Justine Felizarta for Miss Universe Canada 2017

Posted by Norman on June 20, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , . 14 Comments

From Bb. Pilipinas 2015 to Miss Universe Canada 2017, Justine Felizarta has shifted gears


From being Binibini 23 of Bb. Pilipinas 2015 and making it to the Top 15 of that strong edition lorded over by now Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Justine Beatrice Felizarta is finally evolving into a more polished and renewed version of herself as one of the delegates for Miss Universe Canada 2017.

The Vancouver-based 23 year old will be one of the ladies vying for the national crown currently on the head of Siera Bearchell who placed in the Top 9 of the 65th Miss Universe in Manila last January. And this early, she is one of the more active contenders who is spreading her cause for Operation Smile with a benefit fundraiser (see image below) and the physical presence in the different activities of the Filipino Communities in Canada.

normannorman.com will follow Justine’s journey in Miss Universe Canada 2017. If she is fortunate enough, then we just might see a second Filipina competing in Miss Universe 2017 along with our very own Rachel Peters.

Good luck, my dear! 🙂

Justine’s benefit fundraiser for Operation Smile

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Three Miss Universe winners, One National Chicken

Posted by Norman on June 20, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks, 5 TV Tales. Tagged: , , , , , . 18 Comments

Gloria, Pia and Margie for Magnolia Chicken

Magnolia Chicken has achieved a casting coup of sorts by assembling the Philippines’ three Miss Universe titleholders – Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973) and Pia Wurtzbach (2015) – in its latest TV commercial which christened their brand of fowl as “Pambansang Manok” (National Chicken) in the process. I like it that the ad agency (PublicisJimenezBasic) behind the TVC was able to bring the concept to fruition as getting all three winners in one ad campaign is an idea waiting to be picked up since Pia won. Maybe the right brand is just waiting to be tapped for all three to appear in.

Watch the commercial now.

courtesy of Magnolia Chicken Station

Photo Blog: The Miss Manila 2017 Candidates 

Posted by Norman on June 19, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 11 Comments

There are thirty (30) ladies competing for Miss Manila 2017 which will have its finals this coming June 24 at the PICC Plenary Hall. Some of the faces are distinctly familiar, like Maria Gail Tobes who was Binibini 3 during Bb. Pilipinas 2017 or Diana Mackey who took part in a previous edition of Miss Philippines Earth or Athena Catriz who was Miss Summer International Philippines a couple of years back or the previously-blogged Glenn Aeela Krishnan sister of Mutya ng Pilipinas Ganiel Krishnan and a deadringer for Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

Here now are the official swimsuit photos of the ladies. Tell me who your favorites are after:

Glenn Krishnan

Alexandra Que

Jane Usison

Shiela Mae Morales

Joanna Tolledo

Roxanne Natividad

Sofia Sibug

Hazel Reyes

Athena Catriz

Bea Generosa Aquino

Maria Gail Tobes

Katrina Sese

Rycca Timog

Meryljan Angangan

Isabel Alves

Kristine Montes

Allhia Charmaine Estores

Diana Mackey

Alyssa Joreen Reyes

Shaine Nicole Chavez

Naelah Alshorbaji Almazik

Princess Bautista

Geri Francheska Camargo

Pamela Villacorte

Jennifer Daguro

Kristine Eiriel Nolasco

Jhan Nicole Ambata

Regine Sarah Turjman

Paola Bagaforo

Kristel Herrera

Maureen Wroblewitz for AsNTM S5: Are the Spoilers for Real?

Posted by Norman on June 19, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks, 5 TV Tales. Tagged: , , . 9 Comments

Show of hands: Did Maureen really win Asia’s Next Top Model S5?


The rumors are not just hushed talks.

Most everyone I know (at least those who follow the program on Star World) is nagging me if Maureen Wroblewitz of the Philippines has finally won the country’s first-ever top place finish in Season 5 of Asia’s Next Top Model.

Truly, I cannot give a definitive answer to the question for two (2) good reasons:

courtesy of AsNTM

1) I did receive sound-offs from at least two sources that the Philippines won (as Season 5 has completed filming many weeks back) but without valid photo proof and only unbridled persistence that she indeed finished as #1, I can only take the claims as possible hype to raise the unified interest of Philippine viewers to watch the remaining episodes and jack up the ratings.

