FEBRUARY 2012 EDITORIAL: RED ON A ROLL

This is our February issue and we call this issue, RED ON A ROLL. The color red is the strongest color among the basic colors. It conjures different feelings and emotions. It can either mean love or war. It could either mean cupid or the devil. It means hot...It is flaming. It stimulates and sometimes seethes a person into anger. Red symbolizes excitement, energy, speed, strength, danger, passion, and aggression.

For this issue, we will talk all about red. Our front cover is Eva Ekvall a Venezuelan beauty queen that aroused the feelings of everyone in the pageant world in relation to her fight against the dreaded big “C” – that of breast cancer. Although October is supposed to be the Breast Cancer Month, we have included in our issue the topic on Breast Self-Examination in relation to our article about Eva. We have raised the RED ALARM S AND ALERTS against breast cancer in this article.

Our resident fashion reviewer will talk about ladies who competed in red gowns in their international beauty pageants and she has lots to say about them. Another contributor will talk about men in his article Brawn and Beauty and a lot more.

February is not just a heart month. It is a hot, fiery and exciting month. I hope we grabbed your attention and take you into action in our aim for excellence.

MR. INTERNATIONAL 2011, CESAR CURTI

BRAWN AND BEAUTY
By David Natanawan

In the past two issues of this magazine we have featured women and pageants related to women. This time we will feature a male personality. What a better way to start our Valentine’s issue as we feature the new Mr. International 2011 Cesar Augusto Curti from Brazil.

If Cupid has grown up into a mature man, he can be trapped into the body of Cesar Curti. And this would definitely not only give a woman the desire to love Cupid who has grown up into a man that is Cesar Curti. Cesar was born on March 19th, 1987 in Ribeirao, Preto, Brazil. Since childhood he has always showed a natural talent in the acting, musical and sports arena. With his skills he excelled in school in acting and writing for theater. He had also made an indelible mark in the field of music both in voice and guitar. He has also excelled in different kinds of sports most especially in the martial arts. He has encompassed a holistic approach to life indeed.

Aside from venturing into music and acting, Cesar is a model who travels the world in search of new achievements in the publicity and advertising industries. He has participated in many publicity campaigns for important brands such as: Nokia, Nivea, Gudang Garam, Nestle and Head and Shoulders. He has also participated in fashion shows for well known brands such as: Giorgio Armani, Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gautier, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton and more. His versatility allows him to excel in both commercial and authentic fashion.

Cesar who has a Japanese blood (her mom is Japanese) making him one of those successful Brazilian/Japanese who has ventured into modeling, acting and music. His strongest attributes are discipline and willpower, which enable him to be unique and a determined professional. As if venturing into these fields is not enough, he joined the Mr. Brasil 2011 pageant and ended up second runner-up to eventual winner Lucas Malvacini. Being a second runner-up, he was sent to represent Brazil at Mr. International pageant last December 2011 held in Bangkok, Thailand. He was one of the favorites aside from Mr. Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Indonesia and Mexico. And eventually, Cesar won the coveted Mr. International 2011 title making him the second Brazilian after Alan Martini who won in 2007.

Cesar Curti during the Mister Brasil 2011 pageant where he ended up 2nd runner-up.

Cesar Curti during the Mister International 2011 pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand where he won Brazil’s second Mr. International title.

With this success from different fields, Cesar has remained to be humble and his feet always planted on the ground. Being the first male personality to be featured in this magazine it is but proper as he has been the epitome of true success and living his dreams to become a musician, actor, model and international pageant king. Making him not only brawn but has beauty in his heart.

Measurements: 

Height: 1.87m. | Weight: 80kg. | Chest: 101cm. (40in) | Waist: 81cm. (32in) | Hips:  97cm. (37in) | Hair color:   Dark Brown | Eye color:  Brown | Ethnicity:   Pan-Asian (Brazilian/Japanese) | Shoe size:  43

Special skills: Football, Singing, Dancing salsa and Hip hop, Playing guitar, Martial arts, Volleyball, Handball, Stunts, Swimming and Playing percussion.

Hobbies: Traveling, Reading, Music, Movies, Sports, Hiking, Photography and Writing.

JANUARY 2012 EDITORIAL: A NEW YEAR DAWNS IN PAGEANTRY

Last December we had a soft launch of our website and e-zine Queentessence. We mean soft because we just want to get the feel of how pageantry will accept our new endeavors. Being new in the block, we want to establish our own niche. We have decided therefore to fill in the void of putting another eye to the ruckus that is usually created by the pageant buzz year in year out. For the year 2012, we will come out every month and thus there will be 12 issues that will appear. And rest assured we will try to select and piece out issues that are worthy featuring and discussing.
 
