A deadringer for Miriam Quiambao (the Binibini who finished first runner-up in the 1999 Miss Universe Pageant and now happily married to an Italian and settled in Hong Kong), Lara, 22, is kayumangging kaligatan (like Miriam), with brown hair, brown skin and brown eyes. Very Filipina. She stands 5’6", weighs 110 lbs. and measures 32-24-34.
The eldest of four children (parents are the late Nelson Quigaman and Princesita Quigaman), Lara spent part of her growing-up years in Bristol, United Kingdom, where her mother, a nurse, worked. She now resides at Ususan in Taguig City.
Why did I say that Lara might eventually venture into showbiz? Well, her many hobbies include filmmaking (aside from reading, surfing the Net and sketching, and dabbling in such sports as table tennis, volleyball and badminton). Her favorite actors are Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller, Demi Moore and Julia Roberts.
In an interview with The STAR after she, Gionna and Carlene were named 2005’s Binibinis, Lara said that joining showbiz is "a possibility," with television as starting point just like what Miriam Quiambao did.
Besides her dusky looks (highlighted by a bedimpled smile), Lara’s quick wit and intelligence (especially during the pageant’s question-and-answer portion) easily helped her bag the 2005 Bb. Pilipinas-International crown.
Lara will leave for Tokyo on Friday, Sept. 9. She will compete with 65 other beauties from the same number of countries. Grand finals will be held on Sept. 26 at the Shinjuku Kosei-Nenkin Kaikan in Tokyo. Part of the 18-day pageant activities are a press conference and reception party; a courtesy call on Mr. Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo; a visit to the ancient city of Kamakura; attendace at the Yuri Takano Charity Golf Competition and Jewelry Show Reception; travel to Aichi for the Aichi Expo event and a visit to the Toyota Factory; and then, before the big night, back to Tokyo for a shopping tour and rehearsals.
Well, as usual, we’re keeping our fingers crossed – and hoping against hope – that Lara will bring home the crown already won thrice by the Philippines (Gemma Cruz in 1964, Aurora Pijuan in 1970 and Melanie Marquez in 1979).
• Eva Arni, 1975 Miss Asia, co-starred with Joseph Estrada in Alas-Singko ng Hapon Gising na Ang Mga Anghel.
• Miss Finland Johanna Raunio, finalist in the 1974 Miss Universe Pageant, also appeared in Postcards from China with Dante Rivero, Boots Anson-Roa, Ramil Rodriguez and Pilar Pilapil, produced by Premiere Productions which introduced Johanna (as a mermaid) in Lorelei, with model Raul Roa as leading man.
• India’s Tara Anne Fonseca, 1973 Miss Asia, starred with Joseph Estrada in Counter Kill.
• Aruba’s Maureen Ava Vieira, also a finalist in the 1974 Miss Universe Pageant, did another movie, Jack and Jill and John, with Dolphy.