2) If I indeed hold factual information that Maureen surpassed the efforts of all previous Filipinas who came soooo close to victory, then I wouldn’t want to spoil the excitement in deference to the request of the producers to withold any major spoiler. Even if I was not personally hooked up by their media people for Season 5, I still respect the efforts of the show to build up a proper momentum for the finale.


Be that as it may, the last two episodes have been really telling. In favor of a possible Maureen victory, that is. But let’s take spoiler quips from all over with a grain of salt and watch till the end to see if they will hold water.

Here is a video of one of the “leaked claims“.

courtesy of Showbiz Nest Video

Sunday Specials: The Bb. Pilipinas whose middle name spells F-R-I-E-N-D-L-Y

Posted by Norman on June 18, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. 9 Comments

Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Chanel Olive Thomas

Chanel (rightmost) with her fellow Queens

There are friendly beauty queens and there are very friendly beauty queens. And then there is Chanel Olive Thomas, our reigning Bb. Pilipinas Supranational. There is a good reason why – aside from winning one of the Bb. Pilipinas 2017 crowns – she was also named the friendliest by her fellow candidates.

Chanel is not your typical social butterfly. In fact, she’s not the amiable “in-your-face” type of individual. She is beyond cordial, and actually sits somewhere between affectionate and well-disposed. Once she becomes close to someone, she shows such a companionable spirit that is natural and heartfelt. And this is the quality I love most about her – the same trait that she will bring along with her in the international competition she is set to compete in later this year.

Chanel always sets the tone among her fellow Queens in almost any public gathering. She’s like the ray of sunshine who can make any boring appearance seem exciting. And wearing the Bb. Pilipinas Supranational sash gives her the big opportunity to do so. No self-made entitlements, just good old Miss Congeniality in action. 😉

Credits for Chanel’s topmost image:
Raymond Saldaña Photography
Stylist: Mikee Andrei
Assisted by Dave Arden
Hair and Makeup: Jim Ryan Ros
Swimsuit: Cesa Swimwear
Costume: Patrick Isorena

Sunday Specials: The New Look of Maine Elima 

Posted by Norman on June 18, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , . 13 Comments

This is how Charmaine Elima looks right now

This was how Maine looked like during Bb. Pilipinas 2017

The caption on her latest Facebook update says it all: “when was the last time you did something for the first time? 😎💇🏻👌🏻“.

Bb. Pilipinas 2017 1st Runner-Up Charmaine “Maine” Elima now sports a significantly shorter hair that begs the question: Is this her way of telling everyone how she really feels about not getting a title last April? Or is she just going for a totally “wash-and-wear” look to give her long hair a rest from all the constant stylings during the competition?

We know that our reigning Queens (including the two runners-up) have long tresses to frame their faces in a more feminine way. And with Maine’s new cut, her public appearances will be the talk of everyone. Not that BPCI will reprimand her for doing so. After all, she won’t be prepped up for any international pageant as 1st Runner-Up.

Are you liking the short hair, dear readers? 🙂

Sunday Specials: Will these ladies join Miss World Philippines 2017?

Posted by Norman on June 18, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 35 Comments

Four of the rumored familiar faces who are considering Miss World Philippines 2017 as their next pageant route


Talks are starting to get louder about the ladies who are planning/considering to join Miss World Philippines 2017. While nothing is set in stone for their eventual signing-up yet, there are discussions in pageant circles that four of the potential enlisters are as follows:

1) Laura Victoria Lehmann – Bb. Pilipinas 2014 1st Runner-Up and ABS-CBN Sports Courtside Reporter

2) Janela Joy Cuaton – Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism Metropolitan International 2016 and Miss Tourism Metropolitan International 2016 1st Runner-Up

3) Jona Sweett – Miss Philippines Earth Eco-Tourism 2015 and the muse of Caticlan-based Fashion Designer Adriano Samar

4) Steffi Rose Pearson Aberasturi – the Cebu-based beauty who comes from the popular Aberasturi clan. She was crowned Reyna ng Aliwan 2014 where she represented the Sinulog Festival

As I have stated above, their possible joining is not 100% so far, but coming close to it if all things fall in the right places in the weeks to come.

Watch out for more updates! 🙂