Even before Evangeline Pascual placed 1st Runner-Up in Miss World 1973, another lady had the honor of being the first Filipina to enter the Top 5 and be proclaimed 4th Runner-Up. She is Arene Cecilia “Pinky” Amabuyok (now US-based) who managed to make her presence felt in an edition of the pageant that was considered a strong one. The winner was Penelope Plummer, a gorgeous librarian from Australia.
Below is an old clip of the Miss World 1968 finals.
Pinky: Then and Now
Joanna Angelica Romero (middle) is the Grand Winner of Pinay Beauty Queen Academy. She is flanked by 2nd Placer Janelle Olafson (left) and 3rd Placer Katrina Verde (Photo credit: OPMB Worldwide)
Joanna during the Q&A portion
KF-trained Joanna Angelica Romero drew on her rich pageant experience in the regional and national level, plus the guidance of the reality program’s resident mentors (she got assigned to Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman), to land on top and be crowned the Grand Winner of Pinay Beauty Queen Academy Season 1. The final challenge is the pageant itself that was aced by the pretty Bicolana in practically all fronts. She is followed by 2nd Placer Janelle Olafson and 3rd Placer Katrina Verde.
Joanna during the swimsuit and evening gown segments of the competition (Photo credit: OPMB Worldwide)
Congratulations to the Top 3 and Joanna in particular. Will we get to see her presence felt even more in 2015? 😉
Tonight, the Season 1 finale of Pinay Beauty Queen Academy – to be hosted by Ali Forbes and Lance Raymundo – will go live at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre of Resorts World Manila where the final challenge will be revealed and one top winner selected from the remaining contenders.
There is no confirmation yet on whether the #1 placer will be automatically fielded in one of the national beauty contests for 2015, but suffice it to say that whoever she is will have the right amount of confidence and transformation to enlist in the likes of MPE or Mutya.
By the way, the TV telecast of the finals will air tomorrow night at 9:45PM on GMA News TV. 😉
Three of the four best-performing Miss Republic of the Philippines titleholders from 1966-1976 (Photo credits: Tony Paat)
The winners of Miss Republic of the Philippines 1974 (with Evangeline Pascual sitting on the throne) Photo credit: Tony Paat
But unlike the original which served as the national finals for the country’s Miss World representatives from 1966-1976, the new version will be patterned more after the Miss America Pageant which is purely a scholarship competition with no mission to vie for an international crown. And this could really be an excellent foundation for beautiful and intelligent Filipinas who are just waiting for the solid opportunity to further their education (be it in the undergraduate or masteral levels) while promoting their individual advocacies.
Bright minds, outstanding talents and service-oriented hearts will hug the spotlight this time around. And the prospects are really exciting me. For a change, I would rather armchair-judge a lady without being compromised by the dictated profile/s of a particular global contest.
So what say you, dear readers? Will you give your thumbs up to this one? 😀
This show will air its pilot episode tonight at 9:45pm on GMA News TV
When: Tonight at 9:45PM
Where: GMA News TV
What to expect: Four (4) mentors – Precious Lara Quigaman, Evangeline Pascual, Joyce Ann Burton-Titular and Maria Isabel Lopez – head four teams of five members each to try and hurdle different challenges while coaching each one of them in hopes improving their chances of becoming the true national Beauty Queens in the future.
Ali Forbes hosts with comic relief coming from Joy Viado.
This could be worth following. 😉
Watch out for this reality beauty pageant search on GMA News TV beginning October 4!
Host Ali Forbes with some of the hopefuls
Hosted by Miss Grand International 2013 3rd Runner-up and Bb. Pilipinas 2012 1st Runner-up Ali Forbes, the show will have four (4) respected mentors – Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss World 1973 1st Runner-up Evangeline Pascual, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1985 Joyce Ann Burton-Titular and Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1982 Maria Isabel Lopez – who will each be assigned their team of wannabes similar to what is being done by the US/UK program “The Face”.
Six of the familiar faces in the show (clockwise from top left:) Janelle Olafson, Jeslyn Santos, Joana Angelica Romero, Pircelyn Pialago, Steffy Gerona and Leslie Ann Pine
Let’s set aside our doubts and give this show a chance, dear readers. Who knows, it might even turn out better than expected. 🙂
P.S. By the way, you can support your favorite Pinay Beauty Queen Academy contender by texting PINAY(Number of Candidate) and send to 2929.
