Crowned at Midnight: The Real-Life Fairy Tale of a Modern-Day Cinderella

Posted by Norman on October 30, 2021
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


Hers is a story that can only be aptly described as “magical”.

With practically all the elements of the well-loved fiction – save the presence of the wicked stepmother and stepsisters – she was crowned at almost half past midnight (Egypt time) and had her Prince Charming in the audience incessantly cheering her on.

By no means is this parallel to that “life is stranger than fiction” line. Instead, the beautiful inspirations are all there;

1. Her name says it all – “Cinderella”.
2. Truth be told, she almost did not win the national crown if not for the wildcard opportunity that allowed her to shine on her own merits. The glass shoes really fit.
3. She has not one but two Fairy Godmothers. The first one is Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta of BPCI. And the second one is Atty Jeffrey Saclot (her direct boss at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Tourism Office) who made sure that her journey to Egypt was smooth and problem-free.
4. She has a team of friends who stayed with her all the way through. Call them a glam team or the footmen and coachman. But they supported all her needs from start to finish – Michael Villamor, Odelon Simpao and Maja Blanka.
5. She has her real-life Prince Charming – Henri Lopez – who stood by her, rallied everyone and claimed the crown as early as the day she won BbPilipinas.

This is such a wonderfully victorious journey for Cinderella Faye Obeñita whose success in pageantry is written in the stars. It does not happen to everyone. But then again, she has Lady Luck by her side and worked hard to achieve the win.

Mabuhay ka, Cindy!

Miss Intercontinental 2021 Cinderella Faye “Cindy” Obeñita as photographed by Raymond Saldaña

44 comments on “Crowned at Midnight: The Real-Life Fairy Tale of a Modern-Day Cinderella”

  1. The moment she became Asia and Oceania finalist sealed the deal. The other five needed divine intervention to win.

  2. I am sure that most commenters here never had Cindy winning any BBP title at all but you proved us all wrong.

    I thought her answer was too long and windy but what separated her amongst the rest is her conviction in answering the question. She did not buckle like some other beauty queens. Kahit medyo slightly mali na ang grammar, go pa din. That’s what separates the confident queens from the pretenders.

    Congats Cindy!!!!

    • Di naman masyado
      When Cindy shows up for her despidida , a lot of people had a feeling she would do well . Physically , she had transformed into a really pretty sophisticated lady .

    • @ 4M With all due respects to Cinderella, ganyan din si Cyrille Payumo. Didn’t buckle at Q&A!

      First at Mutya. Then winning her Tourism crown. Here’s another lady we could anticipate BIG soon.

  3. She made the country proud. Her victory further solidifies Philippines as pageant powerhouse

  5. some suggested that she could be the next MUP in a couple of years … I do think that her style and beauty is not for MU , BUT she can definitely be the second Miss World after Megan Young …
    ( she can be both the 2nd Miss Intercontinental and 2nd Miss World for Pinas )

  6. As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English is important for Miss Intercontinental, why or why not?

    Philippines : As an ambassador, I don’t think that speaking specific language is very important here in Miss Intercontinental or any pageant at all. As long as that woman is woman of power and grace, commitment and intelligence. No matter what language she speaks, and that woman is actually a woman of style and substance that she can win any pageant or any endeavor she is into, also it’s very important I have learned here actually in Miss Intercontinental that a woman should be or should possess power of substance and I believe I am that woman because that is the essence of a modern day Miss Intercontinental that we are living in a world where it is very hard to survive and as Miss Intercontinental, I would like to be that source of hope, that source of inspiration on the true power of beauty and that is felt on the kindness of our hearts and definitely on the sincerity of our loving actions.

    • @ Gabriela ‘… Style and substance’. Then, ‘… power of substance’. Very substantial, indeed.

      Miss Substance International, the pageant, is here declared and claimed by Norman’s Blog! Uncle, ikuha mo na ng 25-year patent ‘tong title para may royalty ka kung may gustong gumamit. And ask Manny Halasan for a sketch of the ‘Essence of Substance’ crown. Para siya may ‘take’ din!

  7. Coming from Binibining Pilipinas, for sure she will not win if she joins MUP, better wait pag wala na sa kanila ang french fries 🍟 or join Miss World Philippines

  8. mukhang OK ‘tong mga pinapadala ng BBP after nilang malagasan ng MU franchise.

    Samantha Bernardo then Cinderella… parehong nasa Final two… they still have Maureen and the other Samantha plus Hannah for the next edition of Miss International.

    in fairness kasi, mukhang mbabait tong mga kinoronahan ng BBP kaya sila blessed… mga positibo ang mga aura nila.

    wishing great results also for MUP and MWP.

    • @ Vietnamese Pinoy I-PRESSURE NA ANG MI NA MAGBAGO NG ISIP AT ITULOY ANG LABAN.

