With my taping for “Ang Lihim ni Annasandra” postponed, I found time to help with the screening of Miss World Philippines 2014 hopefuls! It is indeed a joy for me to sit and watch as one beauty after another passes before me. Thank you to Cory Quirino for always inviting this blogger to such a treat for the senses!
So, how did Miss World Philippines fare on Day 1 of the screening?
Well, we had a lovely set of ‘scrutinizers’ on the panel of judges and here we are:
The panel of screening judges with Miss World Philippines country manager Cory Quirino in the middle.
Note the halo of light shining down upon Cory Quirino. Hmmmm… could this be a sign that she will find the girl who is worthy enough to fill the shoes of Miss World 2013 Megan Young and give the Philippines a back-to-back win in Miss World? Just thinking of it gives me the goosebumps all over!
Zahra Bianca Saldua, Miss World Philippines 2014 2nd Princess, was the esteemed host of the event!
Every beauty pageant franchise in the Philippines has its best beauty-queen-slash-hosts and for the Miss World Philippines family, I’d have to say that Zahra Bianca Saldua is the top banana! I looooove her hosting style because she has the energy of a monster truck but the elegance of a crowned princess. And then wait til you hear her rap and sing, which is exactly what she did at the screening… Zahra (a.k.a. “Z”) is SNAZZZZY!
Now lets take a quick look at the 22 applicants who attended the screening at Raven Club Boutique in the Fort BGC. They were supposed to be 23 of them but one girl forgot her swimsuit and decided to just return on the 2nd day of screening tomorrow.
Left to Right – #5 Angelica Balmonte, #4 Moriel Olea, #3 Eliza Johanna Cruz, #2 Theresa Regli and #1 Laye Ann Grace Lapid
Left to Right – #6 Valerie Weigmann, #7 Keiko Vitug, #8 Zsarina Casandra Girado, #9 Kimberly Pajares and #10 Liezl Anne Naing
Left to Right – #15 Ranielah Marie Oval, #14 Lorraine Kendrickson, #13 Gazini Christiana Ganados, #12 Grace Ann Bautista and #11 Frances Ruth Constantino
Left to Right – #21 Priscilla Kimberley dela Cruz, #18 Jean Marie Feliciano, #19 Nicole Donesa #17 Rachel Louise Peters and #16 Nilda Ibe
Last but not the least – #23 Anne Christine Carpio (left) and #22 Rachelle Emmylou Carandang (right)
The last two girls in the line-up were late but the wonderful thing about Cory is that she doesn’t turn down the late-comers. But of course, I don’t recommend using lateness as a tactic because it’s just not what a true beauty queen would do. If you think you deserve a shot at the crown, then be gracious through and through.
So, what do you think of the 22 above? Do you see any possible winners from this batch? Remember, not all will be called back to tomorrow’s final screening. I can see some heartaches already, *sniff*sniff*.
Anywhoo… the target number of official candidates is 25 and if all goes well, we’ll find out who those 25 girls will be tomorrow evening…
There I am asking a question!
One of the toughest things about being a screening judge is that you have to think of questions to ask. I have come to realize that the best questions are the ones that get the applicant/contestant talking. IMHO, it’s very selfish to ask tough questions just to show off your intelligence or put a contestant down. But I do come across many judges who like to wave their IQ in the air by asking long-winded, difficult questions. Then there are those who do it on the pretense of ‘testing the girls’ intelligence’ when you can see that they just enjoy torturing contestants. Ugh, such judges should try putting on a swimsuit and walking on stilettos on stage and answering their own questions. They’d most likely flail, fail or fall, LOL!
Oh, but none of the MWP judges at this screening panel were like that. Each one was gracious and kind!!!
Cory Quirino (in blue in the middle) poses with all 22 girls who attended Day 1 of the screening for Miss World Philippines 2014…
SURPRISE! Ross Misa showed up at the tail-end of the screening (see below) looking like a mermaid with legs! She is one of my favorite beauties and the 1st Princess in Miss World Philippines 2012. She is busy during the day with her family business which Media Production and then in the evenings, two or three time a week, she takes care of the PR at Raven Club, this year’s screening venue for MWP. Seeing Ross so bubbly and beautiful was a great way to end my day at the screening. Ciao!
Left to Right – Ross Misa (Miss World Philippines 2012, 1st Princess), Zahra Bianca Saldua (Miss World Philippines 2013, 2nd Princess) and yours truly.