Mentors of the upcoming reality TV show “Pinay Beauty Queen Academy” (l-r); Miss World 1973 1st RU Evangeline Pascual, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1982 Maria Isabel Lopez, Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman and Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1985 Joyce Ann Burton-Titular
Miss Grand International 2013 3rd RU Ali Forbes (center in golden yellow gown) will also join the four other ladies as mentors
Qualifications for those who will join, plus the specific TV network to air the same, will be made known soon. Stay tuned for more updates on “Pinay Beauty Queen Academy”. 😉
Victorious Philippines 2010-2013
courtesy of The ABSCBNNews
1969-1973 was the last Golden Age of Philippine Pageants when – in that five year span – the country was able to produce two (2) Miss Universe titleholders (Gloria Diaz & Margarita Moran), one (1) Miss International winner (Aurora Pijuan) and one (1) Miss World 1st runner-up (Evangeline Pascual). Just to add a small detail, this period was preceded in 1968 by a 4th Runner-Up finish in Miss World courtesy of Pinky Amabuyok.
Fast forward to 2010 when Venus Raj clinched 4th Runner-Up honors in the Las Vegas-hosted Miss Universe. The following year saw the Philippines claiming runner-up finishes in both Miss Universe and Miss World (c/o Shamcey Supsup and Gwen Ruais, respectively). And just last year, Janine Tugonon was named 1st Runner-Up to Olivia Culpo, with Stephany Stefanowitz a close 2nd in Miss Earth and Rizzini Gomez pulling a Miss Tourism International. More than a week back, we finally bagged the Miss World crown via Megan Young, with the Mutya Datul victory in Miss Supranational adding more spice to a 2013 looking more optimistic than ever. And let’s not forget that this year’s editions of Miss Universe, Miss Earth and Miss International are still upcoming.
Are we looking at another Golden Age while establishing the Pageant Powerhouse status of the Philippines? Will the winning streak run till 2015? Or will it even go beyond that? I say yes. For sure, the element of luck will still come into play. But with the diligent training and preparations being given to our carefully-chosen representatives, there’s no reason to slide back and be relegated to anonymity anymore.
Things are definitely looking up. There’s no room for resting on our laurels. It’s full steam ahead for the Philippines! 🙂
Karla Rabanal Bautista: she should have been 'voted' Miss World 2004
Okay, before anyone replies in opposition that Ruffa Gutierrez (1993), Gwen Ruais (2011) or even Mafae Yunon (2003) should have been the Philippines’ 2nd Miss World titleholder, do keep in mind that they were not the eventual choices of the judges to win. Jamaica’s Lisa Hanna, Venezuela’s Ivian Sarcos and Ireland’s Rosanna Davidson – respectively – were favored over our entries.
Back in 1973, Miss World 1st Runner-Up Evangeline Pascual was offered the crown after Marjorie Wallace of the USA abdicated the throne. That would have been our first taste of victory, however automatic succession helped in the process. But our bet declined. Watch her performance during the finals where she wowed the judges.
courtesy of MrSuperBlackDragon
And then back in 2004, it was the only year in Miss World history where the winner was determined by way of online votes and SMS. In short, the people had control of who will land on top. I have nothing against Maju Mantilla of Peru (who won), but I still could not fathom how the Philippines was outvoted in the final tally. In fact, it was only Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez of Dominican Republic (1st Princess) who I considered our toughest opponent, voting-wise. And among all the ladies in the Top 5, the Philippines is the only country known to be a worldwide leader in churning out an endless brigade of voters for their beauty rep. Reminisce Karla’s Top 5 interview below.
courtesy of missmundo2006
So in my books, Maria Karla Rabanal Bautista could technically have been our “2nd Miss World” winner. Global netizens may have declared her as the least facially-attractive finalist that year. But rules are rules. The Filipinos did their part and voted like crazy until the end, only to be slapped with a placement even lower than 2nd Princess.
And what was practiced (with doubtful results) during Miss World 2004 never happened in the succeeding years anymore. Lessons learned for Julia Morley, perhaps.
Binibining Pilipinas-World 2009 Marie-Ann Umali was feted with a send-off to Miss World 2009 which will culminate in a grand finals come December 12, 2009 at the Gallagher Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Marie-Ann Umali is ready to capture the elusive first Miss World crown for the Philippines
Prior to the pre-pageant activities and coronation night in South Africa, Marie-Ann will initially head to London, England together with the other delegates before traveling as a group to Johannesburg a few days later.
Marie-Ann Umali receives wishes and kisses of good luck from Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Bianca Manalo (L) and Bb. Pilipinas-International Melody Gersbach (R)
Marie-Ann has a tough challenge ahead. The Philippines has not won the Miss World crown ever since it started and the closest the country got to the title were in 1973 when Evangeline Pascual placed 1st Runner-Up and in 1993 with Sharmaine ‘Ruffa’ Gutierrez clinching 2nd-Runner-Up honors.
Will Marie-Ann Umali achieve what all her predecessors have failed to do? Fellow beauty queens Bianca Manalo and Melody Gersbach (plus the whole country) can only keep their fingers crossed for her.
Let’s all wish Marie-Ann Umali the best of luck as she tries to conquer the Miss World crown currently held by Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia.
Good luck, Marie-Ann!
Images above are courtesy of Melvin Sia and Bruce Casanova of OPMB Worldwide Forums.
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