alexander Berardi collection is a reflection of Alex's childhood spent between colonial Hurley, NY, Manhattan's Upper East Side, and Martha's Vineyard. The collection highlights his ability to transform these influences to create a new American look. In September 2010 he became the youngest designer to show on the runway at the new Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center as well as the first American designer to present on the runway at Toronto's LG Fashion Week.

South Sudan

Monica Kanari

Monica Kanari was born in 1971 in Nairobi, Kenya. She grew up with a strong influence in fashion from her mother who was a tailor and had a Dressmaking business. In her years as a young fashion designer her skills did not go unnoticed. She won the Smirnoff Fashion Awards, Kenya, in 1995 as a student and 2000 as a professional. In 2006 she won The Redds Fashion Awards, Kenya.

Monica is the only Kenyan fashion designer to win three International fashion awards, two before she did any professional training. In 2003, Monica visited Australia and had the opportunity to train under Tracy Seywell, a professional fashion designer, to enhance her skills.

Fashion is Monica Kanari’s passion. She is greatly inspired by our African Cultures,
especially the traditional dress of Kenya’s Maasai, Turkana, Pokot and Kikuyu and
more recently the newly designed Kenya National Dress. She is particularly known for her modern dress designs with an African flair. She has also become well known for her beautiful African bridal gowns and evening dresses. She gives traditional ornaments a very modern look.

Seychelles

Michelle Miglionico

Michele Miglionico was born in Milan on 9th May 1965. In 1989 he opened his atelier in Potenza. He considers himself a self-taught person although he learnt from his father, a well known tailor in Milan.

Faithful to the aesthetic sense of the Couture, Michele Miglionico’s style is luxurious and refined, rigorous but not minimal, sober and aristocratic, thought for a sophisticated and cosmopolitan woman. A woman with a thin, fluid and female silhouette, with a refined sensuality. A good mix of modern romanticism and classicism. Favourite colours: white, black and scarlet red. Red is a constant element of Miglionico’s style; it’s a fascinating moment, of contemporary refined seduction. It’s a symbol of love but also of great passion. Among the favorite crepe fabrics in all its forms, crepe georgette, double wool crepe, soft cashmere and silk muslin.

Russia

Valentin Yudashkin

Valentin Yudashkin is Russia’s most famous fashion designer and a decorated member of the Academy of Arts of the Russian Federation. He is also honored with a rank of National artist of Russia. His clothes are displayed in the Louvre Museum of Clothes in Paris, the California Museum of Fashion in Los Angeles, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the State Historical Museum in Moscow and in other museums around the World.

Valentin Yudashkin is the only ever Russian designer to be honoured with membership of the Syndicate of High Fashion in Paris. His first collection was created in 1987, and he has since created more than 40 collections. At present the “Valentin Yudashkin” brand can be found in his boutiques in many Russian and foreign cities and interest is increasing rapidly. Valentin Yudashkin’s collections have been shown during the weeks of haute couture and prêt-a-porter in Paris, Milan, New York, and other cities.

Malaysia

Von Jolly Couture

Evolution versus revolution; subtle changes indicate evolution whilst a storm of change dictates revolution. Like Marxism, revolutionist of fashion trends dared venture into a whole new brand of styles and designs to bring the exposure of Malaysia Contemporary Batik – hand painted wax resist technique to the world!

For Raymond Jolly and Aaron G. Von Jolly, this is done without tarnishing the true meaning of Batik by ensuring the balance of mural verses overall cutting of the clothes; a proper canvas revealing the story behind the Batik design pervasive as the ripple of the mind.

Fashion and lifestyle to these creative duos are part of the great celebration of sophistication, elitism, luxury and refinement. However, practicality is very much the spearhead in their creations through the harmony of elegance and comfort. Colors, life and movement express their style and strength, embodying absolute class.

Poland

Maciej Zien

Maciej Zien is a polish fashion designer who has had a brilliant career in Poland. His designs were worn by former First Lady of Poland, Jolanta Kwasniewska, Patricia Kaas, Aneta Kreglicka (Miss World 1989) as well as many Polish celebrities, actresses and singers.

Belize

Rebecca Stirm

Born and raised in Belize, self taught clothing designer, Rebecca Stirm, began sewing her own clothing at the age of 11. “My parents were very supportive; they saw potential in me and managed to get me Brother sewing machine on sale at ‘Courts’. Since I had been sewing by hand for a long time, I was eager to learn to use the machine. I cut apart old clothes to see how they were made, and cut and re-shaped old patterns to make them my size. I basically learnt to make patterns and sew them together through trial and error while sewing for myself as a preteen.”

Sketching designs and sewing were merely a hobby for her until 2009, when she was encouraged by a close friend to hold her first fashion show. In early 2010, she was given the opportunity to show a few dresses in a charity fashion show (Help for Haiti). Inspired by seeing her pieces on the runway for the first time, Rebecca created her first collection of day dresses and cocktail dresses - paying for the fabric and trimmings by working Friday nights playing the acoustic guitar and singing at a coffee house. Close friends and family pulled in to help Rebecca plan, advertise, and execute her first show. The “August Fashion Show” was a success- and she received her first orders for dresses from her collection.

Bulgaria

Sofia Borisova

Sofia Borissova is the founder and Chief Designer at Romantika Fashion House. Romantika Fashion House specializes in Evening and Wedding Dresses. Sofia Borissova is the official stylist of beauty contests such as "Miss Bulgaria", "Miss Sirens," "Miss Summer International," "Queen of Bulgaria", "Bulgaria's Top Model" and others.

Latvia

Natalija Jansone

Natalija Jansone is a well-known and recognised designer in Latvia. She has been invited to design for various stage shows and performances, to create advertising collections for different brands and has done styling for popular public places such as hotels, bars and restaurants. Her interest in Asian especially Korean culture comes through in her work – Natalija has studied the Korean language and tradition.

From 1985-1990 she studied at the Faculty of Eastern Philology at St Petersburg University and in 1994-1995 she extended her knowledge at Yonsenj Universitu, Seoul. 2005-2007 she has won a completion organised by the EU for European designers, the prize for which is the chance to participate in the exhibition “EU Gateway to Japan” and in 2005 she signed up the first order for clothes production so now her designs are not alone available in Latvia but also in Japan. This is why Natalija was nominated for “Eksporta gada balva 2006”

Miss World 2012: Top Model 10 Finalists!

2012-08-12T00:30:00.008-07:00

Miss World 2012 Top Model competition started with 56 picks to 46 Semi-finalists and it's now narrowed down to 10. The 10 Finalists were announced and the winner will be announced during the 2012 Miss World Live final on Saturday 18th August.

Missworld.com Live Updates:

The crowd are anxiously waiting for the start of the show.....it will start very very soon!

An amazing flash of light and music welcomes the first group of contestants to the runway.....

Turkey is the first contestants to walk down the beautiful catwalk fashioning a multi-coloured scarf.....

The next contestants are out on the catwalk, all are in beautiful bright colours....

The contestants stand in front of a beautifully animated backdrop...

Brazil confidently strides out onto the catwalk ......this part of the show is casual cashmere creations....

Spain has just appeared on the catwalk in a bright orange creation.....

The contestants continue to parade down the catwalk with blue oriented fashions with upbeat music the contestants in the audience are cheering on their friends....

The contestants all re-emerge wearing log beautifully coloured dresses.....Photos coming soon!!!

Contestants are now on stage in vibrant coloured summer evening dresses.......

South Sudan stepping expertly in a light flowy blue skirt teamed with a which blue and red top.....

England strides out in an intricately designed bell shaped blue dress.....

The whole set lights up..... fast summery music is played and all contestants file out on stage in the various designs to the sound of vigorous applause and exploding confetti!!!

The contestants are now joined on stage by a group of male models who all parade down the runway in brown and cream colours.....

Angola is follwed by Hong Kong China who is followed by Denmark ....all dressed in exquisitely designed long evening wear in brown colours....

The contestants all line up along the top of the catwalk applauding... Grahame Black, the designer walks out to applause signallng the end of the show.....

The sound of loud music and bright dresses the contestants all re-appear for what looks to be the last walk....all spaced very close together as they walk down the runway...

Miss World 2012 Top Model Results!

Top 10

Australia – Jessica Kahawaty
Belize – Chantae Chanice Guy
Brazil – Mariana Notarangelo
Chile – Camila Recabarren
China PR – Wen Xia Yu
Jamaica – Deanna Robins
Mexico – Mariana Berumen
Poland – Weronika Szmajdzińska
South Sudan – Atong Demach
Spain – Aránzazu Estévez

Top 46

Angola – Edmilza dos Santos
Argentina – Josefina Herrero
Austria – Amina Dagi
Bahamas – Daronique Young
Bermuda – Rochelle Minors
Bosnia & Herzegovina – Fikreta Husić
Bulgaria – Gabriela Vasileva
Colombia – Barbara Turbay
Cote d'Ivoire – Hélène-Valerie Djouka
Denmark – Iris Thomsen
England – Charlotte Holmes
Gabon – Marie-Noëlle Ada
Guadeloupe – Brigitte Golabkan
Guatemala – Monique Aparicio
Hong Kong China – Kelly Cheung
India – Vanya Mishra
Ireland – Rebecca Maguire
Israel – Shani Hazan
Japan – Nozomi Igarashi
Kazakhstan – Evgeniya Klishina
Kenya – Shamim Nabil
Lithuania – Rasa Vereniūtė
Mongolia – Bayarmaa Huselbaatar
Nigeria – Damiete Charles-Granville
Philippines – Queenierich Rehman
Puerto Rico – Janelee Chaparro
Slovakia – Kristína Krajčírová
Sri Lanka – Sumudu Prasadini
Suriname – Stefanie Grace Gentle
Sweden – Sanna Jinnedal
Thailand – Vanessa Herrmann
Trinidad & Tobago – Athaliah Samuel
Turkey – Açalya Samyeli Danoğlu
Ukraine – Karina Zhyronkina
Venezuela – Gabriella Ferrari
Wales – Sophie Moulds

Top 56

Belgium – Laura Beyne
Dominican Republic – Saly Aponte Tejada
France – Delphine Wespiser
Indonesia – Ines Putri Tjiptadi Chandra
Lebanon – Sonia-Lynn Gabriel
Malta – Daniela Darmanin
Seychelles – Sherlyn Ferneau
South Africa – Remona Moodley
Tanzania – Lisa Jensen
United States – Claudine Book

Photos: Miss World

Miss World 2012: Sports & Fitness Final

2012-08-09T01:21:00.002-07:00

Here are the results of the Miss World 2012: Sports& Fitness Final:

Swimming

Portugal – Melanie Vicente (1st)
Barbados – Marielle Eoen Wilkie (2nd)
Macau China – Winnie Sin (3rd)

Long Jump

England – Charlotte Holmes (1st)
Sweden – Sanna Jinnedal (2nd)
Northern Ireland – Tiffani Brien (3rd)

Penalty Shoot Out

Sweden – Sanna Jinnedal (tied)
Uganda – Phiona Bizzu (tied)

Relay Race

(Group 2)

Dominican Republic – Saly Aponte Tejada
Sweden – Sanna Jinnedal
Jamaica – Deanna Robins
Slovenia – Nives Orešnik
Hungary – Tamara Cserhati
Germany – Martina Ivezaj

Shuttle Run:

(Group 1)

Colombia – Barbara Turbay
Barbados – Marielle Eoen Wilkie
Macau China – Winnie Sin
Northern Ireland – Tiffani Brien
Scotland – Nicole Treacy
Austria – Amina Dagi

100 Meter Sprint

Scotland – Nicole Treacy

Miss World 2012: Top 5 Performing Talent!

