Jamie Herrell, the new Miss Philippines Earth 2014 winner with her pageant trainer Rodgil Flores of KF or Kagandahang Flores
Well, it certainly was no surprise that the girl wearing the Cebu City sash, Jamie Herrell, ran off with the crown. From Day 1, her name was being bandied about as the girl to beat. I first heard the scuttlebutt when I took part as a critiquing judge at the Miss Philippines Earth 2014 Trash to Class fashion show. Jamie’s cute paper plate party dress placed 2nd in that challenge event.
But this is not a complaint! I’m over the moon with our new queen and here’s why:
Apart from her gorgeous face and well-toned body, I think Jamie’s secret winning power is her ability to balance her pageant experience (she’s competed in a few lesser-known pageants) with being somewhat ‘raw’. In other words, she is not too polished but shiny enough for the judges to pick as the apple of their eye.
And I think this is why Bianca Paz representing Gapan lost to Jamie and only placed 4th – because she was just too polished for a panel of judges searching for someone closer to a diamond-in-the-rough, so to say.
Bianca Paz of Gapan in swimsuit (knock-out body!) and in her competition gown.
While I really liked Bianca during the swimsuit competition, I felt short-changed by her golden beige gown. Don’t get me wrong though – the gown was elegant and emphasized her curves in a way I liked but… I don’t know… I just wanted it to be sexier I guess. I can’t help but feel that gowns that cover you up are for regular formal events and that gowns used in pageants should reveal something apart from one’s face, LOL!
Jamie Herrel in her competition gown (va-va-va-voom!) and her bikini (rawr!)
Jamie Herrell’s gown though was fabulous. Solid coral pink with a fuzzy heart-like design on the chest. For me, the gown was a reflection of her personality – colorful and young… but not too young. While she was not the most elegant in the pasarela, she did stand out for delivering a sweet, debutante-like walk.
Her swimsuit catwalk though was eye-popping. Now I can see why she won the Best in Swimsuit.
Elemental winner Diane Querrer (Fire) who placed 2nd, runs up to Jamie Herrell, the main winner for congratulatory hug!
BB. PILIPINAS DROP-OUT DIANE QUERRER – JAMIES BIGGEST RIVAL!
While this blogger thought the battle was between Jamie Herrell and Bianca Paz, it turns out that the dusky Diane Querrer who represented Tananuan was her biggest competition. Diane placed 2nd to Jamie.
For those of you not so familiar with Diane, she is a Miss Philippines Earth repeater having competed in 2011. But she is more famous for the dubious honor of being an official Bb. Pilipinas candidate for two days. Why two days? She was suddenly disqualified reportedly due to height issues. I finally got the story from Diane’s Mom (whom I met after Diane and Jamie were crowned) but unfortunately I’m not allowed to say anything except that all is forgiven.
Can I just crow a little here and say that I am absolutely delighted that Diane placed 2nd in Miss Philippines Earth? She deserves it after going through that rejection!
(Note that MPE considers all it’s elemental winners as equal winners but pageant fans feel that the later your name is called, the more valuable your crown is.)
Jamie Herrel representing Cebu wins Miss Solaire
VINDICATION PART 2!
Diane wasn’t the only one vindicated. Jamie Herrel herself is enjoying some vindication of her own. Prior to joining MPE, she was a candidate for Miss Resorts World last year (2013) but was unplaced. However, in MPE, Jamie won the special title given by Resorts World’s competitor – Solaire. So there!
The different faces of joy at the coronation of Miss Philippines Earth 2014! Winner Jamie Herrel in the middle with Kim Covert (Water) at the far left, Monique Manuel (Eco-Tourism) 2nd to the left, Bianca Paz (Fire) at the far right) and Diane Querrer (Air) 2nd to the right.
NEXT MISSION FOR JAMIE – GETTING READY FOR MISS EARTH 2014!
After Jamie was crowned, I was able to have a little chat with her sister who was happy to the point of tears. She said the whole family flew in to watch her and that Jamie deserved the title because she worked so hard for it!
Well… that’s good news. It means Jamie will work even harder as she gets ready to compete with international beauties in Miss Earth 2014 which will be held later this year. Although it’s too early to tell if Jamie could win, I think we do have a strong candidate this year and my bold prediction is that a semi-finalist position is assured. Now some have pointed out that Jamie doesn’t have the towering height that beauty queens are known for. Well, we’ve seen shorter girls win over the giants so I’m not too worried about that.
Jamie, don’t drop the ball OR the crown!!! :)
The important thing is for Jamie not to let the ball drop. I’ve seen national winners ease up on training and it’s not a pretty sight. One winner, I shan’t name names, was in tiptop shape during the national pageant but then during the international competition she somehow lost muscle tone and looked ‘skinny-fat’. So Jamie’s challenge is to literally work her tail off.
As for her Q&A, Jamie did well in MPE 2014. She was asked by judge Risa Hontiveros her thoughts on whether people have been good children to mother earth or not. Jamie said no and admitted that people were the #1 cause of the earth’s problems today. Jamie neatly wrapped it up by saying that if we care for the earth, she will care for us.
Good job Jamie! Ending a negative answer with a positive thought and a hope for the future is precisely what a beauty queen would say.
“…but if we can only care for her (Mother Earth), then she will care for us…” Jamie Herrell, Miss Philippines Earth 2014
ABQ with Jamie Herrel, Miss Philippines Earth 2014!