By 2012, we would have our permanent website already where all our articles would be read once they are clicked and would be lead to the new site. But we will maintain our blogspot as we have started with them and have noted that surfers have visited and probably read them.

We hope also that as we evolve in the coming months, we enjoin all readers your ideas and contributions and thus, we look forward to guest posts not only those from friends, colleagues but also from we would like to establish correspondences from other nationalities, regions and pageant enthusiasts whose main interest is beauty and pulchritude.

For this issue, we focused on Miss Earth as they have just finished their pageant last December. We note in this editorial how the Miss Earth Beauty Pageant had evolved through the years and thus had become the second most-awaited pageant in the world next to Miss Universe. Both pageants have been compared with one another but pageant followers should make the distinction that the two pageants are different in focus, strength and goals. Miss Earth as an organization has gone a long way. Every pageant year, it showcases the area’s fantastic natural resources. It focuses on the projects that is geared to protecting the environment and focus on the diverse communities that aim to make our Mother Earth a better place to live in. It has become a powerful voice to the global changes that is happening now. As an organization and production, it should strive for further excellence. It has already made a name in so short a time. Being on its steel year, it should remain tough with the challenges that it faces. It should remain tough in its vision and goals for a better Mother Earth for us to enjoy and the generations to come

We wish everyone a HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2012 NEW YEAR!

COVER STORY: OLGA ALAVA

AN ECUADORIAN BEAUTY THAT CONQUERED THE EARTH
By Raphael Porciuncula

If it were a track and field relay contest, Ecuador made a rush and a burst of fire and energy at the 3rd bend, clutching honors along the way as it snatched the Miss International 2011 title and capped the event with another title as Olga Mercedes Alava Vargas was crowned Miss Earth 2011.

It seemed everything was providential to this beauty from Ecuador. She was 4th in the Miss Ecuador beauty pageant. The title or the first rank Claudia Schiess went to represent the country to the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, while the second in rank Veronica Vargas competed in Miss World 2011 and the third in Rank Fernanda Cornejo competed at the Miss International Beauty Pageant 2011 where she was crowned as the winner. Olga, was handpicked by the Diosas Escuela de Misses to represent her country in the 2011 Reina Hispanoamericana because the title holder was still representing the country at the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Her star started to shine that time as she placed second runner-up.

Above picture: Olga (second from right) with the Top 3 winners of Miss Ecuador 2011

Bottom pictures - Left: Olga (second from left) during the Miss Hispanoamericana 2011 pageant where she ended up as 2nd runner-up; Right: Olga as Miss Ecuador Earth 2011.

Olga’s participation to the Miss Earth Beauty pageant was still not guaranteed but Jose Hidalgo the director of the official licensee for the Miss Earth Ecuador chose her to represent the country and now it has become history, Olga Mercedes Alava Vargas became the Miss Earth 2011 crowned by Nicole Faria of India in a pageant of glitz and glam held at the University the Philippines Theater last December 3, 2011.

Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria crowning Olga Alava as the new Miss Earth 2011.

What could have tilted the favour to this candidate of Ecuador to win the crown when majority of pageant fans pointed towards Miss Czech Republic as the new Miss Earth? If you had watched the pageant, one can already become aware of the answer. We saw a Miss Ecuador who glided and was vivacious onstage. We saw a Miss Ecuador who was enjoying the pageant and was interacting with the audience. We saw Miss Ecuador owning the stage.

Above pictures: From left to right - Olga's reaction when she was called into the Top 16 semi-finalists; During the Top 16 swimsuit competition and during the Top 8 long gown competition. Bottom pictures - Left: During the Top 4 finalists interview; Right: Olga as the new Miss Earth 2011.

Although many pundits believe that Miss Brazil gave a much better answer than her or even Venezuela, this girl who was born in Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador had other pluses in her sleeve. She is a songwriter, fashion model cum designer and a TV personality. She had a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and speaks Spanish, English and Mandarin. Mandarin? Yes, she has lived in China for a year. Therefore it is not a surprise that with her multicultural upbringing, Miss Ecuador was well-loved by her co-contestants.

