‘The Other Misses Phils.’ in the Miss U pageant

Miss Norway Kirby Ann Tan Basken, "the other Miss Philippines" in this year’s Miss Universe Pageant, is ready "to take Mexico by storm," according to her Quezon City-born mom, Grace Vasquez, an economic adviser in the Ministry of Culture and Church in Oslo, Norway.

Kirby is competing with more than 80 candidates from around the world, including 2007 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Anna Theresa Licaros.

"Kirby didn’t sleep at all night prior to her departure last Tuesday (May 1)," Grace wrote in an e-mail to relatives Serafina Sengco and her brother Tancie Sengco, both of Jersey City, New Jersey, who always play host to the Basken family whenever they are in the East Coast.

This joint interview with Kirby’s mom was conducted by Edmund Silvestre (News Editor of the New York-based The Filipino Reporter) and Funfare which e-mailed a set of questions. First subject of the Reporter-Funfare joint interview was Martin Nievera who was featured on Conversations with Ricky Lo (last April 15) simultaneously with The Reporter.

"Kirby was quite nervous when she left but she assured us that she’s in the brightest frame of mind and in the very best spirit she could ever be," added Mommy Grace, a De La Salle Economics graduate. "So let’s cross our fingers and hope for the very best."

Since winning the Miss Norway-Universe title last month, Kirby knows that Filipinos who will tune in to the Miss Universe finals on May 28 (to be telecast live worldwide on May 29, Philippine time) will refer to her as "the other Miss Philippines," says Serafina, a chief auditor of the City of Jersey. "Kirby is happy that she’s getting support from both the Norwegians and Filipinos. Of course, majority of Filipinos would want to see the ‘real Miss Philippines’ win. But Kirby said she won’t forget to acknowledge the Filipinos if she wins the (Miss U) crown."

When reached by Funfare and The Reporter by e-mail, Grace disclosed that Kirby is sharing a room with Miss Finland. "She has already met up with Tere Licaros last Wednesday (May 2) during the press conference. Tere is sweet, according to Kirby, but they were not able to chat long because they had to meet the other delegates, too. First it was only Miss Finland, Miss Denmark and herself. The next day, their "little" group attracted Misses Estonia, Korea, Malaysia, South Africa, Serbia and Cyprus with whom Kirby takes her regular meals at the hotel."

According to the Norwegian press, Kirby is the first ever Norwegian delegate to Miss Universe who has the largest wardrobe at her disposal.

"She brought with her three big suitcases and we’re still bringing with us two more suitcases when we leave for Mexico on May 19," Grace said.

A few years ago, Kirby spent a month in the US on Jersey City’s Manila Avenue (the name was dedicated to the large Filipino population in this New Jersey city). She visited her physician-uncles in Long Island, New York, and shopped to the max at the famous Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, New York, a favorite among visiting Filipino celebrities.

"Kirby bought a lot of lip glosses and eye mascaras and health and beauty products," said Serafina, who drove Kirby and her mom to Woodbury. "Alagang-alaga niya ang katawan niya kahit bata pa siya at talagang mahilig siya sa mga pageants and modeling. But she’s also very intelligent and very sweet."

Kirby hopes to duplicate the feat of Mona Grudt, Norway’s first Miss Universe (1990).

If this happens, Kirby will then be staying in New York City’s Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue for one year like other previous Miss U winners. The Big Apple is only 20 minutes away by subway train from Jersey City which she could visit as often as she wants, to enjoy her favorite tuyo and adobo in the city’s many Filipino eateries.

Born in Oslo, Kirby (whose biological father is Norwegian) has a supportive and loving stepfather, Lino Sengco Vasquez, a native of Navotas and payroll manager in Norway’s leading tobacco manufacturing company.

The 21-year-old Kirby, who was crowned last year as Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia-Pacific, took Media and Communication courses at Sogn Junior College in Oslo in 2004 and Preparatory University Foundation Studies at Hellerud College in 2005. Her dream is to become a respected TV host and a clinical child and adolescent psychologist. (Note: According to Renee Salud, screening for this year’s search for Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific goes on every Sunday until May 19.)

"Granted that she does not take home the Miss Universe crown, she intends to go to university this fall or next spring at the latest," assured Grace.

Other interesting Miss U info on Kirby as related by Grace to Funfare:

• Aside from her competition gown (it’s in silver, studded with Austrian Swarovski crystals and specially designed for Kirby by Norwegian designer Tove Rudi Tobiassen), she has a dozen long gowns, and a casual and cocktail dress for each of her 28-day stay in Mexico. Most of her casual and cocktail dresses are sponsored by Nicky Hilton (yes, the Nicky Hilton) and Meghan collections. The red dress she’ll use for the Press Event (maybe in Cancun) is specially designed for her by Armando Santos, a well-known Filipino designer in Oslo. Armando took his degree here in Oslo and holds fashion shows in London, Milan, Tokyo and, of course, Oslo.

• Unlike most women, Kirby doesn’t take long in the bathroom. She leaves the house with her hair wet and no make-up. For as long as she has eye mascara and a lip gloss in her bag, she’s fine. She always wears her hair up because it accentuates her beautiful long neck and jawline. She’s comfortable in jogging suits. She seldom wears jeans, because they don’t fit her. I think she keeps only two pairs of them. She prefers to wear skirts and dresses. She loves bags (has tons of them), boots (has a lot of pairs lying around the house) and watches. When she shops, she prefers quality and would rather pay more. Most of her clothescome from Nicky Hilton’s and Meghan collections.

And a 3rd ‘Other Miss Philippines’

No, there are not only two Filipinas in the Miss U pageant but three. According to Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib, the third is Miss Germany Angelina Glass, 19, who lives in Berlin. She was Miss Berlin in 2005, Miss Germany-Universe first runner-up that same year (she was underaged for the title then) and a semi-finalist in the 2005 Miss Maja Mundial held in Colombia.

Here are more "beauty" tidbits from the "beauty experts":

• 1998 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Jewel May Lobaton (who assumed the title after Tisha Silang resigned due to a "residency" technicality) is currently pursuing a medical course at the FEU-NRMF and hopes to graduate two years from now. She’s also busy campaigning for her husband, lawyer (and bar topnotcher) Koko Pimentel, who’s running for senator.

• 2006 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Lia Andrea Ramos (and that same year’s Miss Photogenic in the Miss U pageant) is busy with her "Estudio" summer workshop for beauty queens and models ranging in age from 14 and 22. It’s a joint venture with Jonas Gaffud, president of Mercator Model Management. (For inquiries, call 894-2381 or 894-4571.)

• 2004 Miss Earth Priscilla Meirelles (of Brazil) travels to the Philippines and other Asian countries for modeling/commercial jobs. According to rumors, she has broken up with Marc Nelson.

• 2006 Miss Earth Yesenia Hernandez Escobar has extended her vacation for a few more days. She arrived last April 22 to sit as judge in the just-concluded Miss Philippines-Earth. She was also one of the hosts of the United Nations Environment Programme Champions of the Earth Award Ceremony held in Singapore.

• 2006 Miss Poland Universe/Earth Francys Barraza Sudnicka flew in last month to do a series of fashion shoots for a chain of malls and also sit as judge in the 2007 Miss Philippines-Earth. She wants to venture into television and the movies.

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