50th Bb. Pilipinas tilt is most star-studded

This is a follow-up to the recent stories (about the first Bb. Pilipinas-Universe pageant in 1964 and the first Bb. Pilipinas-International pageant in 1968, both reported by Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas) leading up to the 50th-anniversary edition of the country’s most prestigious beauty contest set for April.

From New York where he’s working (as a nurse), Felix Manuel, one of Funfare’s “beauty experts, noted that the 2013 search will be the most star-studded in the pageant’s history.”

“As of now,” reported Felix, “four showbiz stars and a showbiz royalty have attended the screening. The last day of screening was reset from the 22nd of this month to the 31st, so expect more aspirants to show up.”

Felix identified the celebrity aspirants as:

Pia Wurtzbach (a.k.a. Pia Romero) of Cagayan de Oro, a 5’8” 23-year-old graduate of Professional Culinary from Center for Asian Culinary Studies and a member of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Batch 11 who has appeared in several TV shows.

 Cindy Miranda, 23, 5’9” from Nueva Ecija, a UST cum laude B.S. Tourism graduate, and former Miss Teen Philippines Region I, Miss Philippines Earth Baguio 2008, Miss Tourism Ambassadress Baguio 2008, Miss Camp 2010 and Miss Ideal Thomasian Personalities 2010 1st runner-up (representing Tourism and Hospitality Management; Janine Tugonon won the pageant). She was one of the sexy 3Gs Unofficial Housemates of the ABS-CBN reality-TV show PBB Unlimited in 2011 and a co-host of Willie Revillame’s TV5 show Wil Time Bigtime from (retitled Wowowillie which premieres today at its new home in the former Delta Theater).

 Theresa Marie Fenger (aka Lana Roi), 25, 5’9”, from Quezon City with a degree in Music and was former member of an all-girl singing group Eurasia. She was a former Miss Global Teen Canada and Miss Mayan World in 2004, and also bagged the Ms. Vancouver Universe Canada and the Best Smile Award in North American International Model both in 2006, and won the 2009 Century Tuna Superbods Search.

 Rea Nakpil, 23, a Starstruck Batch 3 Avenger and has appeared in various TV shows on GMA.

Mariel de Leon, 19, 5’8” tall, the daughter of Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong was among the last ladies to apply during the supposedly last screening day. Observers present at the screening praised her for having a very pretty face.

Felix and other beauty-watchers are hoping that Isabelle Daza (daughter of 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz) and Megan Young (lookalike of 1963 Miss Universe third runner-up Lalaine Bennett) will be convinced to join…even at the last minute.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)