Olga is not just the typical beauty queen that we always see. This 5’8”, 35”-24”-36” almost perfect-shaped beauty grew up with a simple but happy childhood. She values her family as they have stood the test of times. They have remained united and strong and that she equates her family to that of the earth. Like the family, it maintains us and the people we love. She said that without Mother Earth, families and people would not be alive and hence, it is our responsibility to protect and preserve it. She knows the fight against the great environmental problems and hence it is part of her advocacies. Olga advocated for preserving and protecting the forests through reforestation. For her, in order to reach out to a greater number of people, we must use education to teach them of the need to preserve the forests. It is imperative to teach the children and the teenagers about these things as they are the ones that will inherit the future.

Close to Olga’s heart concerning environmental protection are the jungles of the Amazon, Galapagos Islands and the National Park Yasuni – her country’s contribution to the biodiversity of the Mother Earth. As such, she said, she will promote her country as complement to the world and complete with a sustainable development that the future generation will enjoy and cherish. True to her zodiac sign Aquarius, Olga is an optimist and futuristic person. She always sees that better things yet to come. She loves to swim and this is a reflection of her idealism of the new life that the future promises. However, she says even though she is an optimist, she is always grounded in reality and that because of her creativity and imaginativeness, she makes things happen to a more positive outcome.

The Miss Earth Organization looks to a very fruitful and positive year with a new queen like OLGA MERCEDES ALAVA VARGAS.

MISS ECUADOR WINS MISS EARTH 2011 TITLE

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It is two in a row for Ecuador. In the recently concluded Miss International 2011 Beauty Pageant held in China, a Barbie-doll look-alike was crowned Miss International. In this year’s edition of Miss Earth, another Ecuadorian beauty, Olga Alava snatched the title amidst glitz, pomp and glamour. Olga’s win proved to a lot of pundits that they were wrong. Most observers predicted Miss Czech Republic’s eventual win but she failed to even enter the Top 16.

The Miss Earth 2011 Beauty Pageant was held at the University of the Philippines Theatre in Diliman, Quezon city, Philippines , its 11^th edition after a change of venue which was supposed to be in Bangkok, Thailand. The staging of Miss Earth in Thailand was cancelled because floods have started to get into the capital and it will surely ruin all the activities that were line-up for the pageant.

Back to its home base, Miss Earth 2011 organizers were able to come up with various worthwhile activities. The different activities of the competition highlighted the Philippines’ touristic spots. The girls had a taste of the Philippine North in Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Laoag City and Vigan). They were as well involved to different environmental undertakings in Manila and had glimpse of Tarlac province. They were also awed by the breath taking sceneries in the South like Batangas and Camarines Sur. Far down South, they were also taken to Davao and enjoyed the amenities of the Pearl Farm. All the while, the candidates mesmerized the adoring crowd and anywhere they go, a throng of pageant fans are always present to give them the warm welcome of the Fiesta Islands.

It was both excitement and disappointment for the fans as the Top 16 were one by one announced. The excitement grew as the last 3 candidates were to be announced. People were clamouring for Miss Czech Republic and India and there seemed to silence and awe when the last candidate announced was Miss Philippines. Cheers broke out when people realized that the hometown girl made it to the Top 16. At this juncture, eyes were focused on Miss Ecuador who seemed to be out of nowhere was the shining star. Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay and Mexico seemed not deterred with the results of the Top 16. The Top 16 were Ukraine, Paraguay, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, Brazil, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, Crimea, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Slovenia, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador and Philippines.

The swimsuit round was but nothing but a statement of the candidates previous performances. Candidates that made the round were Crimea, Ecuador, Mexico, Philippines, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zimbabwe and Brazil. For me this round was topped by Miss Brazil followed by Miss Ecuador. Crimea was an outcast here as Paraguay, a personal favourite was a much better choice than her. Chinese Taipei would even be a better alternative. But this is a contest where the judges’ decision prevails.

The final round for Miss Earth 2011 was something exquisite. The gowns were wonderful. Miss Ecuador was resplendent in a white sequinned gown. Miss Brazil donned a silver and white sequinned gown while Miss Philippines seemed to tower above all else with her gorgeous red gown. Miss Venezuela used a pink sequinned gown as the crowd showed her appreciation to her.

Going to the Top 4, to everyone’s surprise, the Philippines was called to be a part of the final list. Thundering applause broke out again with some sighs of dissatisfaction was felt. It would seem to everyone that Miss Brazil and Venezuela will slug it out for the Top 2 slots. Brazil having the edge because of her height, queenly but haughty demeanour but alas, Miss Ecuador cannot be denied her chance to the crown. She upstaged the early favourites and even Miss Philippines with her impassioned answer relegated Miss Venezuela to a lower position hence the third place rank for her.

