Cheering nation carried her every step of the way

MANILA, Philippines - When Mr. World 2010 Kamal Ibrahim, co-host of the 2013 Miss World pageant grand finals Saturday night in Bali, Indonesia, noticed the cheers from the gallery every time Megan Young’s name was called, first as one of the Top 10 semi-finalists and then one of the Top Five finalists before she was finally declared the winner, he said aloud, “So many Filipinos in the audience,” Megan broke into a wide smile and confirmed, “Yes, I brought half of the Philippines here!”

Actually, there were more than 50 Filipinos who flew to Bali to root for Megan, including her mom Victoria, sister (actress) Lauren Young and their brother, and Megan’s manager Jonas Gaffud (head of the Mercator Talent Agency) who is a member of the 10-men Ace, the group whose “passion” is to train beauty queens before they compete in international pageants.

“There were five of us Ace members,” said Gaffud during a brief chat with The STAR yesterday afternoon on his way from Bali to Jakarta and back to the Philippines. “We arrived in Bali on Saturday (Sept. 27) and we had a chance to give Megan last-minute instructions such as what make-up and hairdo to wear. We also decided on what her ‘finals look’ should be and what to say during the crucial Q&A portion. Since Megan left first week of September, we were in constant contact with her.”

But more than the 50-plus Filipinos present at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center where the coronation rites were held, the whole country (and Filipinos around the world) rallied behind Megan who strikes many people as the spitting image of Lalaine Bennett, the very first Filipina to place high in an international beauty contest (that is, the 1963 Miss Universe).

That’s why when she sat on the throne as the first Miss World from the Philippines after 63 years, beating 126 other hopefuls (four quit the pageant due to illness), Megan thanked those who supported her (with prayers, etc.) in Filipino, “Salamat sa mga kababayan ko. Mahal na mahal ko kayo.”

Each of the finalists was asked, “Why should you be Miss World?” and Megan gave a sincere answer without missing a beat, “I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides people why they act the way they do. I will use this to show other people how they can understand each other… as one… we can help society.”

A crowd favorite, Megan projected a winning aura from the start of the ceremony. Before the winner was announced by Miss World Organization president Julie Morley, host Kamal picked out Megan’s mom Victoria from the audience and asked what was the best advice she had given Megan and she replied, “I told Megan to be kind because you can’t go wrong with kindness.”

Asked by co-host Myleene Klass (who is half-Brit and half-Filipino) how she envisioned her one-year reign, Megan said without missing a beat, gracefully holding back tears, “I’m really looking forward to traveling the world to see what’s out there and to see different cultures. I want to see what we can do to help others and involve my fellow Filipinos in my efforts. The one thing I’m going to miss the most is Filipino food.”

Mom Victoria remarked after the crowning, “If you want to travel around the world, go out there, explore, spread the good feelings in your heart, and help people. If that’s what you want, it’s okay…”

For sure, Megan will have to acquaint her taste buds with “foreign” food because it might take a little time before she comes home to share her victory with her kababayan.

As of yesterday afternoon, according to Gaffud, the Miss World Organization will bring Megan on a four-day tour of Indonesia which was rocked with protests from a group that called for the pageant to be cancelled, despite the organizers’ decision to scrap the swimsuit competition, because “it doesn’t fit with Islamic teachings that say Muslim women should cover immodest parts of their bodies…” From Jakarta, the venue was moved to Bali.

“After the tour,” added Gaffud, “the plan is to bring Megan to London before she returns to the Philippines. That’s the plan as of today, unless there will be last-minute changes.”

Incidentally, maybe not many people know that Megan slipped and fell before she went on stage for the Top Model segment where she emerged No. 1.

“Many of my friends know that I am a clumsy person,” The STAR’s Funfare “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas quoted Megan from feedback he got from Miss World sources. “During that incident,” Megan recalled, “I fell flat on my bum.”

The incident was reminiscent of the 1999 Miss Universe pageant in Trinidad-Tobago when Miriam Quiambao also slipped onstage and got right back on her feet with widespread arms, prompting a warm applause from the audience. Miriam went on to finish first runner-up to Miss Botswana.

Cory Quirino, Miss World Philippines founder and chairperson, was ecstatic over Megan’s victory. She said in her text message to The STAR:

"Megan Young's victory is the Philippines' victory. I celebrate her triumph with all of you. When I first accepted the Miss World license in 2011, I made a promise to our kababayan to deliver the long-elusive crown of Miss World. Victory is sweet and it is ours to savor. The honor and prestige the Miss World crown brings is beyond measure. Megan's win proves one thing – that the Filipina is the most beautiful woman in the world. Megan's first duty is to attend a Beauty with a Purpose Charity Dinner in London. After which she returns to Manila for her much-awaited homecoming. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!"

Miss World Organization officially announced that next year's contest will be held in London sometime in November.