2012-08-08T01:04:00.002-07:00

The Top 5 finalists for Miss World 2012's Talent Competition have been chosen. Meet them:

Miss World Top 5 Talent Finalists talk about their performances:

Wenxia Yu, China PR
I will sing a song called Luhua (flower) in the talent show. The song is composed by Yin Qing and He Dongjin. It is selected from the famous musical, A Soldier’s Diary and is about a girl desperately waiting for her lover – a soldier – to come back so they can be together forever.

Deanna Robins, Jamaica
I am performing modern and contemporary dance to Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. The dance is a reflection of the hardships overcome and the eventual deliverance felt by the Jamaican slaves as a result of their perseverance and subsequent freedom.

Karoline Owen, Norway
My talent is singing, and the song I’m going to sing is Autumn Leaves in the style of Eva Cassidy. This song holds a lot of meaning for me because it was my inspiration to start singing.

Maricely Gonzalez Pomares, Panama
Colors of the Wind reminds me of my childhood. When I was five years old my mother gave me a cassette with Disney songs and I wouldn’t stop singing - especially this song that shares such a beautiful message with the world.

Queneerich Rehman, Philippines
Beatboxing is a skill where a person uses their mouth and throat to produce different kinds of sounds – imitating certain beats and melodies. The first time I heard Justin Timberlake beatbox in his music video, Rock Your Body in 2003, I was so amazed and thrilled to learn it. Finally, I recorded it in my phone and listened to it over and over again until I learnt the basics. From then on, my beatboxing skills developed as I watched tutorials online, the rest was history.

Missworld.com's Live Updates of the Talent Final 2012:

China PR: Wenxia Yu of China PR glides onstage in a red gown with jewelled waist. Huge roar from the crowd. Her voice is high and lilting and fills every corner of the theatre. A poignant performance, her vocal range is incredible. she hits high notes with ease. it's awe inspiring and very accomplished.

Huge applause, the audience are simply in awe..

Jamaica: The familiar opening chords of Bob Marley's Redemption Song sound and Deanna Robins of Jamaica appears in a dazzling sequinned headband with a black leotard striped with the Jamaican national colours.

She is lithe and gazelle-like doing splits and moving so fluidly, plus the joy on her face is captivating. She moves between the stage floor and then arcs heavenward with a series of leaps. Though it's graceful it's also incredibly boisturous and fun and the audience are awestruck!

Norway: The gentle guitar intro of Autumn leaves begins and Karoline Owen of Norway crosses the stage. Her voice is soft but piercing and the way she plays round with the notes is astounding.

It's simply beautiful, the strength yet the fragility in her voice has the audience captivated.

Panama: Maricely Pomares of Panama takes the stage in a gorgeous gold and pink lame corset dress as the opening bars of Disney's Colors of the Wind are heard

She starts the song in English and her voice is clear and pure. As she hits the middle of the song - and some stunning high notes - she changes to Spanish. It's such a lovely touch and the audience really enjoy it.

Philippines: Now for something very unique, our first beat boxer with just a mike. Philippines, in a slinky black fringed catsuit sings the opening lines of a ballad and THEN.....

it sounds as if a drum machine has come on, but NO! it's her!! Drum beats, remixing noises, scratching and beeping noises! She does it all! The tempo picks up, everyone is astounded, they're going mad!! She breaks into Usher's Yeah! which goes down so well. She hits us with some actual drumrolls and drops her voice oto a growl. Jaws hit the floor and the crowd go wild!

The host invites her down to the crowd to teach some beatboxing to a lucky audience member! The crowd cheer as they perform a duet.

Miss World 2012: Beauty Quotes

2012-08-04T22:39:00.002-07:00

I'll quote from a great philosopher, Rumi: 'Be like the sun for grace and mercy. Be like the night to cover others' faults. Be like running water for generosity. Be like death for rage and anger. Be like the Earth for modesty. Appear as you are or be as you appear.' - Açalya Samyeli Danoğlu (Turkey)

It is not from the gifts given, it is what one becomes from such gifts - Jessica Kahawaty (Australia)

Life isn't about fitting in, it's about standing out. Live life, do not just exist - Vũ Thị Hoàng My (Vietnam)

Love me or not, I'm still going to strive - Sanna Jinnedal (Sweden)

Be honest to yourself, bring joy to the world - Gabriella Ferrari (Venezuela)

What are your thoughts? They are your life - Bojana Lecic (Serbia)

Give 100% in everything in order to get 100% results - Queenierich Rehman (Philippines)

Anything worth having is worth working for - Rebecca Maguire (Ireland)

Never underestimate the power of your mind to change your destiny - Vanya Mishra (India)

Live life to the fullest with no regrets, and continue to discover the undiscoverable - Lauren Lawson (Nicaragua)

Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there! - Collette Lochore (New Zealand)

The only way to enjoy anything in life is to earn it first - Maja Nikolić (Croatia)

Don't try to be someone else and stay true to who you are because there's only one of you in existence - Yvonne Lee (Malaysia)

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, as long as ever you can - Monique Aparicio (Guatemala)

Beauty will save the world if beauty has a good heart - Anastasija Skibunova (Latvia)

Stand up for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone - Tamara Cserháti (Hungary)

Everything is going to be OK. Just keep going and remember to be compassionate with everyone, and realise how lucky you are. Have fun! - Claudine Book (United States)

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams - Nathalie den Dekker (Netherlands)

My thoughts are my own and the only things nobody can take from me - Martina Ivezaj (Germany)

Aspire to inspire before you expire - Phiona Bizzu (Uganda)

Everything that you desire in life, visualise it as already done and it will become part of your future - Janelee Chaparro (Puerto Rico)

Don't follow the beaten path. Go your own way and leave a trail - Sally Aponte Tejada (Domincan Republic)

Have faith in your dreams and, with hard work, they will become your reality - Shristi Shrestha (Nepal)

Never treat others in a way you would not like to be treated yourself - Linda Bartošová (Czech Republic)

Do all you can while you can and live like there is no tomorrow - Daronique Young (Bahamas)

Miss World 2012: Top 40 Beach Fashion

2012-08-02T02:35:00.015-07:00

Miss World 2012 Beach Fashion Top 40 semi-finalists announced! Top winner from this category will announced on the Finals night on August 18, 2012.

Top 40 Semi Finalists

Argentina – Josefina Herrero
Australia – Jessica Kahawaty
Brazil – Mariana Notarangelo
China PR – Wen Xia Yu
Colombia – Barbara Turbay
Cyprus - Georgia Georgiou

Czech Republic – Linda Bartošová
Equatorial Guinea - Jennifer Rivero Ilende
Fiji - Koini Vakaloloma
Guadeloupe – Brigitte Golabkan
Guatemala – Monique Aparicio
Hong Kong China - Kelly Cheung
India – Vanya Mishra
Indonesia - Ines Putri Tjiptadi Chandra
Israel – Shani Hazan

Italy - Jessica Bellinghieri
Jamaica - Deanna Robins
Japan – Nozomi Igarashi
Kazakhstan - Evgenia Klishina
Kenya – Shamim Nabil
Latvia - Anastasija Skibunova
Martinique - Andy Govindin

Mexico – Mariana Berumen
Mongolia – Bayarmaa Huselbaatar
Nepal - Shristi Shrestha
Netherlands - Nathalie den Dekker
Nigeria – Damiete Charles-Granville
Northern Ireland - Tiffany Brien

Philippines – Queenierich Rehman
Poland – Weronika Szmajdzińska
Portugal - Melanie Vicente
Puerto Rico – Janelee Chaparro
South Africa - Remona Moodley
South Sudan – Atong Demach
Spain – Aránzazu Estévez

Sweden – Sanna Jinnedal
Trinidad & Tobago – Athaliah Samuel
Ukraine – Karina Zhyronkina
Vietnam - Vũ Thị Hoàng My

Wales – Sophie Moulds

Miss World 2012 Designer's Dress: Red Alert!

2012-07-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

It is very interesting to take a look at Chinese fashion specially their choice of color. Red can’t go wrong in China. The 2012 Miss World Designer Award Competition held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia China has actually lots of red dresses: elegant, stunning and powerful!

BARBADOS
Marielle Eoen Wilkie

A luxurious, one shoulder, floor length gown with flowing train. The beautifully handcrafted bodice is made of delicately ruched black polysilk which is adorned with hibiscus flowers of embroidered ribbon. The flowers are further accentuated with red gems and sequins. A jewel encrusted asymmetrical strap stretches diagonally across the chest, whilst gauzy tulle cascades in gentle waves over the shimmery red sequin skirt which flows off into beautiful sweeping train.

BRAZIL
Mariana Notarangel

A red evening gown adorned with feathers and small stones.

CHINA PR
Wenxia Yu

A marvellous fitted gown made of gauze fabric and lace, adorned with handmade flowers and decorative beads. The fitted bodice features one shoulder and a short sleeve on the right whilst the full length skirt features a decorative bow on the waist.

COLOMBIA
Barbara Turbay

A black and white Mikado silk creation in a column style with a V shaped neckline and black crystal bordering.

ECUADOR
Cipriana Correia

An elegant gown made of silk inspired by the beautiful beaches of the Province of Esmeraldena along the Ecuadorian Coast. The mermaid style gown features a deep neckline and elegant train and is adorned with Swarovski crystals and embroidered beading.

EL SAVADOR
Maria Luisa Vicuna Zamorano

A lace, tulle and brocade fabric creation inspired by Egyptian styles. The long red dress is of a gooseneck design, fitted body and features a mermaid style skirt adorned with synthetic feathers and semi precious red crystals.

