If were a spin doctor, Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Imelda Bautista Schweighart would be a very challenging client to defend and do damage control for in the eyes of the online social media and even colleagues who covered the events of Miss Earth 2016. She can be the sweetest lady one minute who can turn into a loose cannonball the next. And she does not offer excuses for her actions, at least not to those who are mere acquaintances or randomly-encountered supporters.
I am not in the habit of writing a lot of negative thoughts about pageant personalities. And you, dear readers, should know that by now. In the case of Imelda, let me just point out that she immersed herself into Miss Philippines Earth and got a lot more than what she bargained for. And the “excesses” in her opinion are the demands, instructions and expectations that she must have really under-estimated right from the start. She loves her privacy more than anything else. So when she won the right to represent the country in Miss Earth 2016, it was a responsibility that she somehow jumped into half-blindly. After all, she really wanted to become a national beauty queen and wear the Philippine sash in an international beauty competition.
This I reckon – the thing that did not work out well for Imelda primarily is the added pressure of being the host delegate. That must have weighed her down even more, along with the near-impossible mission of going for a back-to-back-to-back victory. Her personality is not entirely anti-social (as some would put it) but simply the type who would build a small circle of close friends and stick to them like glue to a cardboard box. I remember asking who among the foreign candidates she is particularly attached to. She mentioned only Miss Haiti Valierie Alcide. And it was then that I got a clearer view of her character. The latter did not have a profile that matches hers, but possesses an eclectic streak that can blend smoothly with any profile. And then I asked her who should win Miss Earth 2016. She could only think of Tamara Jebuovic (who defended her in the video below), seeing that the Canadian lass is so good at explaining things and reasoning out on matters that could not be easily fathomed by most, aside from being environment-savvy.
Imelda will always root for the most underrated or stay in the company of only one or two who can understand her peculiarities without throwing a judgmental eye right away.
Below is the latest video of MPE2016 Imelda Bautista Schweighart telling people of the Miss Earth 2016 winner having a lot of “fake” transformations done on her face.
courtesy of ChikAmazingOfficialBelow is a video of Miss Earth Canada Tamara Jemuovic coming to the defense of Imelda Schweighart
courtesy of Pageanthology 101
I do not want to be tagged as the defender of Imelda Schweighart because I never condone public behavior that leaves much to be desired. I only happen to be a (Clinically- and Industrially-trained) Psychologist by original profession so the range of understanding I give to unique personalities is relatively wider than most. I do not claim to be interpersonally close to her either. It’s just that beauty queens find it a breeze to feel at ease in my presence, regardless of individuality.
I must have been perceived by Imelda as an emotional ally of sorts. And I am glad because she needs to find whatever dashes of comfort can be provided by people who can offer more than just small talk/superficial pleasantries.
Here is where it gets tricky. If asked, will I approve of her continued reign as Miss Philippines Earth 2016? For the sake of Carousel Productions and the MPE/Miss Earth brands, no. I can feel deep in my heart that Imelda is feeling like an exotic forest-raised bird who will find it difficult to survive in a cage, or a man-made zoo-like wilderness with opening hours and feeding schedules to strictly follow. She is not comfortable having strange spectators feast on her beauty like the main attraction in a touring carnival group. And most definitely, she is not in her best elements when asked to smile when she feels down, sing when she is not in the mood to perform, act on cue when the director shouts “action!” or do a regal pose when all she wants is to run barefoot on the sands of a sanctuary beach in Palawan.
That is Imelda Bautista Schweighart for you. Lock, stock and barrel.