INSIGHTS: ARE PAGEANT PROTOTYPES REAL?

By Dominador Agbayani

Ever since the 19th century and on to the 20th as well as the 21st centuries, look-alikes are fairly common. Be it in literature and in film. A look-alike is a person the closely resembles another person.  The Binibining Pilipinas season has started and lately, I have been reading into many forums about how the girls look like certain personalities. In my research of their look-alikes, I have come to think  what if  these candidates truly represent what their look-alikes are. I have grouped the girls according to their look-alikes.

The following are the candidates that had look-alike with actresses. They are as follows:

1. Ali Forbes and Lara Morena

2. Claudette Delos Reyes and Mariel Rodriguez

3. Elaine Kay Moll and Mrs. Eva Carino Padilla

4. Goldy Baroa and Jackie Forster

5. Jillean Orbina and Almira Muhlach

6. Maria Elena Ariosa and Anne Curtis

7. Maria Virgenia Peter and Abby Viduya

8. Mia Arenas and Pia Guanio

9. Rose Ann Aguilar and Sheryl Cruz

10. Roxanne Joy Jesalva and Dexter Doria

11. Roxanne Tadique and Rochelle Pangilinan

Ali Forbes and Lara Morena

Elaine Kay Moll and Mrs. Eva Carino-Padilla

Roxanne Joy Jesalva and Dexter Doria

Some of these candidates are not actually dead-ringers for the actresses that are enumerated above. But some entertainment analysts say the aura that emanates from them are very much like the persons they look like.

On the other hand, among the candidates that resemble or have an aura of previous Miss Universe Philippines or those that have won Miss Universe are the following:

1. Anna Czarina Buenviaje and Karen Agustin

2. Fer Mary Baliquig and Armi Barbara Crespo

3. Giselle Angelica Munoz and Karen Agustin

4. Golda Soller and Zorayda Ruth Andam

5. Jaine Hidalgo and Karen Agustin

6. Karen Gallman and Ximena Navarette

7. Meiji Cruz and Ana Teresa Licaros

8. Patricia Lae Ejercitado and Zuleyka Rivera

Karen Gallman and Miss Universe 2010, Ximena Navarrete

Patricia Lae Ejercitado and Miss Universe 2006, Zuleyka Rivera

The following candidates resemble previous Binibining Pilipinas International winners:

1. Gina Joy Howell and Margaret Ann Bayot

2. Janine Tugonon and Patricia Fernandez

3. Leizl Alcantara and Precious Lara Quigaman

4. Nicole Schmitz and Melanie Marquez

5. Nicole Marable and Colette Centeno

Janine Tugonon and Bb. Pilipinas-International 2008, Patricia Fernandez

Nicole Schmitz and Miss International 1979, Mimilanie Marquez

Since the local Miss World title is not with the Binibining Pilipinas anymore, anyone not falling in the above categories I have grouped them up in the Miscellaneous Category. Here they are:

1. Chloe Zanardi and Gwendoline Ruais

2. Katrina Dimaranan and Bernadette Aguirre

3. MJ Lastimosa and Genesis Canlapan

4. Romelyn Roxanne De Castro and Anya Ayoung Chee

5. Sherlyn Gonzales and Margaret Wilson

Mary Jean Lastimosa and Genesis Canlapan

Based on these groupings, and if we believe there is some kind of prototype these international pageants look among the girls representing their countries, we can use this look-alike guide to select who will represent our country. Let us start with the Miss Universe Philippines category.  Three of the candidates presents with a Karen Agustin aura. On the other hand, one has the aura of the exotic Filipina representative in 1972. One resembles Ximena Navarette, one looks like Ana Teresa Licaros  and one looks like Zuleyka Rivera. We all know that Karen Agustin was not successful in her aim to snatch the third Miss Universe crown for the Philippines. Zorayda and Ana Teresa failed miserably despite their academic backgrounds. Armi Barbara Crespo during her time made it to a semi-finalist slot while Ximena and Zuleyka lorded it over against their competition. The natural choices for the Miss Universe Philippines crown are therefore: Karen Gallman and Patricia Lae Ejercitado.

For the next grouping, Binibining Pilipinas International, we have five candidates who are dead-ringer of those that represented the Philippines. All of them did well in their pageants and Melanie Marquez as well as Precious Lara Quigaman showed exemplary performance to give 4 crowns to the Philippines in the Miss International arena. Therefore the issue here among the girls will be the so-called PERFORMANCE. But since two candidates have done well in their previous beauty pageant competitions, the natural choices here are Janine Tugonon and Nicole Schmitz.

As for the Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism, we will select from the group of the actress dead-ringers and miscellaneous groups.  If I go strictly with my thesis in terms of what I call prototype, I would disqualify Chloe Zanardi and Sherlyn Gonzales as they belong to the prototype of another pageant. Romelyn Roxanne De Castro being a look-alike of Anya Ayoung Chee should be included in the choices for Miss Universe Philippines, however, since Anya failed in her attempt to have another crown for Trinidad and Tobago for her country then I have to exclude Romelyn from the choices too. It is of note here that during the research, old photographs of then Eva Carino now a Padilla and Dexter Doria elicited appreciation as they are such a beauty when they were younger. And who can forget the beauteous Genesis Canlapan who once lorded the silver screen after her pageant days then followed by a singing career. The likely candidates in this group to be sent to MTQI would be the following: Elaine Kay Moll, Roxanne Joy Jesalva, Ali Forbes and Mary Jean Lastimosa.