ENGLAND
Charlotte Holmes

Entitled ‘Chinese Fire’, this rust coloured silk dress is handmade to measure and is one of a kind. It has one shoulder with flame like ruching around the bodice. It has sequined detail around the bust featuring over 500 individually stitched beads.

HONG KONG CHINA
Hei Man Cheung

An elegant creation made of two-toned silk taffeta in a vibrant fuchsia pinkcolour. The dress features an asymmetrical neckline and one shoulder strap. The tight fitted bodice features a design of peonies in full bloom with crystalhighlights. The back of the dress boasts a simple sweeping train.

IRELAND
Rebecca Maguire

A red lace figure hugging dress featuring a plunged neckline and adorned with silver sequins.

JAMAICA
Deanna Robins

A red evening gown with a single shoulder and sweet heart neckline, encrusted with Swarovski crystals and intricate beading. The dress features a thigh high slit and cascading skirt finished with silk chiffon inserted in the hemline and is further adorned with feathers.

KAZAKSTAN
Evgeniya Klishina

A long, sleeveless red dress composed of a full skirt and a bodice decorated with Swarovski crystals. The dress is also decorated with feathers.

MALAYSIA
Yvonne Lee

Entitled ‘Le Femme Merveille’, this creative piece represents integration, harmony and a strong feminine identity. Made of Pua Kumbu a traditional tribal textile hand woven by the Iban of Sarawak, Borneo – the third largest island in the world, the outfit uses natural dyes in 5 different hues representing the oneness of the 5 major continents in the world, promoting peace and solidarity.

MAURITIUS
Shalini Devi Panchoo

This design is all about restyling, taking fabrics and accessories and reusing them in a new fashionable way. The dress which is a fusion of Indian and contemporary styles consists mainly of recycled fabrics and embellishments. The corset features contrast piping and beads taken from a Sharara, whilst the long skirt features saree styled pleating. The over the shoulder accessory is a recycled chiffon saree which has been manipulated with starch to create a crushed effect.

MONGOLIA
Bayarmaa Huselbaatarh

A traditional black and red silk gown.

NEW ZEALND
Collette Kelly Lochore

An elegant full length gown made of lace, chiffon and mesh. The gown features a fitted red lace bodice and a sweetheart shaped neckline embellished with red beads and sequins. The fitted full length skirt is adorned with sequins. Attached to the top of the skirt is a lightly gathered chiffon train which cascades gracefully to the floor.

NIGERIA
Damiete Charles-Granville

This unique master is yellow in colour and made out of chiffon and beaded organza. It has an open back and a slit at the front which gives an elegant and classy touch. The dress also features a beautiful train at the back.

PHILIPPINES
Queenerich Rehman

This very elegant gown, elaborated in red and nude tones is comprised of a beaded bodice and a floor length skirt with feather detail. The ¾ sleeves made of sheer skin toned colour fabric are delicately encrusted with crystals and fine beadworks.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Athaliah Tizrah Samuel

Born out of National Pride this gown embodies the spirit of Trinidad & Tobago, from our Spanish heritage circa 1498 to our national bird the Scarlet Ibis and the Chaconia our national flower. This flamboyant and elegant rich red raw silk gown is fashioned as a fit and flair silhouette featuring a ruche bodice and a bias cut tuille skirt that projects “el espiritu del flamenco” (spirit of flamenco) it is further embellished with an oversized full bloom rose and a luxurious diamante and rhinestone braid. This bold and romantic fairytale piece encapsulates the vibrancy, spirit and immense pride that runs throughout our twin island republic, celebrating its 50th year.

URUGUAY
Valentina Henderson Aromburu

A long double corseted, high waist fuchsia gown, adorned with turquoise jewels.

WALES
Sophie Elizabeth Moulds

A fish tail strapless red dress adorned with diamonds along the front.

How to help fast-track Miss World Philippines’ chances in China finals

2012-07-12T22:36:00.001-07:00

There is a new way for Filipinos to support 2012 Miss World Philippines Queeneerich Rehman in her quest to become the country’s first Miss World titleholder.

During her visit to the Inquirer office in Makati City last Friday, the 5’8” Pakistani-Filipino stunner said the global pageant will introduce a new “fast-track” method to advance to the competition this year—the Multimedia award.

Miss World holds fast-track competitions where the winners get closer to the coveted international title by gaining extra points. Previous years’ editions had the Beach Beauty, Top Model, Sports, Talent and Beauty with a Purpose segments.

For the Multimedia award, each contestant will have a section in the Miss World website (www.missworld.com) where they can upload photos and videos to update fans. Contestants can also use various social networking sites to generate support. “Malakas ang laban natin, since the Philippines is the ‘Facebook capital of the world,’” the 23-year-old Rehman told Inquirer.

Like: Miss World - Philippines

Rehman will need all the support she can get, especially since the Miss World finals will be held in China, which is embroiled in a territorial dispute with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

Despite the political tension between the two governments, however, Rehman maintains a positive outlook. “Whatever the controversy is between China and the Philippines, I’ll try my best to be friendly and to be sociable. I’m taking Mandarin lessons so I can impress the Chinese people,” she said.

But Rehman won’t rely solely on fan votes to bag the elusive title. Since her coronation as Miss World Philippines last June 24, she has been busy training for the big league.

“Aside from Mandarin lessons, I also did catwalk training and went to the gym. I also trained for the talent portion and the cultural dance segment,” she said. “I’m going to do beatboxing for the talent. And for the cultural dance, I’m going to perform an Igorot dance,” she added.

For the Beauty with a Purpose competition, Rehman said she will present the plight of children with hydrocephalus. She has already donated part of her P1-million cash prize to the Philippine General Hospital for the treatment of children afflicted with the disease.

No Filipino woman has won in Miss World’s 61-year history. The closest the Philippines has ever gotten to the title were Gwendoline Ruais’ second place finish last year and Evangeline Pascual’s first runner-up in 1973. Actress Ruffa Gutierrez finished third in 1993.

“I invite all Filipinos to ‘like’ the Miss World Philippines official Facebook fanpage,” Rehman appealed. “It’s the one with the Miss World Philippines logo as the profile picture,” she noted.

Rehman left for China last July 18. The 2012 Miss World coronation night will take place in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China on Aug. 18. TV5 will broadcast the international pageant live.

Featured Article: Philippine Daily Inquirer

19 Filipina Miss World Beauties to Beat

2012-06-21T02:54:00.018-07:00

The next Miss World Philippines will be crowned on Sunday.

19. Anna Maris Igpit (Bb. Pilipinas - World 2006)
Beach Beauty Top 25 Semi-finalist

18. Maggie Wilson (Bb. Pilipinas - World 2007)
Beach Beauty Top 21 Semi-finalist

17. Danielle Castano (Bb. Pilipinas - World 2008)
Beach Beauty Top 10 Finalist & Top Model Semi-finalist

16. Onelia Jose (Miss Republic of the Philippines 1971)
Best in National Costume

15. Daisy Reyes (Bb. Pilipinas - World 1996)
Miss Personality

14. Louvelle Hammond (Mutya ng Pilipinas - World 1978)
Miss Talent

13. Minnie Cagatao (Miss Republic of the Philippines 1970)
Top 15 Semi-finalist

12. Eva Reyes (Miss Republic of the Philippines 1972)
Top 15 Semi-finalist

11. Cara Subijano (Bb. Pilipinas - World 1994)
Top 10 Semi-finalist

10. Carlene Aguilar (Bb. Pilipinas - World 2005)
Top 15 Semi-finalist & Beach Beauty Top 19 Semi-finalist

09. Sara Jane Paez (Mutya ng Pilipinas - World 1982)
Top 15 Semi-finalist & Asia's Queen of Beauty

08. Shery Rose Byrne (Mutya ng Pilipinas - World 1986)
Top 15 Semi-finalist & Asia's Queen of Beauty

07. Katherine Ann Manalo (Bb. Pilipinas - World 2002)
Top 10 Semi-finalist

06. Mafae Yunon (Bb. Pilipinas - World 2003)
Top 5 Finalist & Beach Beauty Finalist

05. Karla Bautista (Bb. Pilipinas - World 2004)
Top 5 Finalist, Beach Beauty Finalist & Miss Talent Semi-finalist

04. Pinky Amabuyok (Miss Republic of the Philippines 1968)
4th Runner Up

03. Ruffa Guttierez (Bb. Pilipinas - World 1993)
2nd Princess & Continental Queen of Asia & Oceania

02. Evangeline Pascual (Miss Republic of the Philippines 1973)
1st Runner Up

01. Gwendoline Ruais (Miss World Philippines 2011)
1st Princess & Continental Queen of Asia & Oceania
Beach Beauty Top 20 Semi-finalist, Top Model 3rd Place
& Beauty with a Purpose Top 5 Finalist

Top 15 Best Performance: Miss USA 2012 Finals

2012-06-19T21:37:00.032-07:00

15. Cobra Starship

Cobra Starship's music was fantastic during the Top 16 swimsuit competition. I personally like #1Nite (One Night). The sound was fresh and lively!

14. Michelle Leonardo (New Jersey), Semi-finalist

Doing the twirl thing in the swimsuit competition was good, but doing another for the evening gown portion was just too risky. She almost trip there!

13. Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008

Okay, Dayana did nothing but judge the ladies, but you just can't ignore her presence. She was too gorgeous not to get a spot on this list!

12. Lauren Lundeen (Oklahoma), Semi-finalist

I was never a fan of her bangs. But that's what made her unique from others. Move over, Anne Hathaway!

11. Jeannie Mai & Kelly Osbourne

They do their jobs with great passion and sense! And always with a big smile!

10. Alyssa Campanela, Miss USA 2011

She will always remain my sentimental favorite in Miss Universe 2011. Just love her final walk speech.

09. Nana Meriwether (Maryland), 1st Runner Up

Nana on her Preliminary Video Interview: "I'm an athlete, I played volleyball in UCLA.. I'm also applying to a medical school.." And again on her Top 10 video: "I started playing volleyball in the eighth grade.. I’m a two-time NCAA All-American and played professionally in Puerto Rico." And again on her final answer: "I'm applying to medical school, I was a two-time All American at UCLA, and I have so much to give.."

08. Akon

Akon is Akon. Period.

07. Jade Kelsall (Nevada), 3rd Runner Up

She's on fire! Sex appeal is all over her! Too bad the judges didn't buy her excuse that they were tired to name the current Vice President.

06. Brittany Booker (Texas), Semi-finalist

Another gorgeous lady! Brittany failed to advance to the Top 5 though she was perfect in her evening gown. What went wrong?

05. Andy Cohen & Giuliana Rancic

It was always nice seeing them working the stage together. If only Giuliana will go to Miss Universe in December with Andy. Then that would be exciting!

