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Vickie Rushton: What fate lies ahead?

Posted by Norman on June 1, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , . 3 Comments


Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder why a woman as beautiful as Vickie Marie Rushton has not won a Bb. Pilipinas crown until now. Perhaps, it’s the effect of her latest photos here that sets me up to thinking about her pageant fate.

In the past, hurdles have certainly stood in the way of nailing a good crown. And the bumps happened so fast. One minute, she already has a win within arm’s reach. Then the next minute, it slipped her grasp that all we can do is feel sad for the circumstances.

Vickie turned 28 last month. With Bb. Pilipinas 2020 indefinitely postponed, the chances of getting a targeted title are getting slimmer as each pandemic moment eats up the days, weeks and months leading towards the end of the year and into the next.

Miss International has a ceiling age of 28 (at the time of national crowning and throughout the bigger competition in Japan). Now she can certainly hope to still make it to the other Bb. Pilipinas titles at stake. But we all know that she is a perfect fit for MI. Anything other than that would be a risk. And a crown of lesser prestige at that.

How about you, dear readers? How are you sizing up the pageant fate of Vickie Rushton amidst the global pandemic and the age factor joining forces to make it even more tricky at this point?

📷: @draepilarta
💋: @irajucaban
👗: @jungcandelario

On the cover of Philippines Tatler: Jeremy Jauncey and Pia Wurtzbach

Posted by Norman on June 1, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , . 7 Comments

On the cover of the June, 2020 issue of Philippines Tatler: This is like a confirmation of sorts on the status of their blooming relationship.

We are excited to unveil this month’s cover that features the handsome couple and the hottest pair in the universe, @beautifuldestinations CEO @jeremyjauncey and @missuniverse 2015 @piawurtzbach! They are photographed by internationally-acclaimed photographer Nigel Barker against the captivating backdrop of the Equinox Hotel and Hudson Yards Mall in New York City. In our cover feature entitled The Perfect Pair, they reveal their relationship and talk about the challenges they face given full schedules and jet-setting lifestyles.
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In celebration of our Women’s Issue, we feature eight dynamic and strong women and ask them about the current challenges they face, who inspire them and how they balance work and family in the article, In Conversation.
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We speak to beautiful actress @missizacalzado, a COVID-19 survivor, on how she was able to fight the virus and survive. Then we take a dive into the issue of single women in Going Solo and into a deeper dive with The Women and the Sea about female free divers who push the limits of human ability.
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We join industry experts in wondering about the challenges that we will be facing, being that there is still no cure or vaccine in sight for COVID-19. Our “new normal” will affect our behaviour (not to mention our mental state); but given the optimism inherent in the Filipino, everyone will see that silver lining.
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Check out the home of tomorrow by @calmacarlo. As lifestyle priorities shift because of this pandemic, Calma pours a lot of thought on the shape of things to come, citing several elements that will already become necessities in tomorrow’s home, and sharing the look of this future structure, which he was starting to build before we were hit by the virus.
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Photography by @nigelbarker
Styling by @jasmine.caccamo
Hair by Zulay Sevilla
Make-up by Yuki Takashi

#piwurtzbach #jeremyjauncey #piaandjeremy #nigelbarker #tatlerphilippines #juneissue #piawurtzbachmissuniverse2015

#Updated: With Geraldine “Pebbles” Asis and the Afterglow of a Life Well-Lived

Posted by Norman on June 1, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , . 13 Comments


It’s already June 1. Start of General Community Quarantine in the country save for a few selected parts. Time to get more cautious as we re-enter life outside the four corners of our home.

Quite scary if you ask me. And it might take double the amount of time to get back to the groove of things compared to when the reality of a lockdown was accepted with no choice.

For the second blog feature of #Updated by normannorman.com, I share with you an #exclusive peek into the life of Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1987 and Miss Universe 1987 Top 10 Finisher Geraldine “Pebbles” Asis – how she copes with the pandemic crisis and what is the secret behind aging gracefully. She also gives us a special message on how to handle solo living as we all enter a #newnormal of doing things and living in general.

Just how does one grow old gracefully?

Is it through turning back the hands of time once too often by seeking all possible treatments from cosmetic surgeons and maintaining the look of a certain age that belies what one’s actual number is in terms of years lived since birth?

Is it through chasing all ritual-laden non-invasive treatments from dermatology/skin experts to preserve one’s youth without going under the knife?

Or is it through living a simple life of happiness and peace of mind without worrying so much about aging on the outside and sustaining the afterglow of what once was?


Pebbles is now a proud grandmother

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1987 Geraldine “Pebbles” Asis has been living her low-key solo existence in Roxas City for many years now. She has two children – Gabby and Sam – who are now grown-ups. Before, she used to live in the ancestral house but chose to transfer to a smaller and low-maintenance abode that will allow her to do things all by herself.

“With the business my dad left us – and being the eldest – I can opt do nothing and live like a queen. But I didn’t because at the end of the day, I will neither be happy nor fulfilled. Since all my siblings live well in the US, I ventured into the lodging business on my own. And this is where income is generated.”

Married life for Pebbles was the toughest period that it sadly affected her legally, socially, psychologically physically and mentally. So it would be best to leave things in the past and move on with her head held high.


There are still so many beautiful things in life that our subject would rather dwell on. And having so many friends as support system keeps her smiling and always on her toes. She personally maintains the house without the need of a live-in helper. She also conducts workshops to kids and teens on how build up their confidence and do well onstage. She does regular charitable work and would even say yes to invites for pictorials and modeling from time to time. She is practically living the life of a single woman. And at her present age, she has seen life from all lenses – be it dark, rosy or plain clear. That is what makes her grow old gracefully. And she intends to keep it that way. She accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity.

