Bb. Pilipinas finally presented to the press it’s 40 Official contestants in this year’s beauty tilt. The event was held on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, at the grand ballroom in Sofitel Hotel, formerly the Philippine Plaza. And from what this blogger witnessed, we’ve got another strong batch of contestants and more worthy beauties than crowns to give away.
Here are my thoughts on contestants 31 to 35. The names highlighted in RED are my top favorites. Those in GREEN I find intriguing.
Bb. Pilipinas 2014 Contestants 31 to 35
Bb. #31 Angelique Celine I. de Leon – 23 yo – Mandaluyong
#31 Angelique Celine I. de Leon (how she reminds me of our 2013 queen Janine Tugonon! ) comes to the Bb. Pilipinas pageant as an accomplished young woman. She has held post as an SK Kagawad, was a gold medalist in the discus throw and was once 180 lbs but found the resolve to lose weight. And now, this is what she looks like!
The media relations associate is also a gifted hip-hop dancer; she showed off her moves at the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 Talent Show, complete with the traditional crotch-grabbing that mark such performances. (I am outwardly scandalized but secretly delighted by this, LOL!)
I think her best asset apart from the above-mentioned would be her fierce determination to win which you can see in every step she takes.
*****
Bb. #32 Jeslyn Santos – 21 yo – Hagonoy, Bulacan
What a pretty face she is! But Jeslyn Santos, #32 is not just that. She’s a broadcomm grad and a volleyball silver medalist. Height-wise (she’s somewhere between 5’8″ and 5’9″) Jeslyn fits the beauty queen mold. She’s also got good experience in competition: she is the winner of the Bb. Bulacan State University and placed as a runner up in both the Lakambini ng Bulacan 2011 and the Reyna ng Bulacan pageant in 2013.
While Jeslyn has the goods, her challenge will be how to outshine the pageant veterans who seem to be dominating in this year’s contest. The good news is Bb. doesn’t necessarily favor repeaters or winners from other franchises so this could be Jeslyn’s chance to shine!
Click here to see Jeslyn Santos at the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 Talent Show!
*****
Bb. #33 Gabrielle Erika Tilokani – 22 yo – Mandaluyong
Although she doesn’t really look like former Bb. Pilipinas International 2010 Krista Kliener, contestant #33 Gabrielle Erika Tilokani reminds me or her in an odd way. Perhaps they have the same aura or style? I’ve heard pageant fans call Gabe, who is Fil-Indian, an ‘unconventional’ beauty, whatever they mean by that, but Gabe looks like a fighter to me and will give it her all to win or at the very least, place high. We saw her last compete on the Mutya ng Pilipinas stage in 2011 where she did well enough to enter the Top 10 alongside Bea Rose Santiago. She also placed as a runner-up in Miss Mandaluyong 2009.
Click here to see what Gabrielle Tilokani did for her segment in the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 Talent Show!
*****
Bb. #34 Leonalyn D. dela Cruz
Style her in any way and contestant #34 Leonalyn D. dela Cruz will look fabulous! I think that’s one major key to being successful as a pageant competitor – the gift (or ability) to look great in any type of styling. What’s also exciting about Leonalyn is that she’s is accomplished in her own right. She is a CPA, works as an auditor and takes time to teach at a university. Add to that, she’s currently studying her Masters in business administrating and even hopes to study law after that. But for now, she’s dropped that part of her life to pursue her dream of becoming a beauty queen.
*****
#35 Yvethe Marie A. Santiago
I first came across this gorgeous gal, #35 Yvethe Marie A. Santiago, when she competed in Korea in the World Miss University 2010, a competition for college students. She won the Best in National Costume honor. I blogged about that and you can check it out in this post. Her other major pageant achievement is winning Miss Bicolandia 2012.
I love this girl but sometimes find her make-up too thick, specially around the eyes. Yvethe’s greatest asset is her youthful looks that shine naturally so, IMHO, she can do with eyes that are not so dark. Although she is less polished than the pageant repeaters, Yvethe is shows lots of promise. With the right styling, more oomph and deft handling of questions, she may just pull the rug right from under us.
*****
