Top Model of the World-Phl 2017 to be launched in Australia

It’s official: Top Model of the World Philippines (TMWPhl) has confirmed its launch in Australia. According to stakeholders and siblings Christina, Isabelle and Caroline de Venecia, the first pageant’s activities leading to the grand finals will take place in the City of Melbourne. 

This “hybrid” competition among models is being launched in partnership with Face Australia Promotion Management Organization (FAPM), a pageant and events operator in Australia and the Oceania. The participants will have a glimpse of the modernity and picturesque landscape of Melbourne and its environs. TMWPhl is in cooperation  with its overseas partners among the Overseas Filipino Communities. 

The competition is open to women aged 18 to 25 with Filipino lineage.

According to TMWPhl top officials, “Top Model of the World, Inc. in the Philippines is proud of the support provided by San Miguel Corp., Robinsons Land Corp., Prudential Guarantee & Assurance Corp, Resorts World Manila, Zest-o Corp., Yeung Marine Products, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Asian Journal Publications, to name a few.”   

The event is expected to draw attention and participation from dominant pageant operators in various jurisdictions among the overseas Filipino communities, namely Northern California, Southern California, East Coast USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia. Most pageant and model searches in the Philippines are done in Metro Manila. It’s the first time for a national event to be entirely launched outside the Philippines. 

Here’s the first batch of aspirants:

• Elizabeth Jane Soulsby, 19, 5’9”, from Melbourne West, half-Filipino and half-Aussie who loves to sing and dance, currently taking up Nursing. Her mom is originally from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.  She won Miss Philippines Fiesta of Victoria Charity 2015 and Miss Asiaworld Australia 2016.

• Shannon Monique Kelly, 20, 5’8”, from Western Australia, half-Filipino and half-Irish. A part-time model, dancer (ballet, tap, contemporary and hip-hop) and teacher. She’s taking up a double degree Major in Psychology and aspires to be a clinical Psychologist someday. Her mom is from Cagayan de Oro City. She joins TMWPhl to challenge and push her boundaries as well as to allow herself to develop more confidence.

• Jennifer Dizon, 22, 5’9”, is taking up a double degree in Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology and Bachelor of Law at Monash University. Her mom is originally from Manila. “I joined TMWPhl to be an inspiration for girls who aspire to join beauty-related competitions. I would like to convey to them that achieving their dream of joining this pageant is attainable, and will only happen if they start believing in themselves in the same way that I did.”

• Jessica Obidos, 18, 5’8” from Melbourne East, working at a Meter Company in Dandenong as a gas meter calibrator. Her mom is from Pilar, Bataan. “Bataan is where my heart is because I spent 14 years there growing up with full of memories and life experiences.”  

• Kelly Mcilroy, 17, from Canada is Grade 12 at Northview Heights Secondary School in Toronto, Canada. She plays basketball at a provincial level and does modeling. She won the Bb. Pilipinas Canada last year. The pageant was organized by IPEN (partner organization of TMWP in Toronto). She aims to complete at post-secondary in Early Childhood Education and to become a Police officer in the future.

• Christine Opiaza, 19, student, and hails from the province of Zambales. She won the recent Slimmers World Miss Bikini Philippines 2016. She hopes to put up a friendly competition among her overseas counterparts.

The finals is scheduled to take place at Pullman Melbourne Park (formerly Hilton Hotel), at Wellington Parade East, Melbourne in July next month. The winning delegate will be the official representative of the Philippines and will participate in the international competition of the Top Model of the World in Germany in August. 

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