In the video clip below, Pebbles tells us how life has been on quarantine and what positive realizations she arrived at. Two and a half months after the lockdown started.

Blue floral gown by Marlo Ramos Javier

Amy Tinie Abdul Aziz of Malaysia takes over Miss Eco International

Posted by Norman on May 31, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , . 6 Comments


Amy Tinie (leftmost) is now the new Miss Eco International

In a statement released by the organizers of Miss Eco International, last year’s 4th Runner-Up Amy Tinie Abdul Aziz of Malaysia assumed the title of Miss Eco International 2019. No reasons were given as to why the 2nd or 3rd Runner-Up placers were skipped but it would be logical to think that it was the Malaysian rep who wholeheartedly accepted the responsibilities based on terms set by the pageant organization.

Read now.

Brief statement by Miss Eco International:

Ms. Cipriani had agreed to the rules from the moment she filled her application form. The hectic schedule of the Miss Eco winner is unsuitable for pregnant women. Since it may negatively affect the upbringing of a newly born child deprived of his monther’s love.

Miss Eco International rules the aim of finding a winner who is free and able to commit. Often at short notice, to work globally in support of humanitarian activities and events on climate environmental issues, which may be for long periods, often to areas climate change often to devastated by natural disasters or human-made ones.

We feel sad that Ms Cipriani is unconvinced and insists the rules made her feel uncomfortable and burdensome. However we think that she did a great job as our Miss Eco 2019 till now in performing her duties.

We wish her the best in her endeavours and thank her for the patronage and support of Miss Eco International pageant 2019.

In the future, we will look into paradigms and the rules to be more inclusive without hindering the overall essence of the pageant.

In the aftermath Ms. Copriani will no longer represent Miss Eco 2019. As Ms. Amy Tinie Abdul Aziz of the Malaysia runner up of the 2019 pageant will take over the crown abdicated by Ms. Cipriani.
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BREVE MENSAJE/INFORME DEL CONCURSO “SRTA. ECO INTERNACIONAL.”

La Srta. Cipriani había aceptado las reglas desde el momento en que completó su formulario de solicitud. El horario agitado del ganador del Concurso Srta. ECO Internacional. No es adecuado para mujeres embarazadas, ya que puede afectar negativamente la educación de un niño recién nacido privado del amor de la madre.

El Concurso SRTA. ECO INTERNACIONAL gobierna el objetivo de encontrar un ganador que sea libre y capaz de comprometerse. A menudo, con poca anticipación, viajar a nivel mundial en apoyo de actividades y eventos humanitarios sobre cuestiones ambientales climáticas, que pueden ser por períodos prolongados, a menudo a áreas donde el cambio climático a menudo está devastado por desastres naturales o provocados por el hombre.

Nos entristece que la Srta. Cipriani no esté convencida e insista en que las reglas la hicieron sentir incómoda y pesada. Sin embargo, creemos que hizo un gran trabajo como nuestra Srta. ECO 2019 en el desempeño de sus funciones. Le deseamos lo mejor en sus esfuerzos y le agradecemos por su patrocinio y apoyo a al Concurso Internacional Srta. ECO 2019.

En el futuro, analizaremos los paradigmas y las reglas para ser más inclusivos sin obstaculizar la esencia general del concurso.

Como resultado. La Sra. Cipriani ya no representará Srta. ECO, 2019. ya que la Srta. Amy Tinie Abdul Aziz, de , subcampeona del concurso de 2019, se hará cargo de la corona abdicada por la Srta. Cipriani.

بيان موجز وهام من مسابقة ملكة جمال السياحة والبيئة :

لقد قامت الملكة الحالية للمسابقة ( سويان سيبريانى ) بالموافقة على القواعد والقوانين المبرمة بالعقد الذى يحدد كافة القوانين الواجب إتباعها منذ مشاركتها بالمسابقة.

ونظراً لصعوبة البرامج المتبعة والجهد المبذول فى الأنشطة والذى لا يتوافق مع النساء الحوامل.
وذلك وماله من تأثير بالسلب على الطفل حديث الولادة وعلى علاقة الأم برضيعها.

والهدف من فرض تلك القواعد هو إمكانية إيجاد ملكة متفرغة عندها القدرة على الالتزام بالبرامج المتبعة والمقامة بجميع دول العالم ولفترات طويلة وحتى المعلن عنها بفترة إشعار قصيرة.
وذلك للمشاركة فى قضايا البيئة والأحداث الهامة والتي تتعلق بقضايا التغير المناخى والبيئى ومشاكل البيئة من كوارث طبيعية وغيرها الناتجة من فعل الإنسان.

وللأسف اتضح ان الملكة المتوجة للمسابقة لسنة ٢٠١٩ ( سويان سيبريانى ) لم تتفهم تلك القواعد المبرمة بالعقد وقامت بكسر أحد قوانين المسابقة على الرغم من أدائها والتزامها المشاد به خلال الفترة من تتويجها وحتى ذلك الحين.

ونحن نؤيد ونتمنى لها الأفضل فى مسعاها ونشكر محاولاتها وجهودها فى تعزيز هدف المسابقة.

وسوف ننظر مستقبلاً لتلك القوانين ساعين ان نجعلها أكثر شمولية وتضمنية بدون طمس جوهر المسابقة او محو فكرتها العامة.

وتعقباً على ما حدث ومنذ ذلك الحين تعتبر ( سويان سيبريانى ) غير متوجة بتاج المسابقة كملكة جمال العالم للسياحة والبيئة لسنة ٢٠١٩، وينتقل التاج بالتبعية إلى صاحبة الوصيفة الرابعة لسنة ٢٠١٩ من بلد ماليزيا (إيمى تينى عبد العزيز ) لتصبح هى ملكة جمال العالم للسياحة
والبيئة لسنة ٢٠١٩