MANILA, Philippines - Melanie Marquez is confident her niece Winwyn Marquez will do well in the Binibining Pilipinas 2015 pageant.
IN PHOTOS: Bb. Pilipinas 2015 press presentation
“I told her to claim the crown as a beauty queen dahil meron na siya nun e. She has that personality,” she told reporters at the sidelines of the Bb. Pilipinas 2015 press presentation on Monday.
Winwyn is one of the 34 candidates vying for one of the five titles up for grabs in the Bb. Pilipinas competition.
Melanie, the brother of Winwyn’s father Joey Marquez, is herself a beauty queen -- she won the Miss International title in 1979.
The 50-year-old former beauty queen said she told Winwyn to “just be natural” during the competition.
“Just be yourself. And always remember: claim the crown, be like a queen, she said, adding Winwyn is “beauty queen material.”
“Nasa kanya na e, wala na ako masyadong ipo-polish. Nasa kanya na yung pagiging sexy, pagiging graceful. Ang binigay ko lang na tip ay to relax, mas sexy siya,” she added.
Melanie also said: “I pray so much. But confident ako na meron siya nun. Sabi ko kay Wyn, ‘If they don’t pick you, it’s their loss, not yours’.”
When asked if being related to her is a “huge factor” in chances to win the Bb. Pilipinas pageant, she replied: “I think malaking factor na Marquez siya. Kasi andun yung personality ng kuya ko, and andun yung personality ng mother niya na si Alma (Moreno).”
“At meron siyang originality. That’s one thing I like about her,” she added.
Her message to her aspiring beauty queen niece? “You know I believe that you’re born a winner and a beauty queen.”
She further quipped, “They cannot judge you because you are not a book. You are born to be a beauty queen.”