Reigning Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria looked dazzling and she donned a traditional Indian outfit by Indian designer Ritu Kumar in her farewalk. She crowned her successor Miss Ecuador, Olga Alava as Miss Earth 2011. Driely Bennettone of Brazil was announced Miss Earth-Air 2011, Miss Philippines, Athena Mae Imperial was Miss Earth-Water 2011, while Miss Earth-Fire 2011 was awarded to Caroline Medina of Venezuela.

The 12th Miss Earth pageant is scheduled for December 2012 at Ninh Thuan in Vietnam.

101 BEAUTY PAGEANT TIPS

By Janna Seliger

1. Smile, smile, SMILE!

2. While on stage, hold your head high and pretend that crown's already on your head.

3. Scan the judges, scan the audience, then once again scan the judges.

4. If you find it difficult to look the judges in the eyes, look at their foreheads.

5. Remember - it isn't the most talented girl who wins the talent competition. It's whoever has the best stage presence.

6. Don't compare yourself to the other girls, because you're only being judged on you.7. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get a pageant winning dress. Search ebay or your local mall for sales. If it is elegant, sparkles on stage, and it makes you feel like a queen, then it could be your winning gown.

8. Swimsuit isn't about who is the hottest girl on the stage. It is about who has the most confidence walking out on a stage in what can feel like underwear.

9. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Most pageant winners have competed before, often many times.

10. It is good to exercise and eat well before a pageant, but there is no need to starve yourself because no matter what your size, your confidence and poise is what will take you on to the next stage of competition.

11. DON'T LIE ON YOUR PAPERWORK OR IN THE INTERVIEW. If you get caught in a lie, or one of the judges is an excellent poker player, your bluff will cost you.

12. Be true to yourself. The judges want to see girls who are real, not girls who sound rehearsed.

13. On your fact sheet, don't give it all away. Make statements somewhat vague so the judges have something to ask about!

14. Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the more prepared you are, the better you'll do.

15. You don't have to have perfect grades or have something super impressive on your fact sheet to impress the judges. What will make you stand out is something unique that not many people have done or can do. Play the accordion? Race go carts? Breed hamsters? Write it down.

16. Have someone proofread your paperwork before you turn it in.

17. Perform your talent for as many people as you can. The more advice you can get, the better your performance will be.

18. Choose a platform that really means something to you, not just something you think will impress the judges.

19. Know your current events and important issues that are being discussed in the news.

20. Even if you don't get the crown, you're a winner just for competing so if you don't win, don't feel like a loser.

21. If you want to begin to eat healthier before the pageant, do some reading on proper nutrition. Surviving on tiny salads and diet soda will only slow your metabolism and you won't lose fat that way.

22. Diet pills do NOT work. Enough said.

23. Every girl has a little "junk in the trunk". If you jiggle, don't worry about it. Even the skinniest girls have a little jiggle room back there.

24. Cover any and all tattoos and remove any piercings other than the two holes in your ear. You aren't supposed to be judged on such things but unfortunately some people will. Sure, those people are stupid but there's nothing you can do about it.

25. You don't need to hire some expensive pageant coach to win. Anyone can do the same job and with a little reading and some research you can learn all you need to know about pageants.

26. Read up on some famous title holders, especially if you're competing in the Miss America or Miss USA systems.

27. On stage question is not as tough as it might seem. Often times the stage lights are so bright you can't see the audience anyway so just pretend they aren't even there.

28. If you don't feel confident on stage, try to get some friends and family to be your "cheering section". This will definitely give you a confidence boost while on stage!!

29. In order to create a natural smile rather than a "plastic look", think of something funny before you go on stage. I kept a picture of David Hasselhoff from his Baywatch days backstage. This struck me as funny and kept my smile from looking unnatural.

30. The interview isn't an interrogation, but rather a conversation where the judges can get to know you better.

31. Know your platform inside and out. You never know what you'll be asked.

32. Be sure you understand just what the responsibilities of the title holder are. You don't want to win and discover that you can't handle the job.

33. Don't be afraid to ask questions in the interview if you don't understand. The judges will be glad to clarify for you.

34. Try and think of all of your positive traits first before you write your paperwork. It'll help a lot!

35. Never portray yourself in a negative light in any part of the competition. You want to be confident, not self-depreciating.

