Former Mrs. Universe Philippines Arlene Damot's advice for married women wanting to enter pageantry
For married women and mothers who dream of joining pageants, Arlene Cris Damot believes nothing should hold them back.
“Of course, if they want to join, they can join,” said the former Mrs. Universe Philippines, who herself entered pageantry for the first time in 2023.
She shared during an interview with The STAR that her own journey in pageantry was driven by a purpose. “One thing is, of course, I want to do my advocacy, and then I want to broaden my network. And also, it’s actually related to my business,” she said.
Arlene, a registered nurse, has been in the healthcare industry for years. She later ventured into aesthetics and founded Royal Aesthetics Philippines clinics, which she runs with her Malaysian husband. Even with the success of their business, she continued to pursue education and went into medical school.
Meanwhile, with the Miss Universe organization now accepting married women, among other new rules, Arlene weighed in on the distinction between Miss Universe and Mrs. Universe Philippines.
“Actually, yes, may pagka-redundant,” she said, believing that they should serve different purposes.
“I believe like, for example, it’s really much better for the organization I had (was part of), which is Mrs. Universe Philippines — ‘yun talaga pang misis and those with families. For me, Miss Universe is Miss Universe, and Mrs. Universe is Mrs. Universe — for married women and those with families.”
Beyond the competition itself, she values the platform that pageantry provides for her advocacy, which is women empowerment.
This was also recognized with her inclusion in the MEGA 100 Women Worth Knowing, a coffee table book that pays tribute to “Filipino women who are revolutionizing industries, championing important causes, and redefining empowerment in the modern world,” according to Mega Magazine. She joins the likes of TV host Bianca Gonzalez and former Miss International Kylie Verzosa.
Meanwhile, running a beauty and wellness business, Arlene has observed how the perception of aesthetic procedures has evolved over the years.
“Definitely, the concept of beauty has changed. People are more accepting about it. Like before, they would bully or make fun of people for getting enhancements, calling them ‘retokada.’ But now, it’s really different. Most probably because there are a lot of influencers and celebrities promoting enhancements, and if it makes you confident, you should go for it,” she said.
Her husband, David Jayabalan, echoed her sentiments, attributing the change to advancements in technology. “I think with the new technology, things have improved so much, so people are more confident that whatever procedures have been done, it looks more natural now.”
The couple recently introduced Plinest, an injectable skin booster made from polynucleotide (PN), which promotes skin repair and bio-revitalization.
Reflecting on their business journey, Arlene’s businessman-husband shared, “We really put our heart into the business and were hands-on at the start. But as the business stabilized, we stepped back and hired the right people to manage it. Now, we oversee everything.”
The next step for Royal Aesthetics is opening a surgery center by May. “A lot of people are looking for something more permanent rather than non-invasive procedures. Today, we have 15 doctors — 10 of them are cosmetic surgeons — so why not do it? The demand is there,” David said.
They also plan to continue their involvement in pageantry, having previously worked with former Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo as an endorser. They will introduce a new celebrity ambassador soon and will continue to sponsor Miss Earth Philippines.
Arlene will also have a participation in this year’s Mrs. Universe Philippines, as the Philippines hosts the international competition.
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