      It’s only end-October now (this weekend). Next week, November na. Their Fall tradition can resume with the changing colors of the Japanese maples. SOLO NILA ANG BUWAN; SILA LANG ANG BIG4 NA PUWEDENG MAG-LIVE NEXT MONTH. ME, as we know, is hopefully on their last virtual edition.

  10. Congratulations, Cindy!

    Next stop,

    Miss Universe Philippines!

    I got my vindication once again!

  11. in a previous comment, i wished for her win, and hoped “wag lang sanang mapulitika”.. well, with her winning answer, it’s obvious she stood out and deserves the crown.. our 2nd Miss Intercontinental win, plus that crown won by Alexandra Faith Garcia are good omens.. 😊👍 Go Philippines..

  12. To be fair to the MIntercon organization, ANG GANDA NI FANNI MIKO. Did you guys see her (side) profile?! Parang nililok. She’s Hungarian.

  13. Hindi ko kinaya yung sagot nya… She actually answered all the questions for all the top 6 finalists… Nilamon na yung mic… 😅😂🤣

  14. Congratulations, Cindy! 🇵🇭 Buti nanalo ka kasi kung ibang country ang nanalo, sasabihin ng mga bashers eh cheap pageant naman etong Ms. Intercon. But since you were crowned nga kaya tiklop yung mga pintasera. Where na you mga bashers?

  15. Cindy is simply amazing ! Her gift of gab is unbelievable. Congratulations again, our Cinderella 🙂

  16. Parang c Ara Arida look ang nakikita ko hihihi. Next stop is MUP ba on 2023?
    Kaya lng, ayaw yata ni Mama J ng KF as MUP 🏆 winner hihihi. Lipat bakod ganern🤭🤫😆
    Congratulations again Cindy 🎉

    • Naku true this.

      In the 2 years of MUP’s existence, it makes me really question MUP’s credibility na wala pa nanalo from KF.

      Especially the first year, when wala nag compete in MUP from KF.

      This organization has no integrity.

      • @ SQ I rooted for Steffi. Uncle should, one of these days, re-post @ THOMAS’ little ‘poll’.

        But ‘Cebu Province’ flubbed her Question. That was clear as polished gem. What can we do? Fourth RU is not a bad inaugural finish for KF. What this means is THEY NEED TO FIND SOMEONE EVEN BETTER THAN ABERASTURI.

        I think 2020 was really very fluid still… MUO probably just wanted to first do things on its own for the most part (read : only A&Q, The Camp, & Independents) and that’s certainly & entirely their prerogative as owner of the franchise. KF, at the time, may have opted to ‘wait & see’. IT’S ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS. We should give them some slack. Baby steps… Haste might make waste.

        Kung ako lang, mas malaki expectation ko sa The Camp. But this is another matter.

        I don’t understand why folks here suddenly thought Cinderella is KF. Didn’t Uncle even make a separate post for each camp participation at BBP 2021?

        There were SIX (6) from A&Q – Cinderella, Carina, Shaira, Hannah, Karen Laurrie, & Pat (Babista).

        There were FOUR (4) Independents (aka, neither KF nor A&Q) – Gabby (RL’s Angels), Honey (c/o Paolo Ballesteros), Lesley Anne Ticaro, &…I forgot her name, either from Region 3 or NCR (sorry).

        (Wasn’t it Lois Ann Badando, perhaps?)

        The rest were KF.

      • Nang-agaw sila ng french fries. In short, they assert that they have something better to offer. PWE!!!!! Ka-cheapan lang pala. Kaloka. Kadiring MUP.

    • Makahanash lng mga betla. A&Q po sya!!!
      Laki ng galit niyo. Memasabi lng against A&Q

  17. Hi Norman.

    Why aren’t you posting my review of the pageant in your last article? Hehe. Pramis, masaya yung content.

    World Peace.

  18. The moment she won BbP Intercontinental from nowhere, I already have a high expectation on Cindy. Her winning answers brought her where she is now. Congratulations Cindy, our 2nd Miss Intercontinental.

  19. so tomorrow, it’s ReinaHispanoamerica … what if all the pageants from tomorrow on until December are won by Pinas candidates … what are the chances, low-40%s ? , better than zero ? maybe more like mid-10%s … ?

  20. Congratulations! Iba talaga pag trained ng KF! congrats Rodgil

    though facially average sya, bawing bawi ng bonggang bongga sa com skills, rampadora din si ateng

  21. Congrats Cindy! Miss Intercontinental just received a wakeup call. You made the country very proud indeed. Mme Stella waved her magic wand at the right moment too 💐👑💓 showing her love and support the gracious Binibini way That’s how it’s done. 🙋🏼‍♀️

  22. I was really surprised that Missology didn’t even put her into the top 20

  24. Cindy, yung totoo? Ilan ang question sa iyo? Yung sagot mo parang covered 2-3 questions. Hahahaha! Grabe ka girl! Parang hindi mo need ng fairy god mother. Congratulations!

    • I agree, this lady can talk with sense and clarity. No one came CLOSE to her in this portion of the competition. She slained them all!!!!

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