36. Does this pageant charge you to compete? Then forget about it. It's only a scam.

37. Make sure your talent is not too long. If you have to change it the day before competition you might not perform very well.

38. Form opinions on EVERYTHING, from your opinion on the death penalty to what your favorite color is.

39. Use the bathroom before the interview and before the show. Trust me, you'll appreciate it.

40. Keep your clothes organized and hung up so you can find things and they remain unwrinkled. When you have to change fast you won't be stressing out about where you put your strapless bra or that your suit is wrinkled.

41. Don't drink any carbonated drinks on competition day to prevent bloating.

42. Always maintain excellent posture. Shoulders back, chin parallel to the ground, and back straight, whether you're sitting or standing.

43. Keep your walk slow and elegant during evening gown. Remember, it's at this point the judges will be able to see who that crown will fit on best.

44. Search online for a good "pageant hairstyle". Look at pictures of all the current Miss America or Miss USA contestants for ideas. NO PROM UPDOS!! They just don't work.

45. Don't fuss with tons of jewelry. A large pair of rhinestone earrings can be all you'll need. Search stores like Icing or Claire's for cheaper accessories because when they have sales they mark some gorgeous jewelry down for dirt cheap.

46. Make sure your gown fits perfectly. This sometimes means waiting until a month or two before competition to buy it because if you lose or gain weight in the meantime, it may not fit right and you don't want to find that out two weeks beforehand.

47. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars for a "pageant swimsuit", either. Stick with solid colors that complement your skin tone and hair color. Something that has a touch of sparkle to it will look great.

48. Your evening gown shouldn't look too much like your typical high school prom dress. Look at the type of dresses Miss America contestants wear. They are elegant, often with long trains, and they have at least a touch of sparkle. You can find these gowns among the many prom-type gowns but it can take a lot of searching to find the perfect one.

49. Do your research. There are lots of good pageant resources online, but finding them can be tough. Google will be your friend.

50. Talk to the current title holder about what she does to prepare for competition. She's already done it so she's bound to have some excellent pointers for you.

51. Don't do a pageant just because someone else wants you to. You won't win and you won't be happy. You have to want it.

52. Want a pretty crown? Buy one on ebay. Being a title holder can often be a big responsibility, so be prepared.

53. Don't spend thousands on cosmetic dentistry. Get some Crest Whitestrips if that will make your smile more confident. If you're worried about the appearance of your teeth, see an orthodontist. Braces aren't all that bad and you'll be happy you had them because your mouth will be prettier and healthier.

54. Show your personality both in the interview and on the stage.

55. Get plenty of beauty sleep during pageant week!

56. Never get yourself down because you think the other girls are "better" or "prettier". We're all more critical of ourselves.

57. You don't to sing or play an instrument to win. Dancers and monologues do quite well, also. A unique talent will really set you apart, too. Are you a baton twirler? Juggler? Yodeler? Give it a shot because you're bound to stand out among all the boring song and dance routines. 

58. Afraid to go to the beach in your swimsuit? Probably not. So why is the stage any different? Those heels are just like sandals and at least on stage you can wear some sort of body makeup, boob pads, and butt glue. That stuff won't fly down in Daytona and I bet you wouldn't let that stop you from having fun there, either.

59. Make friends with the other girls! Don't be catty or talk behind backs. Miss Congeniality is an even more honorable title than Miss America.

60. Don't stay out late the night before the pageant. Dark circles under your eyes can only be covered up to a certain extent.

61. If and when you win, you are representing a group of people. Be a good representative and don't do anything you might regret later or that might force the pageant to strip you of your title.

62. 99.9% of your interview will probably be based on your fact sheet. Just FYI.

63. Even though most of your interview will be based on your fact sheet, still be aware of your current events just in case they pop one of those questions on you. Don't know what's going on in the world most of the time? Then fill up that fact sheet so they've got more things to ask you.

64. Keep your answers short and concise. If you're asked, "Do you take criticism well?" don't answer with a one minute speech about the time when you were criticized and it made you feel bad. No one word answers, though. The more questions the judges can ask you, the more they get to know you, and the better you'll do.

65. A little extra padding can go a long way. I think that statement's self-explanatory.

66. Make sure you have extra nylons. You never know when you'll get the runs.

67. Don't be afraid to make the judges laugh a little! Sharing something humorous will lighten the mood and make them feel more comfortable.

68. The judges are often just as nervous as you are, or even more so. They have a huge decision to make that could change the lives of the girls competing.

