Drop Dead Gorgeous showed up to what extent some people are going to go through just to win a beauty crown. Here in the Philippines, there were also local films about beauty contests. In the ’60s, Sampaguita Pictures had its Bathing Beauties with former Miss Philippines winners Josephine Estrada and Cynthia Ugalde. In 1980, there was Temptation Island which featured a roster of real-life beauty queens: Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Jennifer Cortez, Miss Maja Philipines Annabelle Arambulo and Miss Magnolia first runner-up Dina Bonnivie. Then, there was also Laruan (1983) with Carmi Martin and Angela Perez which toward the end turned out to be another copycat version of Lipstick.
In the early ’80s, there was this movie script going around town that was bent on tackling issues pertaining to beauty contests. It was called Salamin, Salamin, Sino ang Pinakamaganda sa Amin? and was planning to feature in lead roles real-life international beauty title-holders Gloria Diaz, Aurora Pijuan and Margie Moran. Sadly, it never took off the ground because even then  when the exchange rate was only P7 to a $1 – this project would have been too expensive to mount for the screen.
On local television, there were sitcoms in the past that set episodes around beauty pageants. In one opisode of Padre de Familia, for example, Ric Rodrigo helps Raquel Montesa (mother of Simon Soler) join the Miss Philippines contest without knowing that his candidate for the pageant only reached sixth grade.
There was also this one episode in Yan ang Misis Ko where the eldest daughter of Ronald Remy and Rosa Rosal, Cristina Reyes, joins a beauty contest. When coronation night nears, she is crushed when she had to withdraw from the pageant due to appendicitis.
The most hilarious episode in a local sitcom that tackled beauty pageants was the one in Ang Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora. The story begins with a spoof of Cinderalla. Cast as Nora’s wicked stepsisters were Matimtiman Cruz and Metring David. In the end, they all battle it out in a beauty contest which Nora of course wins.
The showing of Miss Congeniality in Metro Manila is quite timely because it is the season once more for beauty contests in this country.
In Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock (who produces the movie herself) is an undercover agent assigned to penetrate the Miss United States pageant which has become the target of some unknown terrorists. In order for her to gain access to the pageant, she has to pose as one of the candidates – representing New Jersey.
Now, you’d say perhaps that this is a walk in the park for the beautiful Sandra Bullock. Well, not with the way her screen character is depicted in the beginning of the story: A tough-talking repulsive agent whose ways are more masculine than most of the macho members in the force.
In order for her to look like a beauty contest aspirant, the contest organizers turn her over to a personal trainer (Michael Caine) for a thorough makeover. Although it seemd impossible in the beginning, Sandra manages to transform herself from a hopeless ugly duckling to that of a beautiful swan – just the time for the Tex-as-based pageant.
Initially, Miss Congeniality goes into a field day of beauty contest bashing. In particular, it makes fun of the contestants who are all beauty, but without an iota of intelligence.
The movie, however, eventually takes a kinder look at beauty contests toward the end by showing that, indeed, these pageants foster camaraderie among people. When Sandra Bullock, for instance, is abandoned by her Professor Higgins (Michael Caine), the other girls in the contest – though rivals for the crown – help her put on her makeup and get ready for the pageant.
Aside from showing the backstage of beauty pageants, Miss Coneniality also goes all out in its desire to make moviegoers laugh. And how beautifully it succeeds in this area!
Sandra Bullock – with her rick comedic talent – helps make Miss Congeniality a truly entertaining movie. Other laughs in the film are provided by a really great supporting cast led by Candice Bergen and Michael Caine.
And then, of course, there are the hilarious parodise of the things that happen in most beauty contests. (The talent portion in the preliminary round is guaranteed to keep you in stitches.)
The coronation night is also oh-so-riotous, you shouldn’t miss it for the world.
As a comedy, Miss Congeniality is really such a beauty. It is one film that will surely be appreciated by the people of his beauty pageant-crazy country.