04. Jasmyn Wilkins (Georgia), 4th Runner Up

After Crystle Stewart, it would've been exciting to see this lady compete in Miss Universe. Too bad the question thrown to her was nothing but sugar.

03. Audrey Bolte (Ohio), 2nd Runner Up, Miss USA 2012

School Yellow Bus! Audrey was widely criticized for picking up Julia Robert's Pretty Woman as her example of an “accurate and positive” depiction of women (in movies and on television). I could forgive her for that. I find the question a bit difficult especially the "give us an example" part. It would have been hard to think of an example right away. Still Audrey remains my favorite!

02. Donald Trump

The Donald doing a lipsync of Carly Rae Jepsen's hit "Call Me Maybe" was fun to see. This version even landed in Billboard's The 10 Best 'Call Me Maybe' Covers. How cool is that?

01. Olivia Culpo, Miss USA 2012

The "transgender" question was something we all expected to hear and for sure the girls already had prepared an answer for that give-away question. Lucky Olivia, she was the one to get it and delivered it perfectly and convincingly. Congratulations Olivia!

Miss World Philippines 2012 Candidates

2012-06-18T02:24:00.003-07:00

01 Kay Wigand ; 02 Vanessa Claudine Amman ; 03 Rosheila Tungol

04 Mariz Ong ; 05 Carla Jenina Lizardo ; 06 Paula Rich Bartolome

07 Maria Teresita Baccay ; 08 Maham Ahmed ; 09 Rizzini Alexis Gomez

10 Larah Grace Lacap ; 11 Vania Valiry Vispo ; 12 Paulina Eliseeff

13 Mary Anne Ross Misa ; 14 Mariver Ocampo ; 15 Daphne Tanya Molenaar

16 Brenna Cassandra Gamboa ; 17 April Love Jordan ; 18 Rufaida Babudin

19 Marie Loraine Dione De Guzman ; 20 Kaye Michelle Agnes ; 21 Fer Mary Baliquig

22 Queeneerich Rehman ; 23 Lara Lee Sarino

24 Natacha Kristel Peugniez ; 25 Maria Danna Javier

Who's Who in Miss USA 2012?

2012-06-17T20:34:00.002-07:00

Kristen Danyal (Miss Michigan USA) and Priscila Perales (Miss International 2007): Is it just the hair or what?

Lauren Lundeen (Miss Oklahoma USA) and Actress Anne Hathaway: I think the bangs couldn't deny it!

Olivia Culpo (Miss USA 2012) and Rachel Smith (Miss USA 2007): Many pageant fans would agree to this.

Nana Meriwether (Miss Maryland USA) and Yendi Phillips (Miss Universe 2010 1st Runner up): You can't help but notice their resemblance in color, presence and fierceness.

Karina Brez (Miss Florida USA) and Actress Sophia Loren: Karina has the biggest compliment of her life!

Jade Kelsall (Miss Nevada USA) and Zuleyka Rivera (Miss Universe 2006): The fierceness and sex appeal scream to both of them!

Jasmyn Wilkins (Miss Georgia USA) and Crystle Stewart (Miss USA 2008): Does anyone see a resemblance between them?

TV5 partners with Miss World Philippines

2012-06-13T01:07:00.006-07:00

Miss World Philippines finds a new home in TV5 as it inks partners with the most aggressive broadcast network in the country.

Following the success of the first Miss World Philippines last year and the 1st Runner-Up finish of Gwendoline Ruias at the Miss World pageant held in London, England, the prestigious pageant continues to move forward for a bigger and more meaningful celebration of “Beauty with a Purpose”, underscoring the advocacy of Miss World in championing the cause of marginalized women and children.

Now that TV5 is its official media partner, Miss World Philippines is set to bring together the most beautiful Filipinas to give them a memorable and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present to the world the true beauty and brilliance of today’s Filipina.

With beauty and wellness guru Cory Quirino at the helm, Miss World Philippines begins its nationwide search for candidates who possess the outstanding qualities of a future beauty queen that will give the country a winning chance to claim the Miss World crown which has long eluded the Philippines for 61 years.

This year, the stage is set for the upcoming Miss World Pageant on August 16 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia China where more than 113 candidates from all over the world will compete for the crown that will proclaim the winner as the most beautiful woman in the world.

Miss World prized itself in being the biggest and the longest running pageant in the world, established in 1951 with headquarters in London, England.

Present at the contract signing were TV5 President and CEO Atty. Ray Espinosa and CQ Global Quest Inc. Chair and CEO and Miss World Philippines 2012 Pageant Director Cory Quirino.

“We are happy to welcome Miss World Philippines to TV5 and we will be equally proud of the candidates who will join this year’s pageant as well as our future Miss World Philippines who will vie for the Miss World crown,” Atty. Espinosa said.

Cory Quirino stated: “Miss World Philippines is pleased to have found a new home in TV5 which secures the future of this prestigious pageant and strengthens the hope of every Filipina who holds the dream of becoming a beauty queen.”

TV5 will air the Miss World Philippines Pageant live from the Manila Hotel in late June. The much anticipated Miss World Pageant in Inner Mongolia, China will also be broadcast live via TV5 in August.

Featured Article: TV5 partners with Miss World Philippines originally appeared on Missworldphilippines.com.

Quotable Quotes 2011

2012-06-09T16:43:00.002-07:00

"And the "Miss USA is anorexic" posts begin! hahaha! All I can do is shrug and laugh it off. Definitely not having that convo again.. For the record, I am 100% healthy. I see doctors & I have a nutritionist that I work very close with. My super fast metabolism is genetic.." - Alyssa Campanella (Miss USA 2011) on anorexic issue

"I'm kind of excited but I'm a little but upset about giving away my crown. I didn't really think about it until this week when people have started asking me about, I think it will be really strange not being able to say that I'm Miss Universe Ireland anymore. It's strange that there will be a new girl tonight, it came by so quickly" - Rozanna Purcell (Miss Universe Ireland 2010) on handing over her crown

"I don't think you're born a beauty queen, you have to learn it" - Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner-up

"She was the only girl I didn't know very well. We didn't see her much; she was very discreet. She was often in jeans and not wearing makeup. We were all surprised by her win. Many girls made efforts that were not rewarded. I don't know, something is missing in her temperament. The fact that the competition was held in Brazil surely played a role." - Laury Thilleman (Miss France) on Miss Angola

"I picked Miss Angola to win. I’m not sure what the other judges did. As for why Shamcey didn’t win, it isn’t anything she did wrong. It’s just that taking overall impact into consideration, from where we were sitting, Leila Lopes was just above and beyond everyone else." - Lea Salonga, Miss Universe 2011 Celebrity Judge

"That I’m just a normal girl who dreams, who fights for what I believe. Yeah. I never give up even when people tell me that I can’t do something. But if I believe I can, I really fight for it." - Leila Lopes (Miss Universe 2011)

"Winning means everything to me and I hope to take advantage of being a winner in a productive manner. I’m unbelievably happy to have won and there are some incredible girls. I first and foremost want to help people in need. I would like to help people like me. I am an orphan. I would also like to help the elderly and troubled teenagers. As many people as I can.. Unfortunately I lost both my parents at a very young age which led me to study for five years in a nunnery. I spent my five years in there and my dream was to become a nun." - Ivian Sarcos (Miss World 2011)

"I own the Miss Universe pageant.. About four years ago, during what you call half-time, we always have an entertainer. We've had a lot of great people, and you don't pay them anything because it's one of the biggest audiences and my people told me, Nobody knows who she is, but there's this woman with good talent named Lady Gaga.. I said, I don't care ... if you like her, put her on. So we put her on ... it was live all over the United States and all over the world and the next day, nobody was talking about Miss Universe, everybody was talking, Who was the woman, who was the entertainer? She was unbelievable.. Maybe she became a star because I put her on the Miss Universe Pageant. It’s very possible, who knows what would have happened without it, because she caused a sensation. I really believe I had at least something to do with it.” - Donald Trump on Lady Gaga's success (Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again)

"People asked me why I stopped modeling when I was doing well. My answer, when you’re modeling, you do it for yourself. It’s a personal thing. But when you join Miss World Philippines, you represent your country. You’re an ambassador. You can help others in the causes you believe in." - Gwendoline Ruais (Miss World 2011 Ist Princess)

"I want to see from now on, from everyone, the girls and the public included…a more positive outlook. No matter what happens, we are all Miss Earth representatives and we are all responsible for what happens to this planet." - Nicole Kelley (Miss Earth USA 2011)

"I’m happy for the Filipinos. I shot for the moon and landed among the stars. Oh my God! This is not only for me, this is for every Filipino.. Let us continue dreaming because we can reach our dreams as long as we have faith in God." - Athena Imperial (Miss Earth-Water 2011)

"All of us deserve to win.. We are all here for a purpose and we have to continue working for it." - Olga Alava (Miss Earth 2011)

"I am a good sister, a loving daughter, and a sincere friend. I believe all three relationships have taught me to be the woman I am today, deserving to be Miss Universe 2011." - Deborah Priya Henry (Miss Universe Malaysia)

"My message when I get there is just that I want to be an inspiration to everyone and show you that no matter the hardships you’re facing, if you stay focused on your dreams and your goals, you can achieve them." - Blair Griffith (Miss Colorado USA)

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to battle for a title in an entirely different competition. Miss USA is an incredible honor that’s provided invaluable experience which will undoubtedly help me as I push my performance and athletic skills to the limit. I look forward to learning if I have the mettle to make it in WWE." - Rima Fakih (Miss USA 2010)

"In the beginning, I wasn't sure if I looked good or not. Then I realized that wasn't the point. I wasn't supposed to look good, I had cancer.. It's painful to look at yourself in the mirror.. Your face gets swollen. You lose every single hair in your body, your eyebrows, your eyelashes. You become some weird animal or something. You don't recognize yourself. That was scary, especially because my job has to do with my looks. I had to look decent and not appear sick.. The pictures were very shocking because nobody had ever seen me that way. Nobody had seen me bald, without makeup. So I knew they would be shocking." - Eva Ekvall (Miss Universe Venezuela 2001)

My Miss Universe Experience

2012-05-29T23:50:00.005-07:00

I remember it very clearly

I was at the Unilever office accepting my prizes as Binibining Pilipinas-World when I received a call to say that Janelle Bautista, the reigning Binibining Pilipinas-Universe was going to be disqualified because of her passport. They told me I was going to represent the country at the Miss Universe contest. I was in denial. I was saying, “This cannot be…this cannot be.” Aside from the added pressure, I had to rush my training, then I still had to study for my [physical therapy] board exams while in Guam!