69. Still feeling nervous? Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Deep breathing relaxes the body. Another thing you might try is listening to a favorite song or watching an episode of your favorite comedy on your iPod beforehand.

70. Only tell a story if it is relevant and doesn't take too long to tell. Remember, you've only got a matter of minutes for these judges to get to know you.

71. Read books that are geared towards people looking to improve your job interview skills. A pageant is just like a job interview. You are being interviewed for the job of Miss Whoever.

72. Have your friends and family pop interview questions on you. The more practice, the better.

73. Is there a local title you really want to win but don't have much experience? Try entering an open pageant (one in which anyone in the state can enter). The competition will be MUCH tougher and it will give you some valuable experience. The girls competing may be quite experienced and can give you plenty of advice.

74. Watch pageants on TV. See just how these girls do it.

75. Still don't feel like a queen? Buy a plastic crown and wear it while you practice that evening gown walk. It may seem silly, but it can be a confidence booster!

76. You don't need to be 5'9", blonde, and have a white gown to win. You can win no matter what your size, shape, color, or social status. The judges don't know how much money you have or if that's really your natural hair color or not.

77. Make sure you have tons of fun! If you aren't having fun, maybe this pageant thing isn't for you. It shouldn't seem like a chore. You should enjoy it.

78. While working on your platform, make sure you know the names of organizations that are somehow connected that you can get into contact with. If you've got such connections it'll be very impressive to the judges.

79. Search Yahoo or any news site for current events relating to your platform. If your platform's cancer and someone very famous died of cancer last week, you might want to know this. If your platform is AIDS and they've discovered a new treatment a couple of days ago and if you can include that in the interview, it'll wow them.

80. The competition is a performance! Put on a good show. You want to entertain as well as impress.

81. You should use some sunless tanner to get some color in your skin if you're very pale. The color accentuates your muscle tone and makes you appear to be thinner.

82. If you're still feeling self-conscious about something "jiggling", rub Preparation H on it. It tightens the skin temporarily so use it before you go on for swimsuit.

83. Use a shimmer lotion on the front of your legs and your arms for a slimming effect.

84. If you want to know how you're doing, ask the pageant directors. Hopefully they'll be honest with you.

85. I know it's ridiculous, but... "BE THE CROWN!! You ARE the crown!!"

86. Wear heels everywhere. It'll help your walk immensely.

87. Pump iron. Weight training along with cardio will keep you toned and burn more fat. If you're in good shape you'll be more confident!!

88. Remember that often times the judges are at foot level. Have a nice, neat pedicure. Use a light pink polish if you are unsure as to what color to use. It looks classy and goes with everything.

89. Keep double stick tape and super glue in your dressing room. You never know when it'll come in handy.

90. Your talent costume should be comfortable but also a little flashy. In the pageant world, a little sparkle here and there (or a lot of sparkle, whichever you like best) goes a long way.

91. Pageants are a great way to earn scholarships. Look for pageants that reward scholarships for all contestants participating so you're guaranteed to get something back out of it.

92. Fake eyelashes are great for the stage, but don't wear them in the interview. The interview is a much more professional setting so wear a nice suit, small earrings, and little makeup. Your makeup should be just as much as you might wear on an average day.

93. Whether you're an A cup or a DD cup, you don't need plastic surgery to win a pageant. Don't be like those girls on MTV's Tiara Girls who think they need lip injections to do well. Have you noticed that those girls usually don't win?

94. Don't scoff at first runner-up. First runner-up means you beat out everyone else except one, and that's nothing to cry about!

95. You never know what's going to happen. Don't prepare to win or to lose. This set of judges might make one decision and another set of judges could make an entirely different decision!! A girl who was fourth runner-up at a local pageant was awarded the crown when the winner was stripped of her title for some reason and the three girls ahead of her were ineligible because they'd already won other titles. This girl recently became Miss Kentucky.

96. If you make a mistake, try to act like it never happened. The audience may not notice and if the judges notice but see how quickly you can pick up your composure quickly afterwards they might be impressed.

97. Be on time. There is no such thing as fashionably late in the pageant world.

98. Not everyone is as nice as they appear. Be nice to everyone during the pageant and if someone turns on you don't seek revenge. No matter what, always strive to be Miss Congeniality. It will take you far not only in pageants but also in life.

99. Be prepared for everything. I suggest bringing a large Rubbermaid container and pack everything but the kitchen sink because you never know what you might need backstage.

