Samantha Lo

All posts tagged Samantha Lo

Gratitude Message of Samantha Lo

Posted by Norman on October 29, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , .

It is safe to say that thousands know the story of what happened to me along my journey to the crown but only a handful know the thoughts and feelings I experience everyday. Thoughts and feelings that barge into my head everyday like uninvited guests making themselves at home and turning everything upside down and scattered in the process. The fear that someone is going to take me and the thought that “I am a failure” are the two most common uninvited guests that love to show up frequently during the day. But there was a new guest that showed up, and they showed up by the hundreds of thousands. Physical people, from around the world, warmly embracing me with words of kindness. Letting me know that I am not doing this alone, that I am loved and I have inspired, that I am special. To these people I want to say thank you for your love and compassion, you have inspired me to keep fighting. I am the product of your butterfly effect.

To my family, thank you for always protecting me in any circumstance. For being the foundation of the morale I carry in life and for teaching me that if we receive hate we do not send hate back, we send back understanding, compassion, and justice.

To Madam Stella Araneta, thank you for trusting me to carry the title of Binibining Pilipinas Grand international, for seeing my potential to perform in this competition. Mr. @nawat.tv and Ms. @teresa.mgi , thank you for giving me the opportunity to compete and showcase my country, on your stage, to the world. Thank you for allowing me to fulfill my dreams — your kindness will never be forgotten.

To the head of my team @mikeeandrei, thank you for taking care of me as your own since day one. For always sitting with us through the good and the bad and helping me see the blessing in every situation. @jonasempire.ph and @sigulanon, it was you both who discovered me and saw my potential, you both who fostered me through this industry and guided me to where I am today.

@carissacielomedved, @iammjrone, @raymsgalang, @theleiponce, @davegrona, @lourdramos thank you for all of your dedication and hard work, for always making me look nothing less than my best for every occasion.

@raus1983 and @_jeffersonsi, the perfect duo. No matter how busy you both were you never failed to deliver and always go above and beyond what you promised. Thank you both for your trust to wear your designs and allowing me to show case it proudly to the world.

@edwinfuy, I am so proud of you. Together we were able to showcase the diverse culture of our country to the world in such a beautiful way, in that there is a victory. @bessiebesana, you are a joy to work with, thank you for always opening your home to me, for wiping away every worry I had and reassuring me that everything is going to be ok. @christophermunar, next to your shining jewelry is your shining smile which I love seeing every time I go to work. Thank you for taking the time in carefully pairing each look with your beautiful accessories.

@froilandosdosen and @misskeithmanila, thank you for designing and styling me so that I may go to Venezuela elegant and poised for every occasion. It is not just the skill and talent you both possess but your joy and happiness you bring to the work place, that is what I love most when working with you guys.

To @dyanbugay and @mardygraaaah, thank you for extending your talent and skills to me in helping me showcase the history of the Philippines to the world.

Special thanks to @katarinarodri and Urban luggages for accommodating me with all of my luggages.

To my sponsors, @bristolmotorcyclesphilippines and ATPI thank you for your continuous support as I embarked on my journey for this competition.

Philippines, its been a hell of a ride. I’ll see you on the next one. 😉

Your Miss Grand Philippines 2019,
Samantha Ashley Lo

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Quo vadis, Samantha Lo?

Posted by Norman on October 26, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .

When you’re a national beauty queen like Samantha Ashley Lo who went to hell and back representing the country in an international beauty competition, some things are bound to affect her presentation and overall performance.

Instead of dwelling on the complicated details of what happened the minute she landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, the detention and deportation, the fake Philippine passport, the return to the Philippines and the whirlwind flight to Caracas, Venezuela on another route, I would rather give my two cents on how she actually made the most out of the shortened time she spent competing in Miss Grand International 2019.

The Preliminary Competition was very telling on Samantha’s turns onstage. While half of me was expecting to see fluid presentations that would justify winning the title as a form of vindication, the other half saw a competitor who wanted so much to do well while calming her extremely-tested nerves in the process. A perfect example was the way by which she motioned her two hands before the pair landed midway between the waist and hips in the evening gown segment. Truth be told, I have never seen something like that for years. It is comparable to a beginner’s stance that is way beneath what a Bb. Pilipinas winner is expected to deliver.

How about the quick roundabout turn that punctuated her presentation? It did surprise, but not in a way that would make me jump out of my seat and applaud. While Miss Universe Catriona Gray expertly demonstrated the slo-mo twirl in swimsuit and the reverse turn in evening gown last December in Bangkok, Samantha did a fast-forward style that did not leave me breathless. It lacked grace, sadly.

There is a grand difference between rooting for Miss Philippines because you know that she performed almost flawlessly as compared to cheering with continued optimism just to keep the already-flickering lights alive. I wanted to settle in the middle because Samantha is giving her best under the most trying circumstances. But the danger of pushing myself to the latter is leaning on hopes that Nawatt Itsaragrisil would squeeze out all the newsworthy juices surrounding her bid. And I cannot – in all honesty – accept such kind of victory that is tantamount to winning for the wrong reasons. Our Queens are not clearance-sale items. We have earned the respect around the world as the benchmark for international pageantry.

So where to now, Samantha Lo?

The choices are not encouraging.

She could return to the Philippines and face dethronement with BPCI. But there is also the heavier consequence of having used a fake Philippine passport (but this is something I would rather leave to the authorities).

Or she could return to the US and resume a life that she left behind when she started residing in Cebu a couple of years back.

For sure, Samantha will get proper legal guidance. I am still praying that things will work out for the best.

The Finals of Miss Grand International 2019

Posted by Norman on October 25, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .


At around 7am tomorrow morning in Manila (7pm in Venezuela local time), the Final Show of Miss Grand International 2019 will commence at the Poliedro de Caracas.

This is one judgment night all Filipino pageant fans are eagerly looking forward to as it will show if #MissGrandPhilippines Samantha Lo’s efforts will be rewarded with a win or a respectable placement in the competition.

You can catch the Live Streaming here, on FB or in the pageant’s Youtube channel.

#samanthalo #missgrandinternational2019

Samantha Lo’s gown in Miss Grand International 2019

Posted by Norman on October 24, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .

Miss Grand Philippines Samantha Lo wore a Rau Uson-Ablaza evening gown (from Rau Atelier Weddings Custom) during the Preliminaries of Miss Grand International 2019.

Photo credits for the photos in this set:
Makeup by : Lei Ponce
Hair by : MJ Rone
ACCS by : Christopher E Munar
Styled by : Mikee Andrei
Shoes by : Jefferson Si
Photo by : Marasigan Gio

Samantha Lo in Venezuela for Miss Grand International 2019

Posted by Norman on October 20, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .

Look who’s in Venezuela now (with the Philippine sash) for Miss Grand International 2019. After everything that has happened the past week, she is ready to make up for days of absence. Below is a screenshot of the explanation in her IG account.