The Training

Biglaan ang training ko because the announcement was so sudden. Bobby Bastillo talked to me about world issues and current events. I also had about four sessions with Doods Policarpio, a private tutor from Dale Carnegie, teaching me public speaking, and a couple of sessions with Abbygale Arenas on visual poise and make-up. I called up my history professor from UST, and he brushed me up on Philippine history and culture. We [Bb. Pilipinas-International Lalaine Edson and I] also had a session with Anthony Pangilinan on how to get that “winning spirit”.On April 26, my training in Manila ended a week early because I had to leave for Venezuela for more training. There’s a beauty school in Venezuela and they have trained competitors before. This was about a month before the contest.

On My Own

On April 27, I left for Los Angeles for the first leg of my trip. I had seven pieces of luggage, and I was alone. I arrived April 28 wearing the Philippine sash. It was very fortunate for me, there was a bunch of seamen there, who helped me with my luggage. They called the porter, they did everything. I was treated like a princess! In L.A., I changed flights to Miami, and stayed overnight at Miami International Airport Hotel where I met Arturo Marquez, the brother of Stella [Marquez-Araneta, the chairperson of Binibining Pilipinas]. Arturo is like the international national representative of Binibini. In Miami, he gave me the Halston evening gown, the light blue competition gown. Along with him came a couple of beaders who were people of Alfredo Barraza (left photo), a fashion designer from Columbia and a good friend of Stella’s. They were the ones who put the beads on the gown.I wasn’t feeling like a beauty queen yet. I was half-scared, half-excited. Scared because it was my first time to travel alone, and I was with people I’d never met before. It was pretty exciting though, and I felt really responsible because I needed to watch my own back and handle myself in a very vulnerable situation.

Training Part 2, In Venezuela

The next day, April 30, I left Miami for Caracas, Venezuela. I was billeted in a suite, kaya feeling-wow! The next day, May 1, I met up with Osmel Sosa, the president of La Quinta Miss Venezuela, as well as his other colleagues: there was Gerardo who trained me in speech, Maria who helped me with walking, Miguel for hair and make-up, and Gabriel, assistant of the president. Everything was personalized. I was training the whole day, two to three hours per teacher. It was just me and Miss Venezuela, so we became really close. We were together for a week before all the other contestants.The make-up sessions were really funny, because Miguel couldn’t speak English and I had only six hours of Spanish tutorial, so he painstakingly taught me how to make myself up without a single word of English! For passarella (walking), I was in one big room with a J-shaped stage and mirrors all around. Maria would teach me how to walk, pose like this and like that, and turn. I did that in a bathing suit and heels, for about 100 times a day. The training went on for one week. I was beginning to feel depressed, and homesick. My parents weren’t calling me, and later I learned they were taking care of my auntie who died while I was away. They didn’t feel like letting me know, so they didn’t call na lang.

Before The Show
Saturday, May 8 I left Caracas for Port of Spain. I arrived one day late. I was billeted in a room with Miss Korea who also didn’t speak English. So ang ginawa ko, nangangapit-bahay ako sa kabilang kuwarto, kina Miss Thailand at Miss British Virgin Islands. Madalas nga kami mag-noodle party kasi di ba sa Thailand marami silang cup noodles?The first few days you could feel the sense of competition. There would be some girls who would change five times a day just to show off their clothes. I had the support of the Filipinos there, which was really helpful. The other delegates, especially those who didn’t have at least one or two supporters there were really homesick, as in they wanted to go home. I became close to a lot of contestants. We got used to calling each other by country because there were so many of us - “Hey Philippines! Hey, India!”

Pressure
One day, I got sick. I didn’t have a fever but I could feel it inside. At the time I was already feeling the pressure after my training in Venezuela. I was following all the tips they gave me, like sticking close to the favorites, like Miss Venezuela and Miss Mexico. I didn’t really feel comfortable using them just to get media mileage, and I think that was one reason I had an “identity crisis”. I didn’t feel like I knew myself at the time. I felt I lost touch with who I was because I was trying to be the person my trainers wanted me to be.I called home. I spoke to Mr. Bastillo, my professor. I told him, “I don’t feel like I’m representing my country well or that I’m doing well in this pageant…” Then he said, “No, it’s okay, just enjoy. Anyway, win or lose, we’re still proud of you. Just feel good, and exude divine love and energy. I know you. You have different aura when you feel confident - you shine. You don’t need to compete. Just enjoy yourself.”That did it. That relieved me of the pressure. Finally, my parents called, and then I spoke to my boyfriend, and I met up with the Filipinos, so I also felt I had the support. So even if I didn’t feel I was up to par with the other delegates, it was okay. That was when I started to enjoy myself.

Dancing Like A Caribbean
One very special day for me was May 16, the Parade of Nations. We were on big floats that went around the Queen Savannah Park. It was one of those days that really boosted my ego. I was just enjoying, and feeling that I wasn’t competing with anyone. I was on a float with Miss Venezuela and Miss Trinidad, and they had so may supporters. The music was pounding, and I felt like dancing. So I danced. And the people down below shouted, “Oh, it’s Miss Philippines - she’s dancing like a Caribbean!” I think that’s the one reason I got recognized, because of my party spirit.May 17, we had a fashion show. Though it was my first fashion show ever, nagwala ako sa stage. I danced. The audience really enjoyed it, and because of that I danced some more. The next three days, we had personality interviews with the judges. It would have been nerve-wracking if I was trying to impress them, but at that point, it wasn’t on my mind anymore.

Bahala Ka Na

On May 21 we had the presentation show. This was where I tripped on my gown. There was a loose thread on the hemline, and my heel got caught in it, so I tripped. I got up because I felt I had to finish my walk. I was shaking and I was in shock, but all I could think about was how funny it was.

Backstage, it hit me - the embarrassment and the shock - and I started to cry. Miss Panama and Miss Northern Marianas were telling me, “You were good!” Our choreographer Scott Grossman was saying, “I’ve never seen a recovery that fast!”At that point, a lot of people were telling me that I had a shot at the crown, but I took it all with a gain of salt. I tried not to let it get to my head. Instead I used it as a morale booster.

The 26th was coronation night. In the morning I didn’t feel nervous. In the afternoon, when we were getting ready, that’s when I felt butterflies in my stomach. The other girls and I were joking, and that relieved some of the pressure.There was a crew from BBC doing backstage interviews, and I was one of the contestants they talked to. That made me feel like I was one of the favorites. Then they started calling out the Top 10, the Top 5 and the Top 3. When I realized I was still in, that was when I started feeling that it was my destiny to place in the contest. Gusto kong humataw pero kinakabahan ako.. When there were just three of us, I took notice of the louder applause of Miss Botswana after she answered the question. I tried to see how I had carried myself thus far, throughout the competition. I thought I was doing well. I said, “Okay Lord, you’ve gotten me this far. Bahala ka na."I half expected to win. But the other half of me already expected Miss Botswana to win.

But I have no regrets about anything. I’d like to think that the experience was not a total waste and that there was a reason for coming back here. I like to believe that now I’m performing a mission to be a living testimony of God’s love.

I live a life without major mistakes

2012-05-28T19:34:00.002-07:00

“I’ll make sure they’ll remember my name a hundred years from now.”

This is one of the striking lines of my favorite song Win by Brian McKnight. I first heard this when I was in third year college and I was joining many beauty pageants in Bicol. The song served as my inspiration because I lost a lot of times that I already forgot how it felt to win. I would listen to the song over and over again to erase the pain of losing. I never expected that after three years I would be living up to the lyrics of the song. It describes my whole experience as a Miss Universe contestant and my finish as fourth runner-up.

“Never say die, I’ve been down this road before”

I brought all of my good and bad experiences to Las Vegas when I competed for the Miss Universe crown. I knew the Filipino people expected a lot from me and I did not want to disappoint them. I went to the US determined to win and bring honor to our country. I really wanted to do it because it had been my dream ever since. All the pressure during the competition meant nothing to me because I went through tougher situations even before I became a Miss Universe contestant. It was not an accident why I was chosen to represent the Philippines. All experiences were well-crafted by God to bring me to where He plans me to go. I saw the coronation night as the culmination of everything I had to go through in life. I knew it will not be hard for me anymore because I surpassed greater battles in life.

“Never let a ray of doubt slip in.”

When I met the other contestants, I had this feeling that they had bigger chances of winning maybe because they were equally beautiful and some of them were really taller and thinner than me. But that did not stop me from aiming high. We all went there prepared. I was there to represent my country and I should not get intimidated by the other girls. We had different personalities and each of us was unique in our own way.

“Never lose hope, Never lose faith, There’s much too much at stake”

I enjoyed every experience I had in the pageant. It was my first time to travel to a foreign country and join an international pageant. I saw many beautiful places like Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Alcatraz Prison. The Filipino people also showed their unending support from my arrival until the coronation night. I saw how they believed in me. They were present during the preliminaries where they rocked the whole Mandalay Bay with their noise to show their support. I wanted to make them all proud. Winning the crown would not only mean a lot to me but to them as well. I had to win for my country and for the Filipinos.

A few days before coronation night, two of the people closest to my heart died in a car accident in Bicol. It was very unexpected. I felt so sad when my friend told me the news. Melody Gersbach and Kuya Alden were the reasons why I joined Binibining Pilipinas. They pushed me to fulfill my dream to become a true beauty queen. It was not easy for me to handle my loss but I knew I had to do it for them. I would make them really happy if I brought home the crown.

“Won’t stop me now, There’s still a way to go, Some way somehow, Whatever it takes I know.”

A day before coronation night, the news of the hostage crisis in the Philippines was all over the Internet. I was saddened by the death of many Chinese tourists. I was more determined to fight for the crown to somehow erase the bad image of our country. I had to bring good news to the Philippines after that tragedy. During coronation night, I was really excited to perform and make the Filipinos proud. I felt like there was a glowing light coming from me which radiated my personality and my dreams. I believed the judges saw that in me so I made it to the Top 15, Top 10 and Top 5. I also felt God was walking and smiling with me onstage. I knew He was holding my hand for the duration of the pageant.

“I’ll make sure they’ll remember my name a hundred years from now.”

When I answered the final question, I was confident my answer was the best response I could give. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, from the time I was aware of my existence until this very day. But I do not consider a mistake big or small. They are all mistakes. They may differ in intensity but they are all wrong actions, judgment or opinion. I envision my mistakes as challenges to make me a better person. In life, we all have to be optimistic. God gave us the chance to live and we should not waste it dwelling on what we have done wrong. Life is beautiful. We have to enjoy it and live with no regrets.