100. Don't change anything during pageant week. Make all of your final wardrobe decisions beforehand and you'll feel prepared and confident!

101. Last, but most certainly not least...

HAVE FUN!!!

Credits: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/101-beauty-pageant-tips.html

WHO SHOULD DRESS THE FILIPINA BEAUTY QUEENS?

By Lavinia Otilla

When the topic of who should dress our Filipina pageant queens comes to a point of discussion, every pageant fanatic has a say. The discussion becomes heated to the point of being too emotional. Pageant fanatics have different standards of fashion. Quite understandably, it is because we all have different fashion senses. Fashion sense is not universal. It demands a cultural milieu hence, the apparent dislike of pageant gurus to foreign designers clothing our Filipina queens.

One of the common assertions of pageant fans about foreign designers clothing our pageant queens is that they have a conflict of interest. Take for example, Barraza clothes both Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines. In essence, Barraza will favour Miss Colombia. In Barraza’s previous outing for the Philippines, pageant connoisseurs aptly termed the creations “bazzura” which can aptly be translated to trash. Even the gown used by Miss Shamcey Supsup in the recently concluded Miss Universe 2011 where she eventually ended up 3^rd runner-up was a re-creation of the unthinking and unimaginative Barraza probably from an unused bale of clothing that she used for a fashion show.

There is no magic formula however on what pageant gown to use. Mirriam Quiambao used a Halston gown with great success. She was simply resplendent and oozed with immense elegance during the gown competition. Venus Raj showed what is supposed to be the dictum in carrying gowns. ”It is not the gown but the lady in it.” The gown was extremely looking bad but Venus carried it with aplomb. However, she would have etched a higher ranking if the gown was well-made and conceptualized.

Another point in case is Jewel Mae Lobaton a replacement for Tisha Silang who competed in the Miss Universe edition in Hawaii, defiantly used a gown by Larry Espinosa against the wishes of Binibining Pilipinas. She used a corset type of gown that did not accentuate her queenly bearing. Jewel got very low scores in the evening gown preliminaries and spelled her doom in the contest. Did she insist on using that gown because she was Best in Long gown  during the Binibining Pilipinas 1998 finals?


One candidate that most pageant fanatics revered and still now showed their frustration is on the evening gown albeit including the national costume is that of Nina Ricci Alagao. The gown was uninspired, ill-fitting and simply lacks class. Many pageant pundits theorize why Miss Philippines lost in that edition of the Miss Universe pageant but everything seems to point out to her poorly looking evening gown.

Another very interesting case is Cara Subijano’s gown during her Miss World stint. Many would agree that Cara is another Miss World in the making. There were implied innuendos that her gown was lost or was stolen so that she would use a borrowed gown that is not competitive enough to show her best. But if reports are correct and true that she was the one who unilaterally decided to use the much dreaded gown that made her downfall in the pageant, then Stella Marquez Araneta had every right to impose what gown should the candidate representing the country should wear. It was said that Cara decided to use that gown because there were a lot of candidates using white and that with the black and blue combination gown, she would attract more attention. Truly she attracted more attention but for a different reason – a disastrous gown.



I can go on enumerating what other pageant pundits and fanatics have pointed out in the past. But still the question is left unanswered. Should Filipino designers clothe our pageant queens? In my earlier treatise, I said there is no magic formula because it may be good for someone (Quiambao) and bad in some (Lobaton). But Filipino designers are leading the pack in the field of designing. We have Oliver Tolentino, Michael Cinco [1], Jojie Loren [2], Rajo Laurel [3]  and Inno Sotto [4] to name a few. Oliver Tolentino [5] designed and made the gowns used by Gwendoline Ruais who came out as First Princess in the recently held Miss World 2011 with astounding results. Ruais came out stunning in those gowns. The gowns were made to complement and make Ruais radiate in them.  And there are still those that have made the fashion world more significant in the name of Pitoy Moreno, Renee Salud, Louie Mamengo and Goulee Gorospe. These stalwarts have made the Filipino fashion world more memorable and exciting as we venture into the new world.


The Filipino designer has been in the forefront of fashion ever since. They have shown apparels which are fashion forward and is highly competitive in all fronts. It is about time that we give them the chance to dress up our pageant queens. What Cory Quirino did in the recently concluded Miss World 2011 is a step in the right direction. 

