MIRROR, MIRROR on the stage, she wins who has more than just a pretty face!
It is not uncommon these days to see young girls on high heels training for the pasarela, or the catwalk. Which makes me wonder, are we really that drawn to beauty contests that we train children how to walk on the runway even before they could dream what they want for themselves in the future?
Starting them young would probably make it more natural for them to move and walk like a queen. Maybe there is really nothing wrong with that, as long as they do not get injured. Poise, walking, public speaking, proper way of answering questions, talent, confidence, learning about a lot of things to be able to talk eloquently on various topics, these things take time to master, so parents prepare the children early.
However, they should always be protected and trainings must be healthy; they have to play, study, and be given the rights that they are entitled to, being children. No pressure.
In the Philippines, we have all sorts of muses for all ages. There are beauty title competitions among day care children up to the elderly. The moment we enroll the child to formal school, classmates elect muse and consort.
During sportsfests, there are Miss Intrams. During fiestas, they are major attractions. On Mayflower Festival and Santacruzan, we give the major title to the fairest (well, supposedly). There were Carnival Queens in early years of our history. It’s practically everywhere. In churches, in communities, in organizations, in barangays, and up to the country’s major beauty contests. Then we compete internationally in almost all available “beaucons”.
So far, we have four Miss Universe titleholders: the first is 18-year-old Gloria Diaz (1969), followed by 19-year-old Margie Moran (1973). The country hosted the first Miss Universe in 1974. Our bet did not make it then, and after 42 years, Pia Wurtzbach reclaimed the crown for the Philippines in 2015. Catriona Gray captured the fourth crown in 2018.
Megan Young is the only Filipina who got the Miss World Crown (2013) since its inception in 1951 but Evangeline Pascual (1973) and Gwendoline Ruais (2011) both finished second to the major title.
Six Miss International crowns have so far been garnered by the Philippines: Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013), and Kylie Verzosa (2016).
For Miss Earth, the country has four queens: Karla Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015), and Karen Ibasco (2017).
Miss Grand International has two Filipina titleholders: CJ Opiaza (2024) assumed the position, and Emma Tiglao (2025).
For Miss Supranational, we have Mutya Datul (2013).
There’s a lot more, and we can go on and on. There’s a ton of other international crowns like Miss Intercontinental, Miss Globe, Miss Tourism International, Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss Eco International, Miss World Tourism Ambassador, Reina Hispanoamericana, Miss Multinational, Miss Tourism Queen of the Year, and Face of Beauty International.
What is noteworthy on the evolution of these beaucons is that some are now more inclusive as to age limit and civil status, even mothers can join unlike before. Looks alone are not enough. There are advocacies, as social impact matters. It’s not mere vanity but also service.
The Philippines is a pageant powerhouse. There are even similar competitions for men and still excel in those. That’s why pageants are such a big deal here, we actually win. Beauty contests give honor and pride not just to the winner but to the whole country.
Is there a pre-colonial explanation for our pageant culture? Well, Bai was expected to be eloquent, graceful, and represent the community, similar to the ambassadress role of a pageant queen today. The most respected woman in a village had to be articulate, diplomatic, presentable, speaking for women in disputes, rituals, and trade; like the Q&A and advocacy part of the pageants.
There was already a culture of presenting oneself beautifully to represent her people. These are the reasons why beaucons don’t feel foreign to us. It feels like an upgraded version of something that we already had been doing before the coming of the Spaniards.
On July 21, 1974, the Philippines first hosted the Miss Universe competition. How we prepared for this event is both interesting and controversial, but that would mean another topic for this column.