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All posts for the month September, 2017

(The Very First) Miss Millenial Philippines 2017 Julia Gonowon

Posted by Norman on September 30, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks, 5 TV Tales. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Earlier in the day, the very first Miss Millenial Philippines was crowned during the finals held at the Mall of Asia Arena – a pageant that syncs with GMA-7’s noontime show “Eat Bulaga”.

Julia Gonowon of Camarines Sur topped the strong competition and won for herself P500,000.00, a brand-new Mitsubishi Montero Sport and a house-and-lot from Bria Homes (this prize package makes the winnings of our national beauty queens pale in comparison, without a doubt).

Carina Cariño of La Union finished 1st Runner-Up, with Eleonora Valentina Laotenza of Aklan and Shiara Joy Dizon of Malabon claiming 2nd and 3rd Runner-Up placements, respectively. Dianne Lacayanga of Ilocos Norte was named Bayanihan Queen.

Watch a video of the Q&A now and tell me your thoughts about the quality of their answers.

courtesy of Chin Chin

Now watch the crowning moment of Julia Gonowon.

courtesy of GMA Network

One Full Month of Miss Earth 2017

Posted by Norman on September 30, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin of Ecuador

The exclusive Ramona Haar-crafted Medallions that Miss Earth 2017 and her elemental court will receive

While activities for Miss Earth 2017 will start on October 5 with a Sponsors Visit to be led by reigning titleholder Katherine Espin, this year’s candidates will start arriving the day after. Divided into three (3) groups, they will be billeted in an equal number of hotels with Group 1 checking-in at Joy~Nostalg Center, Group 2 heading to Diamond Hotel and Group 3 getting their temporary home base at Century Park Hotel. All in all, between 90-92 delegates are expected to take part with 14 from Central/Western Europe, 14 from Eastern Europe, 14 fin North/Central America, 9 from South America, 14 from Africa, 25 from Asia and the Pacific. Two (2) more ladies from Europe are still likely to join them pending final confirmation.

The schedule is back-breaking, but that is to be expected from Miss Earth which prides itself in bringing the candidates to different parts of the country. Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Pontefino and Dive & Trek in Batangas, Stargate Dream Resort in Cagayan de Oro City and Carles, Iloilo are just some of the places that they will be visiting.

This will be a month-long train of coverages that normannorman.com will endeavor to get into as much as the team can, all the way to the finals on November 4 at the MOA Arena.

So stay stuck here for more about Miss Earth 2017!

Host delegate Karen Ibasco of the Philippines 🇵🇭

Catriona Gray | Spotted!

Posted by Norman on September 29, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

Still Triumphant Featuring Catriona Gray on Spotted Magazine

Catriona Elisa still reigns as queen in the minds and hearts of her many supporters.

Photography Von Oneil Buenconsejo
Assisted by Rron de Guzman & Charlon Serrano
Styling Patrick Henry
Videography Jolo Luarca
Hair & Make Up Sharmaine Cantillon De Castro
Interview Liselle Delantar Flipphi
Accessories Phil Andal Soigenne Dei PhilAndal
Wardrobe Uberfinds Vintage Fashion Store Uberfinds Vintage Fashion Store
Location House Manila Official
House Manila
To read the interview visit http://www.spottedmagazine.co/2017/09/28/catriona-gray-interview/

Proclaimed: Toni Alyessa Hipolito as the 90th Miss Globe International 

Posted by Norman on September 29, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

Press Release:

Toni Alyessa Hipolito is the newly proclaimed 90th Miss Globe International queen!

Last year, former Bb. Pilipinas candidate Toni Alyessa Hipolito was scheduled to compete for Miss Globe International. It would have taken place in Turkey but, as you know the war in Syria and the problems caused by this issue – terrorism which threatened Europe and the Mediterranean region – made it impossible to hold the event last year. But in a letter from Miss Globe International president Rasim Aydin to Toni Hipolito, he gladly informed the beauty queen that “you are going to be announced as the 90th Miss Globe International in Antalya, Turkey on October 21, 2017.” Aydin further informed Hipolito that “on the gala night of the 91st Miss Globe International, you will hand over the crown to the next titleholder.”

Apparently, even if the pageant did not push through last year, the pictures of the contestants on the official website and social network account have not been removed and the likes to the posts exceeded 1,000,000 which prompted the beauty organization to select Hipolito as Miss Globe International 2016 Beauty Ambassador.

Will Toni pass on the crown to another Filipina? Our delegate is Ina Patricia Gita, who was crowned as Jewel of the Philippines-Globe International last year. She will leave for Turkey very soon along with Hipolito who will be officially installed as the current titleholder.

Don’t mind the numbers (90th) preceding the pageant title because that is debatable. What is gratifying to know is, technically and officially, two Filipinas have won the crown – Maricar Balagtas (now Mrs. Ferdie Arciaga) in 2001 and Toni Hipolito.

Miss Globe International must not be confused with the Miss Globe Pageant that was won by Ann Loraine Colis in 2015 and where Bb. Pilipinas-Globe International Nelda Ibe will compete soon, although the organizers of both pageants were partners many many years ago.