THE CONTINUING DEBATE ON THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL COSTUME

by Dominador Agbayani

When pageant fans bicker about the kind of national costume our candidates will have to wear in their international contests, we start to wonder why they have to do this. Even foreigners are apt to ask this question. It does not surprise me because the national dress identifies the national identity. I have been to different parts of the world and when you see a person with the way he/she dresses, you can easily identify where that person came from. 

Even dresses are made to convey a particular statement. In one pageant I have watched, there is a portion that the girls parade in their safari costumes. The aim is to project that they are for wildlife preservation – something that I found ironic because the costumes were made of wildlife parts and thus, it would seem that the creators of the costumes devastated wildlife instead of preserving it.

In a write-up by Mina Roces, entitled “Gender, nation, and the politics of dress in the 20th century Philippines” she chronicled how the barong Tagalog and the terno became political tools and a statement for the powerful and mighty during the Marcos regime. [1]  The many photographs of the then First Lady Imelda Romualdez in her dazzling terno showed how she promoted the country – as she adhered to her “only the good, true and the beautiful” concept. [2, 3]


Undoubtedly, the terno was promoted very actively most especially in pageants. Although the Philippine costume was less successful in the Miss Universe and Miss World beauty pageants, the terno was very much promoted and accepted in the Miss International beauty pageant.

 In 1972, 1976 and 1979, the Philippine candidates in their terno won honors as the Best in National Costume. The Philippine candidates were much luckier in the Miss Maja International beauty pageant. In 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1988, Philippine representatives won the award. In the defunct Miss Young International Pageant, Dorothy Sue Bradley in 1979, won also the Best in National Costume. [4] Would it be an understatement if we say that the terno’s popularity was seen and felt during the Marcos’ years? Yes, maybe but for every Filipino competitor, if the National Costume wins, then it becomes a matter of national pride in whoever’s regime it was. The names of the following designers- Pacita Longos, Juanita Roa, and Ramon Valera were said to be the fashion trendsetters when the terno is concerned. [5] The terno had become the fashion fare for state functions and affairs such as the rigodon de honor. It had become the staple of Flores de Mayo processions, coronation nights and stately functions in Malacanang Palace. [6]

I have read in forums referring to the Maria Clara type of costume as Filipiniana and the other Philippine costumes as that of the Igorots, Manobos, Subanon and other regional costumes as ethnic or folk costumes. These forum writers are misled into believing that the Maria Clara dress is the real Filipiniana costume because in essence, all these costumes which originated in the Philippines are all lumped up in a singular term called “Filipiniana.” The reference to the Maria Clara costume as the only Filipiniana is maybe derived from the fact that it is referred to as the Philippine National Costume for females. [3]      Furthermore, the original female national costume is the baro at saya which through the years has been transformed into the Maria Clara dress that eventually transformed into the traje de mestiza. [5, 7] Eventually the traje de mestiza was transformed to the present appearance of the present terno.

Criticisms abound when beauty queens parade in front of a foreign audience using the so-called national costume when they feel that it does not represent the true culture and identity of our nation. Critics bewail the organizers use of foreign designers doing our national costume. They agree generally that those done by foreign designers do not embody the Filipino soul and thus what is being paraded is a costume which is not authentically Filipino. The question of the national costume in international pageants has become not only a cultural one but has become political as well. Since the franchise holder for Miss Universe in the Philippines is Miss Stella Marquez Araneta, a former Miss International and a Colombian by birth, she is being accused of favouring her compatriots in the creation of the Philippine National Costume. She probably believes that the essence of the National Costume is in the person who wears it and not the designer who made it.

Others however, insist that the national costume should be Philippine and Filipino made to embody the ideals of a unified nation. On the other hand, sticking to one type or derivative of a costume makes other regional or ethnic groups marginalized. There has been a clamour amongst Filipino pageants fans to show other Philippine costumes because these too are more Filipino in essence compared to the Philippine terno which had great influences of Spain and once marked the thrust of the Marcos dictatorship. Although, it was Manuel L. Quezon who started the nationalist sentiment that the Barong Tagalog and the baro at saya should be our Dress Emblem when he was fighting for our independence from the Americans. It is not surprising therefore to see ethnic costumes paraded by our pageant queens in their international competitions. To a certain extent or degree, such show of the national costume demonstrates that we are a heterogeneous mix of culture and not a pure race as other countries would like to project. The great question has evolved in this debate of what national costume should be used for our candidates – is it the harmonized costume as exemplified by the terno or will it be a representation of our regional or ethnic costumes? I really don’t mind showcasing any of our Philippine costumes in the international arena as long as it is authentically Filipino...