Given the chance to answer the question again, I will not change my answer. Many people may have rendered bad judgment on me because of the way I answered my question but I am not afraid to face them all and tell them I was proud of what I said. I never regretted giving that kind of answer on pageant night. I knew I did not fail myself and I did not fail the Filipino people. It saddens me to know there are Filipinos who say I am a major disappointment to the Philippines. But I believe there are more Filipinos who are very happy with what I have achieved. Their smiles when they shake my hand and congratulate me are overwhelming. I may not have won the most coveted Miss Universe crown but I am sure I have won the hearts of millions of Filipinos all over the world. I will be forever thankful for the support they have given me.

God gave me more than what I could wish for. He gave me the chance to fulfill my dream of competing in an international pageant but most importantly He showed me the way to live a better life with no regrets. He taught me to fight the hardest battles in life. Now, He is giving me the opportunity to spread my wings and explore other possibilities. There are still a lot of things I need to fulfill in my life and my story will continue even after the Miss Universe pageant. I know it will be more meaningful and rewarding because it’s not only me who knows I live a life without major mistakes.

“Those who persist in the pursuit of their dreams, no matter what the hurdles, are winners in life, for they have won over their weaknesses.” — Daisaku Ikeda

Featured Article: I live a life without major mistakes originally appeared on The Philippine Star on Sept 26 2010.

What happened in Vegas

2012-05-27T02:48:00.001-07:00

Bb. Pilipinas - Universe 2010
Venus Raj

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. — Unknown

A common adage says that we only live once so we should make every moment in our life meaningful. I consider myself very lucky because I was given the chance to represent my country in one of the most prestigious beauty pageants in the world. An acquaintance once told me that I should be very thankful because many girls are wishing to be in my shoes. My Miss Universe experience is surely the most wonderful journey I have ever taken. I’d like to share some of my most unforgettable moments during the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas.

Miss Nancy was my supervisor during the competition. She was like a mother to me because she took good care of me. She attended to all my needs and she never left me when I needed her. I really appreciated how she would do even the smallest favors for me. Before flying back tq the Philippineu, she gave meua letter saying that she will never forget me. My experience in Vegas would be incomplete without Nancy. I miss her a lot and I want to see her again in the future.

Because of my jetlag, I would get hungry at midnight or early morning. It was a good thing that the Miss Universe Organization provided us with a Hospitality Room. I and the other contestants would often go there to grab some snack items and bring them to our room. We enjoyed eating sweet foods from the Hospitality Room. I was really happy because there was no limit to the amount of food one contestant could get from the room.

Our schedule would always start very early in the morning. We had to wake up as early as 6 a.m. to prepare for our activities. It is a must that by 7 a.m. we were already having breakfast with our hair and make-up already well-done. Punctuality was one characteristic that the organization wanted to instill in the candidates. They were very strict with our call time.

Some of our activities were really tiring but I enjoyed every experience I had with the other girls. We still found a way to smile and laugh even though our schedule was very tight.

I was very lucky because I had the best roommate in the world, Miss Malaysia (Nadine Ann Thomas). During our first encounter, I thought she was snobbish and bratty. I felt we had opposite personalities. But when I got to know her deeper, I discovered that she was a very friendly and nice woman. We were brought up almost in the same way by our parents. I admired how she gave importance to her family. She was also like a sister to me. Sometimes when we noticed some actions of other candidates, we would just look at each other and we would understand what the other was thinking. It was hard to say goodbye but I am looking forward to seeing her again. I hope she can visit the Philippines or I can go to Malaysia to see her.

I am not a great dancer but I love to dance. During rehearsals, I was really focused on learning all the dance steps. I was amazed at how our production number was crafted. We were able to come up with a beautiful dance number with the help of our choreographers.

It was also during rehearsals where I noticed that there were a lot of girls who have really good catwalk skills. Nobody wanted to be left behind in terms of projection and stage presence. Each had a unique way of carrying herself on stage. It did not scare me but instead served as a motivation for me to perform better.

The closed-door interview was our chance to prove ourselves in front of the judges. At first, I was really nervous because it was the make-or-break opportunity for all of us. The Top 15 would be chosen based on the performance in the closed-door interview.

I did not expect that my closed-door interview would turn out to be very casual. They asked me about my childhood and my experience living in the house made of “nipa” without any supply of electricity. I told them that I had a very simple life in our province and that it was hard growing up without electricity and a steady water supply but still I was happy as a child. Without reservations, I told them my story and I felt very comfortable talking to them because they seemed friendly. After the interview, I felt that I was able to show the judges my true personality and I answered their questions in all honesty.

I am truly blessed to be able to meet a lot of girls from different parts of the world. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I know that I will not be able to do it again even if I really wanted to. It still seemed surreal but I realized that all my dreams were slowly taking shape. Who would have thought that a simple girl from Bato, Camarines Sur, would step on the stage of Mandalay Bay Hotel and represent the Philippines in a well-known beauty pageant? Even I did not have the slightest idea but dreams do come true. We just have to work hard to turn all our dreams into reality. We can all have our own happy endings if we put our hearts into what we want to do.

I guess what happened in Vegas will not stay in Vegas because I will bring all of my memories wherever life will take me. The Miss Universe competition was like a fairy tale for me and I was the queen of that story. I learned that we should not be afraid to stand up for our dreams because we make our destiny. Determination and perseverance will take us to the road that we want to take. Indeed, life is what we make it.

Featured Article: What happened in Vegas originally appeared on The Philippine Star on Oct 03 2010.

Sandra Inez Seifert Miss Philippines-Earth 2009: The beauty queen as an advocate

2012-05-26T03:05:00.000-07:00

Miss Philippines-Earth 2009
Sandra Inez Seifert

The world of beauty pageant through the decades had defined the image of a quintessential beauty queen. She is a beauty cool under pressure, complete with a saccharine smile, flawless skin and a confident bearing that commands attention.

But for one Visayan girl who won in one of the most prestigious pageants in the Philippines, being a beauty queen means beauty beyond skin deep. She said that you can be serious in your attempt to win, but that doesn’t mean that you have to lose yourself in the process and more importantly, you should have more on your mind than the title, the sash and the prestige that goes with it.

If these statements are an indication that there’s more to Sandra Seifert’s pretty face, then the lad by all means deserves the beauty queen title of Miss Philippines-Earth.

“A lot of people think that beauty queens are all about being pretty and winning titles—that it’s not about the substance or wit of a woman but more about her physical appearance,” Seifert relates to The Manila Times. Exuding a confident aura, the seriousness of her tone is an inkling that she was back on stage to prove something.

“In some pageants, that’s true because their intelligence evaluation is only about 10 percent of the total score,” she states, continuing, “The beautiful part is, not all pageants are like that.”

Crowned Miss Earth Philippines on May 10, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum, Seifert bested 49 others as the country’s next environmental ambassador. Seifert succeeded 2008 grand winner, Karla Paula Henry. She will be representing the country in October for the global Miss Earth beauty contest.

Seifert had a previous failed attempt at the Binibining Pilipinas title stemming from the issue of her photo in swimsuits appearing in a men’s magazine. She narrates that all these trials sweetened more her Miss Earth victory. “When I was younger, I was fond of watching beauty pageants. I would challenge myself by trying to answer the questions the contestants would get,” she reminisces.

During the interview, Seifert was lounging comfortably in a sofa without the trappings of a beauty queen. She carries the laid-back radiance of a 25-year-old girl who was on her way to fulfilling a landmark role in her life.

Born Sandra Inez Seifert, the half-European-half-Ilonggo beauty shares that she owes her beauty to the strong German features of her father, Harald, and the tender glamour of her Filipina mother, Zenaida. She reveals that her family encountered some financial hardships in the past but quickly adds that despite the difficulty, she considered them to be very blessed.

“I had a pretty good childhood,” Seifert narrates, continuing, “I was really, really pampered. I have three brothers. They are all younger than me but they are all taller than me.”

At the age of 14, Seifert was approached by a talent scout who asked her if she wanted to be a model. Though she immediately grabbed the offer, it took her about 50 attempts before she landed on her first legitimate modeling project.

Her perseverance was paid off with a promising career. To date, she has already done several national and international commercials and fashion shows. Seifert displays a penchant of involving herself with social issues through her work and through the media. She even worked with showbiz old-timer German Moreno in his late night program Master Showman.

To beef up her portfolio, Seifert once posed in a photo shoot wearing a two-piece swimsuit in a bedroom setting. The photo, which was done in good taste, was published in the men’s magazine FHM.

Seifert recalls that at that time, she considered those photos no more than a mere attempt to showcase her range as a model, not realizing that it would make a controversial impact on her career. In those days, she is not keen on joining beauty contests even when people were goading her into it. “I wasn’t really up for it. I wanted to just continue going to school and pursue a chosen profession,” she says. Later on, the photos eventually got in the way of her dreams of winning a prestigious beauty contest.

Seifert got her degree in Nursing from the City University of New York in the United States. Before getting her license last year, she excelled as a campus leader and honor student. These accomplishments allowed her to be more confident and more knowledgeable regarding communication and advocacy.

When she came back to the Philippines, the call to join another beauty pageant again came knocking on her door. She took the plunge the second time around.

Candidate number 13

Early this year, Seifert joined the Binibining Pilipinas. “Most of the girls in that pageant were very beautiful—like professional models or beauty queens and the competition was too intense,” Seifert recalls.

Despite her popularity as a contestant, controversy hounded the half-European, half-Ilonggo beauty. Seifert was later to be coined “The candidate with the unlucky number 13,” because of her disqualification after the Binibining Pilipinas organizers discovered her past stint with FHM. She was disqualified from the competition days before the coronation night. The pageant organizers stated that the publication of her feature in such kind of magazine made her unqualified to continue competing in the contest. “Since they did it the last minute, it was really a shock for me,” Seifert laments, adding, “I pleaded through my attorneys, for the organizers to reconsider my case because it’s not like I hid it. It’s just that they never addressed it and a lot of people here knew me already so I thought they knew. I am a professional model. I didn’t want to endanger my reputation so I worked with a professional team and the real story is: we just shot for a portfolio. And since the photographer, worked with FHM a lot, they saw the photos and they wanted to release it. If it had been Preview or Mega that saw those photos first, they probably would’ve been the ones to release and I think that that wouldn’t have been used against me. I think they just used the labeling of FHM and the connotation that goes with it.”

Seifert had considered the whole affair water under the bridge and had already moved on with her life.

She’s thankful because not only that it made her a better person but through it, she learned how many people love and support her.

“I heard a lot of inspiring things during the coronation night. I was there and I received my own flowers from people who believed in me and there were some people who even cried.”

The Binibining Pilipinas’ rejection of her, opened a lot of doors. It caught the attention of another beauty contest: The Miss Philippines-Earth .

