Dear ABQ Readers:
The Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Press Presentation held at the ballroom of the Makati Shangril-La Hotel on March 18, 2013 was a blast! All 50 contestants have leveled up since the Talent show a week ago and I expect them to keep leveling-up as coronation night approaches!
But I am still having a hard time choosing my favorites for the 3 crowns that will be awarded come coronation night in mid-April. In the years of Venus and Shamcey, I spotted my winners fast. Specially with Shamcey – she was my winner the moment I set eyes on her. But in the year of Janine, it was not easy for me to pick my favorites and this 2013 is the same! Too many beautiful women to choose from!
Anyway, here are the 50 contestants in Bb. Pilipinas 2013 (in batches of 10) at the Press Presentation. Those highlighted in Red were the ones I liked the most. Unless specifically mentioned, they are not necessarily my Top Choices yet, but for me, they did outshine the others at the Press Presentation!
CONTESTANTS 41-50
Bb. Pilipinas 2013 – Contestants 41 to 50
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41. Ariella Arida – 24 yrs – Laguna
Ariella Arida has a South American vibe to her. She reminds me of that petite Filipina model/socialite from the 70s or 80s – she is now a shoe designer (you see her designs in SM and Robinson’s etc) and her last name starts with a P. I just can’t seem to remember her name! Anyway, Ariella Arida’s strongest features are her piercing eyes. Her lean, athletic body comes from all the running she does; in fact, she recently completed her first-ever 21k marathon! This 24 year old comes from Laguna and is a Chemistry grad.
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42. Jacqueline Alexandra Mayoralgo – 24 years – Makati
This soprano is a heavy-weight not just in singing but also in lifting weights. Jacqueline Alexandra Mayoralgo loves going to the gym and you can see it in her well-defined, trim legs. In the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show, she was the last contestant to perform- she sang something from her favorite musical, Phantom of the Opera. I like her hair and styling better in the Press Presntation (than in the Talent Show) because it made her look more model-like. Check out my blog post on the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show here…
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43. Rhea Nakpil – 23 years – San Mateo, Rizal
Actress/Model Rhea Nakpil just has that over-all bright feeling when she is on stage. Like as if she’s just happy to see everyone. However, this lady is truly a thespian at heart – she showed us her ‘dark’ side at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show when she took on the character of a beggar and did a declamation piece crying, “Alms, alms, alms!” I have a stunning dramatic shot of her in my blog post for the Talent Show. Just click on the link! While she’s got a terrific smile, I personally prefer her dramatic look over her sweet and bubbly one…
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44.Gabrielle Monique Runnstrom – 19 years – Las Pinas
If I were to give out a special award for the most adorable catwalk at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Press Presentation, it would have to go to Gabrielle Monique Runnstrom. She just kept throwing us one flirtatious smile after another and it made her stand out in her set of 10 contestants. We first met this half-Swedish Kuh Ledesma look-alike at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show where she showed off her Flamenco Skills which I really liked because she can move like a real Spanish dancer… And from what we can see in the collage above, Gabrielle Monique Runnstrom has a pageant-worthy body!
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45. Imelda Schweighart – 17 – Puerto Princesa
Every time Imelda Schweighart comes out on stage, I think of the late Melody Gersbach, Bb. Pilipinas International 2009. Both are half-German. But while Melody was more of the Disney Princess type, Imelda sizzles like Marilyn Monroe – hot, hot, HOT! IMHO, Imelda had the sexiest performance at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show (she sang Rihanna’s Diamonds) and I think she has a strong chance of winning the International crown. (Unfortunately, she’s only 17 so that cancels her out for the Universe title which has 18 as it’s minimum age.) If she wins the International title, I’d have her work hard on losing just a few more strategic pounds and toning up the legs a bit. Imelda Schweighart is definitely in my list of favorites!
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46. Amanda Noelle Navasero – 21 years – Makati
Many newbies have to try and try again just to qualify as an official Bb. Pilipinas candidate. Others join local pageants first before giving the Philippines’ number 1 pageant a try. But Amanda Noelle Navasero is one of those few girls who come out of nowhere and then suddenly, she’s in the list! Amanda Noelle Navasero has a sweet smile that I adore – for me, it is her best asset. Her slight frame gives her that ramp-model look; I can see this College of St. Benilde tourism student burning up the catwalk in the future at Fashion Week!
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47. Aiyana Mickiewicz – 23 years – Baguio City
Aiyana Mickiewicz. Love the contrasting porcelain skin and red lipstick. That never fails to capture my attention. Although she looked good at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show where she did a Belly Dancing number, I loved her look more here at the Press Presentation because she had a more queenly aura. Even if she is as pale as a Twilight vampire, it suits her beauty. Her penchant for working out in the gym has paid off; Aiyana Mickiewicz looked hot in her swimsuit!
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48. Angeli Dione Gomez – 19 years – Cebu City
One of my favorite faces in Bb. Pilipinas 2013! Angeli Dione Gomez has the perfect look for television; I can already see her as a news presenter or a show host. She definitely exudes intelligence and sharpness. And I imagine she is well-spoken coming from a highly respected family in the Queen City of the South, Cebu. Good legs, tight body, thanks to horse-back riding. But an accident forced her to stop ‘horsing around’ so she now sticks to Poi, juggling and hoops. She did a nifty Hoola Hoop number at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show, click here to see more!
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49. Herlie Kim Artigue – 22 years – Cebu City
Love this girl, what a smile! Pinay beauty talaga… Herlie Kim Artigue’s best asset is her gorgeous Filipina smile which exudes warmth and hospitality. Beauties like her belong on tourism advertisements for the Philippines. She’ll make everyone abroad think it’s really fun in the Philippines (and it is, if you’re hanging out with the right people!) Herlie Kim Artigue comes to Bb. Pilipinas with a 4th RU achievement in the Miss Cebu 2012. Not baaaad, Herlie gurlie!
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50. Ma. Cristina Ann Pascual – 21 years – Taytay, Rizal
Ma. Cristina Ann Pascual‘s nickname’ Krisma’ fits her well because she got tons of Charisma with a capital C! For me, she looks like a cross between sexy actress Carmi Martin and the late Melody Gersbach, Bb. Pilipinas International 2009. What do you think? I’m loving the photogenic smile and the curves on this Miss PSBA 2012 winner and even is she is not as tall as some of the Eiffel towers in this batch, Ma. Cristina Ann Pascual might just sneak past them into the Semi-finals!
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The coronation night of Bb. Pilipinas 2013, the Gold Edition will be on April 14, 2013. It will be aired live on ABS-CBN. But I hope you’ll step out of your homes that night to watch the show live with us at the Araneta Coliseum. It IS the 50th Anniversary of Bb. Pilipinas after all! You can get tickets at TicketNet – hope to see you there!
