Have beauty pageants gone too far, extending to dolls that are pitted with one another in a pageant that can rival the spectacle involving humans?
Funfare has actually been featuring Pinay Dolls that have won in such pageants, like the Dindi Gallardo Doll named 2006 Miss Doll Universe in Colombia; the Krista Kleiner Doll, 2010 Miss Doll International in Italy; and the Venus Raj Doll, 2011 Miss Barbie Universe in Manila.
The latest addition is Pinay Doll Shawnah Bautista Marquez who was crowned 2016 Miss Beauty Doll by outgoing queen Sophie Rolands of Malaysia last Nov. 4 in Thailand. She bested 39 other beauty dolls from the same number of countries.
During the final Q&A, Shawnah was asked, “Define beauty in the way you understand it.”
Her witty reply?
“Beauty for me is the powder white sand in the beach, a stranger smiling wholeheartedly, a newly born child’s first cry, a new lesson learned, a mother’s love. These are some of the things that define beauty for me. It’s not about those fancy clothes, that new trend or that model face on a magazine cover. Beauty is an emotion that guides us to live and appreciate life more, in all its forms. Beauty has always been a gift that we are born with, it’s personal and instinctive never it can be dictated or be defined by anyone. It just takes an open heart and mind to find and appreciate it. We are all beautiful. Thank you! Sawasdee, my beautiful Thailand.”
Can any of the human beauty aspirants top that?
Her profile shows that Marquez, 23, hails from Angeles City, Pampanga. She finished Masscom-Journalism; a professional model and a chef with emphasis on old-school classic Filipino dishes and Thai cuisine as well. In her spare time, she watches a lot of science channels, concerned as she is with the preservation of the environment.
As 2016 Miss Beauty Doll, Shawnah received the following awards: MBD crown studded with diamonds and ruby, designed by Chatiara (Doll Crown and Tiara by God Diamonds) valued at US$1,000; stay at the Ocean View Pool Villa with breakfast for two people at Silavadee Pool Spa Resort, valued at US$2,200; one pair of earrings worth US$858, designed and sponsored by Olivia Diamonds; and an MBD silver trophy.
Shawnah is owned by MBD Philippines National Director Cholo Ayuyao, who also created Shawnah’s wardrobe including her Reyna Elena-inspired national costume which was adjudged Best National Costume.
Gracing the glittering event were former title-holders Gloria Eva Peretz of Peru (2007); Veronica Perozti of Venezuela (2008); Alisa Pera of Venezuela (2009); Apichaya Thaipitak of Thailand (2010); Erica Grazia of Peru (2011); Alexandra de la Cruz of France (2012); Isabella Vagus of Mexico (2013); and Veronica Gonzales of Ecuador (2014). — With a report by Celso de Guzman Caparas
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