A beauty for a cause

A brainchild of Philippine-based Carousel Productions, the first Miss Earth beauty pageant was launched in 2001 with the aim of promoting the preservation of the environment. One proud distinction of the Miss Earth contest is that all its contestants are involved with environmental causes and its winners are expected to participate in international environmental projects. The latter caught Seifert’s fancy.

“Before I joined Miss Earth, I did my research just to see if I wanted to do this,” she shares, continuing, “Before, people would ask me, ‘Oh did you join Miss Earth for vindication?’ I said no because I didn’t want to waste my time and Miss Earth’s time just to get back at people. That’s childish. I want to do something and to put my time in something I believe in and that would allow me to generate more good.”

Fresh from her failed attempt at the Binibining Pilipinas title, she stressed that she was not afraid to join Miss Earth and likewise, Miss Earth was not afraid to have her. That despite her being a former “FHM girl” she could represent the country in the pageant’s campaign for 2009.

“When I came to Miss Earth, one of the judges during the screening said, ‘Before anything else, I would just like to tell you that I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what you did at FHM,” Seifert says with a proud smile. “When I joined, I made a promise to myself to do my best and to have more fun because in Binibini it was like a competition every day. You couldn’t value friendships so much because we were placed in situations where you have to be really competitive. I didn’t want to be that way anymore. Instead, I should be genuine about everything.”

Like in Binibining Pilipinas, Seifert became a crowd favorite in Miss Earth as well. She showcased her vast knowledge of environmental issues as well as the poised she earned from years of professional modeling. She points out the difference of her experiences joining the two pageants: “I looked younger compared to how I looked in Binibini because in Miss Earth we were encouraged to go for a more natural look. In Binibini, we were made up everyday. I also looked happier and not so haggard because our schedules were more spread out. We got more rest opportunities. Everything was very natural. It was also very soothing. In Miss Earth, we could sit, unwind and act natural. In Binibini, we always had to be so ‘perfect’ and poised even when there were no judges around.”

She also notes that being a Miss Earth candidate allowed her to be herself than just being “Candidate No. 13.” “But of course, the competition was just as tough,” she stresses.

Seifert stayed focus. Faced with two question-and-answer portions, she took the opportunity to share her cause with the audience and quoted Ghandi by saying “In gentle ways you can shake the Earth.”

Beyond environmentalism

After bagging the Miss Philippines-Earth title, Seifert believes that there’s still a lot to be accomplished.

“I have a lot of plans—short term and long term. I definitely want to raise more awareness in the advocacy that I started with as a candidate in the Miss Earth pageant, which is waste management. During the contest, I spoke about a Republic Act 9003. It exists but only a few local government units, at the moment, are enforcing it. We need to get more people involved. That’s one of the things I wish to achieve during my reign as Miss Earth—to increase the number of participants getting involved in addressing this issue. And since I have access to the media, I would love to start a show wherein we could help raise environmental awareness as well. That would be for my long-term goal. A short term goal perhaps would entail getting a segment in one of the current TV shows.”

Seifert also tells of plans with a global scope, “Global warming is still a big issue. I think that even though they have these protocols like the Kyoto protocol, where they try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by five percent, we don’t really see that much of it yet. People are still burning fossil fuel. I think we need to understand that there is a need to not just focus on the immediate returns of businesses we’ll have. I agree with [President Barack] Obama. We should always encourage people to shift to renewable energy because it doesn’t just solve the environmental problem; it also solves the long-term financial problem.”

An avid traveler, she also wants to see more of the Philippines before she represents it on October. And still, she maintains that although her duties are arduous, she will not let it overwrite who she is as a person.

“It’s good to be proper, refined and womanly but women should also be like girl scouts, ready to roll their sleeves to work.” Seifert says pertaining to how she willingly went through garbage clean up in an episode of the TV show Matang Lawin.

As the reigning Miss Philippines-Earth, Seifert believes that there is indeed a lot of pressing environmental issues but as a “queen” and as a woman, she expresses on fulfilling additional missions.

“I want my fellow queens and others who are aspiring for the title to always go for what they believe in and not let anyone discourage them. I noticed that a lot of people who would join this did it just for fun. I’m not saying that’s wrong, but I think that it comes with a responsibility and it comes with an opportunity to inspire people. That’s what I want to achieve: to change the perception most people have of beauty queens.”

With that said, it is clear that Sandra Inez Seifert is not just another beauty queen with a saccharine smile.

Featured Article: Sandra Inez Seifert Miss Philippines-Earth 2009: The beauty queen as an advocate originally appeared on Manila Times on 07 Jan 2009.

To Miss Universe —And Beyond!

2012-05-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Bb. Pilipinas - Universe 2007
Anna Theresa Licaros

MANILA, Philippines – My most distinct memory from the Miss Universe pageant this year was that of Miss France holding a cheeseburger served us at Hard Rock Café Mexico. Holding half a burger with her delicate fingers, she looked at me and said: “Ye know, Tu-ress, ze first thing I learn to zay in eve-ree langu-egh is ze word, hamburguer.”

I looked at her, nodded and bit into my burger. I was so hungry after all that walking up and down the Basque de Chapultepec in four-inch heels. It’s not easy being a beauty queen. Try fitting a mirror, lipstick, lip gloss, face powder and extra eyelash glue into a tote and carrying it around with poise while you negotiate palatial staircases in your heels and miniskirt. Every day was a marathon for us at Miss U.

Meanwhile, Miss France continued her train of thought: “Like here in Mexico… zey call it hamburguesa. What about you, Tu-ress? What do zey call it in ze Philippines?” I was taken aback. I’m a pretty articulate person with above average capacity for witty retorts, but in this pageant, all sorts of questions were hurled at me from nowhere! It was like the question and answer portion, only worse: they were mostly everyday stuff about me and my country that I never really thought about before joining the pageant. I tried to buy some time by sipping my Coke light, sin hielo, lest I find myself running to the loo every five minutes. I struggled for the Filipino word for hamburger: Ham-barger?

Oops, too late. Someone mentioned another topic and the conversation shifted. Ham-barger it was. I reeled at the thought of how this might affect how the Philippines is perceived by the next person that Miss France meets to whom she repeats this conversation. That was my everyday reality as Miss Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant. I ceased to be just Theresa or Tu-ress to Rachel/Miss France. I became the Philippines.

Early on, I became aware of what representing my country really means. Having to wear the banner “Philippines” across my breast every single day kept me on my toes, careful of how I’ve been projecting myself and of everything I say or do. To some extent it was scary, but also a source of pride. Every smile I flashed, each pose I struck was done with the thought that it should be my best because this wasn’t just about me anymore.

For the most part, the other contestants were fantastic. Contrary to popular belief that women who join beauty pageants are airheads or bimbos, most are college graduates with full time jobs in their own countries. They are opinionated and know what they want.

When I came back from Mexico, I was always asked if acts of sabotage really took place during the pageant. (Reportedly the most controversial in years, the 2007 Miss Universe pageant saw Miss USA being booed by some Mexicans unhappy over a pending immigration bill in the US, Miss Sweden pulling out after complaints in her country described the contest as degrading to women, and Miss Mexico being asked to change costumes because the original was deemed in poor taste.—Ed.)

I’m happy to report that I didn’t experience any such incident firsthand. The closest thing to intrigue that I encountered was a remark from a fellow candidate that was perhaps meant to psych me out. During one rehearsal, I was called onstage to do the evening gown pattern, after which I had to look at the camera and pose. Suddenly, everyone was clapping and cheering. I must have done something right, I thought.

Indeed, when I got off stage, Miss Tanzania approached me, saying “Girl, that was an amazing face!” Most everyone thought so, except for Miss Bolivia who told me flat out: “You look dead onstage. Your eyes are just blank. Maybe you should, like, move your eyebrows or something.” Just friendly advice, she said, because she wanted me to do well. That was odd, I told her; another candidate had just told me the exact opposite. Miss Bolivia simply rolled her eyes and said I should trust her instead. Well, I thought afterwards, when you do something significant, you’ll get both good and bad reactions.

As an insider, I also learned that the Miss Universe organizers and production team wanted to veer away from the traditional pageant look and feel. They discouraged stiff and exaggerated posturing and encouraged sexy, relaxed, fluid and model-like movements. A Miss Universe, said our catwalk teacher, Lu Sierra, must know how to smile. She hated it when the contestants sported sexy I’m-gonna-eat-you-alive looks. The pageant organizers had a “look” in mind and I was personally sold to the subtle but sexy models’ stance that they advocated.

There were so many things to learn and it wasn’t always smooth sailing. There were really days when I just wanted to put a paper bag over my head and not wear any makeup. I had to keep telling myself that I was in Mexico to do a job and that the job requires me to put on makeup at five in the morning. So I’d just shake off whatever negative feelings I felt, play some dance music and sing along while putting on my pageant face. That was how I got through the doldrums.

Apparently, I did that so well that some contestants would ask me to close my eyes so they could check out my eye makeup. They said they liked the way I blended the colors. One photographer even took a photo of my right eye. Just my right eye! He said it looked so beautiful that he wanted a shot of it. My thanks go to Jay Lozada, Allen Rosales, Lia Ramos and Jenny Tan for selflessly sharing their makeup tips with me.

That kind of team work, or collaboration, also defined my Miss Universe experience. There were so many teachers who shared their knowledge with me, as well as family and friends who flew all the way to Mexico to become my cheering squad and support group. I got a lot of joshing when I gave my guest list: 25 people strong. Not bad for a pacific islander who lives roughly 12 time zones away. It was the kind of support that others could only envy. My roomie, Miss Thailand, wanted to “borrow” a brother because she didn’t have any family around during the pageant. I gladly obliged, telling the bunso in our family to go wild when Thailand gets called. I think he did go wild —for all the girls—so that was substantial compliance.

The reality of representing one’s country can be daunting, but it also enhanced me as a person. While it might have been a source of insecurity to pose beside Barbie lookalikes, it boosted my confidence nonetheless. I looked at them and felt that I deserved to be there. Cheesy, I know, but when I stood there in high heels beside the most beautiful women in the universe, something changed. I was no longer a passive participant to whom things happen; instead, I chose to embrace the experience and learn from it. That made all the difference for me.

More than just another beauty pageant, this year’s Miss U put things into perspective for me. In a nutshell, my 30 days in Mexico with 76 other women from all over the world was a crash course in culture, diplomacy, confidence, and worst of all, geography. I’ll always remember— with amusement tinged with shame—how I had managed to put so many countries in the wrong continent and historical era and unwittingly displayed such ignorance by asking the delegate about it. So, I asked Miss Egypt, “You’re from Cairo. How are the pyramids?” She smiled and giggled: “They’re in Giza.” Getting my witty retort mode back, I countered: “Well, maybe if you’d take me around the Middle East one of these days, it won’t be so confusing.” As she wiped her fingers on a tissue, Miss France interjected: “Isn’t Egypt in Africa?”