The Miss Globe International 2017 finals will be held at the Eftalia Okyanus Hotel in Antalya, Turkey.

Congratulations Toni and all the best

The Waiting is Over for the 66th Miss Universe 

Posted by Norman on September 29, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .


Finally! The 66th Miss Universe will happen on November 26 as previously buzzed about. No, it won’t be in Arizona or California or New York. It’ll be back to Vegas, baby!

Miss Universe Philippines 2017 can now heave a sigh of relief. While Rachel Peters has been preparing herself for this moment, having a definite timeline in mind will definitely make her shake up things even more aggressively. Expect the level of noise to rise in the days and weeks to come.

Steve Harvey will be back as host with Planet Hollywood as venue of both the Preliminaries and the Finals.

Start making those bookings now. That is, if you want to watch LIVE in Las Vegas. 😀

Photo Blog: The Miss Scuba Philippines 2017 Swimsuit Competition in Puerto Galera

Posted by Norman on September 28, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

It was a very successful staging of the Miss Scuba Philippines 2017 Swimsuit Competition held at the poolside of La Laguna Villas in Puerto Galera. All the fifteen candidates vied for the attention of the judges – most of whom are members of the PGDDRA or Puerto Galera Dive Shop and Dive Resort Association aside from the Puerto Galera Mayor and Vice-Mayor. Special sponsor awards were also handed out prior to the announcement of the Top 3 in swimsuit (by Swimwear Store): Helga Cerbo, Lorin Talosig and Sherlyn Doloriel.

Athena Catriz hosted the proceedings, while National Director Cindy Madumma made sure that everything went well.

Here are photos from the event:

Top 3 Best in Swimsuit for Miss Scuba Philippines 2017 (left to right) Lorin Talosig, Helga Cerbo and Sherlyn Doloriel

Miss Scandi Divers Helga Cerbo

Miss Coco Beach Resort Fel Banaybanay

Miss La Laguna Villas Lorin Talosig

All candidates flanking the Top 3 in Swimsuit


Named as Miss Scandi Divers is Helga Cerbo, Miss La Laguna Villas is Lorin Talosig and Miss Coco Beach Resort is Fel Banaybanay.

This pageant – however still small and limited in scope – deserves much attention because of their marine conservation advocacy. normannorman.com is giving its 100% support to the organizers because the efforts are definitely in the upswing in the years to come.

Photo-Blog: Teresita Ssen Marquez for Fanny Serrano

Posted by Norman on September 27, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .


Fashion photographer Rosvic Castro releases her uber beautiful captures of Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2017 Teresita Ssen “Wyn” Marquez wearing different creations by Fanny Serrano (who also did the makeup), with hair by Lawrence Leuterio.

Your collective thoughts, dear readers? Is she ready or very ready?

Miss Scuba Philippines 2017 goes to Puerto Galera

Posted by Norman on September 27, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .


Early yesterday morning, the officers and candidates of Miss Scuba Philippines 2017 – along with the production, HMUA team and yours truly – boarded the bus that brought everyone to the Batangas Port en route to Puerto Galera where the Swimsuit Competition will be held later in the day at the La Laguna Villas.

National Director Cindy Pacia Madumma (with partners Athena Catriz & Andrea Delgado) led everyone to the official residence – Out of the Blue Resort – from where the order of the day was to visit different sponsoring dive clubs/centers. The ladies were warmly welcomed by both the locals and foreign tourists. A trip to the Puerto Galera Mangrove Conservation and EcoTourism Walkway made the long day more meaningful as high school students assisted the candidates in the planting of mangrove seedlings inspite of the rains that could have spoiled the activity. All of them were game, though.

After today’s preliminaries, tomorrow will be a morning dive before returning to Manila in the afternoon. Here are more photos from Day 1 of the stay.

Jonas Gaffud: The new National Director for Manhunt International in the Philippines 

Posted by Norman on September 26, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .


As announced in the Facebook page of Manhunt International, there is a new National Director for Manhunt International in the Philippines. He is Jonas Gaffud of Mercator Model Management Inc.

From a Beauty Queen-maker, he is all set to formally enter the world of pageantry and be also called a King-maker soon.

Here’s the announcement:

Manhunt International Organization is proud to announce that the new National Director of Manhunt Philippines is Mr. Jonas A Gaffud of Mercator Model Management Inc. You may contact them at Tel:+632 8944571 or email them at mercatormodels@gmail.com for entry details and sponsorship details for the Philippines

We wish to thank all those who applied and sent their requests for the Manhunt Philippines Licensee Thank you for all supporters of Manhunt Philippines for your well wishes.

We move on to a new era and look forward to welcome you New Manhunt Philippines 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand this November 2017.

Your thoughts, dear readers?

When in Siargao…

Posted by Norman on September 26, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .


While waiting for signs of life from WME/IMG on where and when the next Miss Universe edition will finally be held, here are photos of Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters with boyfriend Migz Villafuerte during a recent town get-together in Siargao where their cafe business operates.

This is Rachel at her most relaxed, and the very relaxed get-up is just appropriate for a surfing destination such as where they usually stay in.

Thank you to photographer Janos Leo Andanar for publicly sharing the soread of photos in this entry.