Former Binibini wins Miss FIT Philippines 2020

Malka Shaver, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Dumaguete City, was the winner of the inaugural Miss FIT Philippines, besting the field of 24 contestants and which was held online due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

With a degree in Mass Communications from Silliman University, Malka works as an executive secretary at Phil Pharma. Measuring 33-24-36, 5-foot-7, her fitness mantra is: “Listen to your body. Take control of your mind.”

Malka is the 2nd eldest of 8 siblings who grew up together with their grandmother in Dumaguete City. She had a tough childhood that made her strong and describes herself as “simple and contented but ambitious.”

She was named Malka at birth which, unbeknownst to her parents, means Queen in Hebrew. “I only found out growing up, and I strive to live up to my name through my art,” Malka revealed.

Malka has a string of beauty titles to her name: Miss Dumaguete 2014, Miss Mandaue 2016, Miss Manila 1st runner-up 2019, Bb. Pilipinas 2019 top 25 finalist, and Miss Mandaluyong 1st runner-up 2020.

Interestingly, Malka’s first runner-up in Miss Mandaue 2016 was Louise Tan Theunis, the reigning Miss Bikini Philippines and national director of Miss FIT Philippines which advocates for wholistic fitness, with the acronym F.I.T. standing for Face, Intelligence and Toned Body.
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Winning as the first ever Miss FIT Philippines, the newest pageant in the new normal, Malka feels extremely honored and grateful. “I wasn’t expecting to win but I’m so glad that I got to represent a cause I wholeheartedly believe in,” Malka said after her victory. “Fitness holds the key to so many issues in an individual’s life, and achieving a balanced and holistic approach to fitness could solve so much of the societal issues that plague us.”

​”I think my faith, the people who supported me, and fate made me win. I didn’t expect to win, but I always tried to manifest positive vibrations even in the face of doubt. I first conquered the mental and spiritual aspect and I think the physical followed after. I managed to get myself in shape for competing and my amazing team consisting of my MUA Leonico Thoegersen, hair stylist Bianca Serion and videographer Jeben Taob put the cherry on top by making me look my best through their craft. The guidance of some angels in my life contributed too and the rest was up to God and the Universe,” said Malka.

​”I look forward to advancing in my fitness journey and learning about all the innovative ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The world we live in continues to evolve and science is finding out new ways everyday on how to harness nature and the tools available to us to keep ourselves in optimum shape so we can give our best performance,” Malka continued. “I’m excited to share all that I learn, and inspire people to be proactive in their health so they have the energy to keep doing what keeps them going.”

​”My fitness advocacy is all about promoting an exodus from our blind passive toxic lifestyles and coming back home to our inner sanctuary (the self, the body and soul) to wake up and listen to the yearnings of our souls and the aches of our bodies begging us to treat ourselves the way we should,” shared Malka.

​”Coming back home to our humanity – our human family and community. Reconnecting our social fabric into a harmonious unit. And coming back home to Mother Earth, the stage where the performance of our lives take place. We need to come home to her in the food we eat and the products we use; they should be natural and organic as not to harm us or Her. We need to come home to Her natural landscapes and breathe Her fresh air, so we are reminded of how everything that is possible now is only possible because she can thrive. We need to come home and come back to basics because I’m afraid we’ve been living so disconnectedly that we think we are separate from one another, from what we do and put into the earth, and even from ourselves that it has resulted to so much madness that should easily have been avoided if only we were more conscious and in touch with what truly matters. This is the essence of living holistically,” Malka concluded.

Crowned First Runner-up to Shaver was Arielle Jazmine Roque, 26, from General Santos City. Arielle stands 5’6″ and measures 35.5 – 26 – 37. She is a copywriter, freelance project manager, and a graphic design and content creator. Arielle was Reyna ng Aliwan 2017 2nd runner-up and Miss Philippines Earth 2020 runner-up.

Named Second Runner-up was 19-year-old Anita Rose Gomez from Olongapo City, Zambales. Standing 5’7″ with vital statistics of 36 – 22 – 35, Anita Rose is a freshman Bachelor of Science in Customs Administration at Gordon College and a front desk officer at Slimmer’s World International Gym.

The remaining runners-up are: Clytemestra Juan, 21, a 5’4″ office secretary from Dasmariñas, Cavite; and Karen Nicole Piccio, 23, a 5’6″ painter and entrepreneur from Iloilo who was Miss Philippines Earth Eco Tourism 2019.

Rounding up the Top 10 are: Marylyn Avila, 24, of Camarin, Caloocan City; Mary Mae Soriano, 20, of Iloilo City; Jemyla Nicole Velilla, 22, of Baliuag, Bulacan; Julianne Dizon, 18, of Albay; and Kaitlyn Landicho, 19, of San Mateo, Rizal.
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The virtual pageant, hosted by Miss Philippines Earth 2013 Angelee de los Reyes and Sean Kyle Ortega, also awarded several special awards from sponsors.

Awarded Miss Sora was Karen Nicole Piccio who won P20,000 worth of Sora items. The Miss Ultra Young title went to Jemyla Vellila who received P20,000 worth of Ultra products. Miss Ultra White was Wyndielyn Cometa who got P20,000 worth of Ultra Products. Miss Ultra Slim was awarded to Marylyn Avila who took home P20,000 worth of Ultra products.

Pre-pageant round winners were: Malka Shaver, Best in Swimwear as well as Best in Evening Gown; Marylyn Avila, Fitness Challenge winner; and Mary Mae Soriano, Miss Empire 2020 Community Choice award.

The panel of judges who selected this year’s first ever Miss FIT Philippines was composed of: (from ProMedia) CEO Paul Izon Reyes, President Francisco Eleazar, Director Gib Osbert Ang, Director for Operations Lahaina Mae Mondeñedo, National Director and Miss Bikini Philippines 2019 Louise Theunis, and Executive Chiara Kathleen Lim; Man of the World Philippines 2018 and Man of the World 2018 1st runner-up Clint Karklins, Century Tuna Everybod Superbod 2020 Finalist Keylyn Trajano, Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism 2017 and Miss Tourism International 2017 Jannie Loudette Alipo-on; and TV Host and Miss Philippines Earth 2019 Janelle Tee.

Miss FIT Philippines 2020 was presented by UltraLife and ProMedia with the support of its sponsors: Mr. Hong’s Samgyeopsal, Sora Amazing Athleisure, Piggy Papa, King FU Express, Empire Marketing Corporation and Athlete’s Bite Performance Foods.