Licaros is a junior at the UP College of Law. She plans to visit Egypt and see the pyramids next summer, and find out how they say “hamburger” in Arabic.

Featured Article: To Miss Universe —And Beyond! originally appeared on Inquirer.net on 28 Aug 2007 11:30:00.

Happy to be a Binibining Pilipinas reject

2012-05-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

Sandra Inez Seifert

MANILA, Philippines—Miss Philippines-Earth 2009 Sandra Inez Seifert sympathizes with Maria Venus Raj, the embattled beauty queen whose Binibining Pilipinas-Universe crown still hangs in the balance.

“I can relate 100 percent to what she is going through,” said Seifert, a Filipino-German model and nursing graduate. “I wish [Venus’ case] had been handled another way.”

Last year, contest organizer Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) had disqualified Sandra from the competition two days before pageant night in March, due to her photos that appeared in a men’s magazine in 2007.

Venus was stripped of her title last month due to alleged misrepresentation—specifically, inconsistencies in her official birth records.

Both girls have claimed they were not given time to answer the accusations against them.

“It’s tough, what [Venus] is going through,” Sandra told Inquirer. “I had a very strong support group; I hope Venus had that kind of help around her,” she added.

Sandra said she hoped BPCI also learned from the experience. In hindsight, she admitted she is grateful for her disqualification, since it paved the way for her joining the rival Miss Philippines-Earth pageant. “As ‘Miss Philippines-Earth,’” she said, “I was able to touch many lives.”

Close second

Her victory as Miss Philippines-Earth led to her participation in the Miss Earth pageant in Boracay, against some 80 international delegates. She placed second to Brazil’s Larissa Ramos and also won the “Miss Earth-Air” title.

A new Miss Philippines-Earth will be crowned tomorrow night in a water-theme pageant to be held at the Manila Ocean Park.

Catherine Untalan, executive director of the Miss Earth Foundation, said the pageant is looking for “a well-rounded person, someone worth looking up to.”

The Miss Philippines-Earth pageant will be telecast April 25, 10 p.m. on ABS-CBN.

Featured Article: Happy to be a Binibining Pilipinas reject originally appeared on inquirer.net on 22:14:00 04/22/2010

Lissome Lia

2012-05-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Bb. Pilipinas - Universe 2006
Lia Andrea Ramos

The most remarkable thing about Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2006 Lia Ramos is not her reed-thin figure, dusky skin and lovely face. What stands out is this UP grad’s down-to-earth attitude about everything that has come her way. Discovered by Jonas Gaffud (present head of Mercatel Modeling Agency) during her college days, Lia was asked to join the university pageant. Although she did not win this contest, Gaffud would call Lia every year and encourage her to participate in more pageants.

“Jonas convinced me to enter the Bb. Pilipinas contest and I was fortunate enough to win,” Lia shares. “Life changed dramatically after that. Because of the title, I have gotten exposed to several national events, my modeling career has blossomed and I have learned so much about life as a whole.”

Asked what she has learned during her stint, the Davao-born beauty recounts, “I learned how important it was to be disciplined and focused in order to achieve much in life. When I participated in the Miss Universe competition in Los Angeles, I had to interact with several of the contestants. I learned that for many of them, the pageant was a ticket out of poverty. Many of them wanted to be actresses and models.

Oftentimes, the contestants’ families would rely on them for a better future for all.”
“I made many friends during my LA stay. Misses Colombia, Uruguay and Puerto Rico were wonderful. Right now, I have a two-month commercial and print modeling gig in Cape Town, South Africa, thanks to Miss Nigeria who sent my photos to her agency,” Lia adds.

Right after winning Bb. Pilipinas, Lia was flown to Colombia where she entered a beauty pageant boot camp where she trained for three weeks. Before this, she had undergone strict training and diet under Pilates instructor John Cuay.

For two months, Lia shares, she worked out for up to three hours a day and went on a low carb-high protein diet. She did cardio exercises like dancing and cycling and toned her body through weight-training. Now that she’s no longer competing, her workouts are less hectic.

Asked about her plans for the future, Lia shares, “I would like to continue modeling for as long as I can and do a lot of traveling. I also would like to be involved with advocacies that support child welfare and the environment. Being known as a beauty queen, one is subject to being stereotyped. But I realized that how I deal with this is entirely up to me.”

Spoken like a truly “un-stereotypical” beauty!

Featured Article: Lissome Lia originally appeared on Philstar.com on 04 November 2007 12:00 AM.

Giving Up French Fries for World Peace

2012-05-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

Bb. Pilipinas - Universe 2006
Lia Andrea Ramos

“To whom much is given, much is expected,” my boss and good friend Atty. Carol Mercado wrote me the day after I won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title. These, I thought, are words I could live by the rest of my life.

My joining the pageant came as a pleasant surprise to my family and friends. As a political science graduate of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, I’ve always dreamt of entering the foreign service and becoming a diplomat.

But the persistence of Jonas Gaffud, a geography graduate of UP, who had spotted my graduation picture in 2001, finally won out. He had been convincing me to join the contest year after year, but my exact reply was: “I don’t think I’m cut out to be a beauty queen.”

So why did I change my mind five years later? I remember walking along Central Park in New York some time after New Year, and musing about where my life was going. I was turning 25 in nine days and had this strong desire to make things happen for me in 2006. I had a gut feeling that this was going to be my year.

Inner voice

Interestingly enough, when I flew back to Manila some days later, the idea of joining Binibining Pilipinas popped into my head. There was this inner voice that told me I would win, and I thought, why not? Better not let any opportunity slip by than wonder all my life about what could have been.

And indeed, it was an opportunity to expand my sphere of influence. I was already involved in development work with Asia Foundation, an international non-governmental organization. As part of a team implementing a program on legal accountability and dispute resolution, I thought a beauty title could help me reach out to more people and promote personal advocacies, particularly women’s and children’s welfare.

It wasn’t as easy as I thought. I barely knew how to put on make-up and wear high heels. Remember the movie, “Miss Congeniality”? I felt I fit that stereotype, right down to the “world peace” joke. But in a span of one month, Jonas managed to transform this NGO employee into beauty queen material.

I’ve always thought that my strong Filipina features, self-confidence and spontaneity were an advantage, but I realized that my biggest edge over the 23 other candidates was my experience and commitment to development work. During the preliminaries, I felt that the judges saw the passion I have for my work. I hope they saw me as I perceived myself: a modern day Filipina who is independent, articulate and driven.

Grace and poise

The other candidates, a lot of them professionals in their own fields, earned my respect, as well. It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to stay in the game. Walking in four-inch heels and looking poised in a two-piece bikini isn’t that easy. It takes a woman who is comfortable in her own skin to display grace and poise under public scrutiny.

Winning the title completely changed my life. My choice of putting myself in the public eye also meant embracing a life where I had to project a beautiful image all the time. I realized I had another choice to make: I had to make sure that beauty in my case becomes a means to an end, a way to gain more influence over people. Beauty queens must face the challenge of breaking the stereotype that limits a beautiful woman to being an object of adornment.

Preparing for the Miss Universe contest was another matter altogether. I’ve never channeled all my energies with such intensity as I did when I prepared myself physically, mentally and emotionally for the pageant. Fortunately, I found a good trainer and supportive friend in John Cuay of Gold’s Gym, who pushed me hard every single day. I had to discipline my diet, giving up pizza, pasta and french fries in the name of, well, “world peace.”

Colombia classes

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) was supportive of my training here in Manila, and provided me with the opportunity to prepare further in Colombia. The past queens were equally generous in sharing their expertise. In Bogota, where I had to take up classes on catwalk, hair and makeup, culture, current events, dance, and so on, for three weeks, I had to struggle to mold myself into a woman of elegance and style without sacrificing my individuality.

But meeting a lot of interesting people made it all worthwhile. Colombians are such happy people. They live in a culture that celebrates life in song, dance and laughter. Similarly colonized by Spain for centuries, the Colombians have common sensibilities with those of Filipinos, in how they value family ties and in their ability to laugh in the face of economic and political problems.
Armed with ample training and desire to bring home the crown, I flew to Los Angeles fueled by high hopes and positive energy. Having a lot of relatives in LA gave me a home court advantage. And it probably helped, because I won the Miss Photogenic award, thanks mainly to text votes.

Pageant luck

Luck plays a major part in everything in life, and that includes competing in beauty pageants. At rehearsals, I looked around and saw a room filled with gorgeous and fascinating women. I thought anyone could be Miss Universe. It all depended on what package the judges were looking for. Beauty is indeed subjective.

Not getting into the top 20 was a disappointment to me. However, I don’t regret the entire experience because I know that I represented the country well, and that the quest for the crown has enriched my life in so many ways. The Miss Photogenic award was icing on the cake!

To say that I had an amazing experience at the Miss Universe pageant is an understatement. Meeting girls from 85 other countries and learning about cultures is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It still amazes me that despite the language barrier, we were able to make sincere connections among us. Equipped with my very basic and flawed Spanish, I easily made friends with the Latinas. Establishing ties with the Asians and Africans came naturally.

It was also worth getting to know the real people behind the thick foundation and false eyelashes who had their own stories to tell. One said it had always been her dream to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, while another took this route because it was a way out of poverty. We all had different reasons for being there. What we become out of the entire experience is another story.

Relevant beauty

Some people might ask how relevant a beauty pageant is, when terrorism, economic woes and fuel prices hog the headlines. I think it is precisely because there is so much conflict in societies today that we need it. Given the social and cultural differences around the world, a pageant provides a venue where people can co-exist and create an understanding. In my case, it provided us a means with which to share our values and beliefs and learn from each other. We may not have been gathered to resolve conflicts, but I can see how beauty queens can be instruments of diplomacy.

As a modern and independent woman, I see the pageant as an arena where women can speak out their mind on any issue. Moreover, it provides women an opportunity to represent certain advocacies, like combating the AIDS epidemic in the case of Miss Universe.

For someone who’s never traded on her looks, it can be difficult to maintain an image of elegance and refinement when I’ve always dreamt of going backpacking across continents and sleeping in the deserts of Morocco. But I have learned not to be afraid to use beauty and femininity to be in a position of greater responsibility.

And that’s where my beauty title has put me. As a public figure, I am given the license to move people to action. This has certainly changed my life. As someone who hopes to effect change in society, I believe I’ve taken a defining first step to make a difference.

Featured Article: Giving Up French Fries for World Peace originally appeared on Inquirer.net.