This in-depth analysis is another probability using what we call possible prototypes. Although some analysts debunk that there is no such thing as prototype in pageant competition, it is interesting to note if this will materialize come pageant night. So let us review the following choices:

Miss Universe Philippines:  Karen Gallman and Patricia Lae Ejercitado

Binibining Pilipinas-International: Janine Tugonon and Nicole Schmitz. Gina Joy Howell and Nicole Marable are not far behind.

Binibining Pilipinas Tourism: Elaine Kay Moll, Roxanne Joy Jesalva, Ali Forbes and Mary Jean Lastimosa.

The choices of this writer?  I have yet to follow the girls’ progress till pageant night before I make my choices. But I have a great feeling these candidates will figure out for the Top 10 and in vying for the final slots.

FASHION REVIEW

BEAUTY QUEENS IN RED
By Lavinia Otilla

The color red is strongly linked with two major emotions – that of love, romance and sensuality  and that of aggression, rage and anger. It is the color that radiates different characteristics. In this outing, we are going to review some of the pageant candidates who wore red during their competitions. Apart from the two major emotions that red stands for, it  conjures  different characteristics such  as ambivalence, attention grabbing, composure, confidence, decisiveness, energy, fierceness, liveliness, passion, purity, joy , sensuality and celebration. In my research of twelve girls, I will try to show how these characteristics emanated from the candidate herself and how the constructed gown highlighted her or not. The discussion is arranged alphabetically according to the adjective that the red stood for.

The ambivalence of the color red emanates from the emotions that it stands for. It may stand for love but may be aggressive also in the end. It may stand for victory or it may stand also for failure. It could be seen as victory when the radiance of red is exemplified. It may stand as a failure when lots of blood is expended because of war, hence  the  ambivalence  of  the  color.  One  candidate that showed such characteristic is Anna Teresa Licaros, the Philippine candidate in the Miss Universe contest in 2007. Anna Teresa was using a bustier type of dress made of lace and a red train. The gown seemed ill-fitting and does not do her justice. Bustier type of gowns highlights the greatness of one’s bosom but alas she is wanting in this aspect. The gown’s design and made is so dated that she looked old and tired in it.  She may not love her gown after all because in her preliminary performance, she feels ill at ease while walking.

Red as an Attention-grabber. Red is a color that attracts the eyes of everyone into it. Mihilanie Texeira’s red gown won the World Designer award in the Miss World 2010. Because of the gown’s  design,  it  will  call  your   attention  to  the  candidate. Many candidates’ attributes are highlighted with a good or bad gown design. And in this French Polynesia’s candidate in the Miss World 2010 was exceptionally appreciated because of a beautiful gown. The gown was culturally distinct and yet it is fashion-forward. Mihilanie was simply radiant in this gown.

Stefania Fernandez Miss Universe 2009 was in red. It was a bouffant gown with all the feather contraptions at the skirt. When Stefania made the twirl, everyone was mesmerized by it.  It was simply red meaning  purity,  joy  and celebration. She  was a delight to watch and behold. She is the girl. She is elegance personified.

Who would not forget Lara Dutta’s countenance in the Miss Universe 2000 beauty pageant? She was simply resplendent in that Venus-cut red gown. She was composed, serene and yet she exuded sophistication. She was simply radiant exuding confidence and natural charisma in her performance .

Ximena Navarette, Miss Universe 2010 is a representation of confidence. She is a depiction of an angel in red that passed by. Although some pundits say that her performance in the gown segment is a bit dull, uninspired and dud, I would say something differently. Ximena was practically full of grace and demeanor. There were no excesses in her glide. She was simply overpowering in red. The problem with red is that it may overpower the wearer but with Ximena, she has radiated in red gown. And red for her is definitely confidence.

Mafae Yunon, Philippine representative to the Miss World Beauty Pageant in 2003 wore a red gown that made her exude glowing energy and dynamism. She is full of vibrancy. Her deportment was exceedingly superb and that she was appreciated because of a well-rounded personality.

Miss China Universe 2011, Luo Zilin is fierce in red. She donned a Scherri Hill evening gown with lace brocade on the bodice and a bouffant skirt. Miss China’s supermodel demeanor is a plus factor on her side. She has height. She has the poise. She is screamingly saying I am the “one” with her moves and projection.

Carlene Aguilar,  Miss Philippines World 2005 in this profile picture simply screams sultriness, sexiness and sensuality. Her body curves are highlighted in the gown and her personality radiates immensely. Too bad despite the number rating of pollster for her she just managed a semifinal encounter at the Miss World competition.

Karen Agustin, Miss Universe Philippines 2002, used a red gown with a modified Venus-cut design. Some finds it stylish and flattering. Some finds it rubbish. Some finds it passé.  But when worn by Karen, I find sweet, cute and exudes passion; cute because it turned Karen into a doll and passionate because Karen exuded lovely charms despite her being imperfectly facially beautiful.

Johanna Solano, Miss Costa Rica Universe 2011, paraded a red gown when she was called to the Top 10. She used a red gown with a raspberry dipped in chocolate theme. Some pageant critics say that it just did not work on her although it accentuated her exquisite torso and show off her legs.  Another critic said that it was one of the worst gown performances in the recent years. The gown is unconventional and risky. And for that alone, the lingering meaning of red here emanates.

Truly, red connotes a lot of meaning.