Waiting for their turn

I am very excited for this year’s batch of Binibining Pilipinas winners as they prepare for their respective international pageants. This year’s winners are Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup, Bb. Pilipinas-International Dianne Necio, Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Isabella Manjon and runners-up Janine Tugonon and Mary Jean Lastimosa.

I’ve known some of these girls, especially Shamcey, Dianne and MJ, for quite a while through common friends, and I am amazed at how they have bloomed even more after winning the competition.

And as they go through the hustle and bustle of the preparations, I try my best to be of help, by giving pieces of advice based on my own experience.

Most fears during a beauty pageant have something to do with being overwhelmed by the competition. All the girls out there are just totally gorgeous. It is not unusual then for any contestant to feel pangs of insecurity every now and then. Because of this, I told them to play up their strong points and religiously work on their weak areas, and to constantly seek expert help and opinion. It is also important to instill discipline to maximize the short period for training.

I also tell the girls to always remember that everything happens for a reason. They were placed in a competition for a reason. They earned that spot. So, they should never feel as if they are any less than their counterparts.

And to ease the pressure, I also try my best to make the training fun for them. For example, instead of routine catwalk exercises, I ask them to prepare a production number to warm them up. I also do bluff exercises during Q&A training to keep their minds alert. These little gimmicks hopefully encourage them to look forward to training.

Of course, I always remind this year’s batch of beauties to never ever overlook the power of prayer. No amount of physical, mental and emotional preparation is enough without faith. I wish all these ladies the best.