Jewel enjoys married life, quits showbiz

It’s goodbye (for the meantime?) to showbiz for Jewel Mische after she exchanged I do’s with Alister Kurzer at an intimate winter wedding in a castle in Charlevoix, Michigan, USA, last Feb. 28 with only closest family members and friends present. An American citizen, Alister has filed a petition for a fiancée visa (immigrant) for Jewel who has to stay in the US while her papers are pending and maybe until she acquires her US citizenship.

“I am enjoying married life,” Jewel has been telling her friends (including Thess Gubi of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, who furnished Funfare the photos with this story). While on extended honeymoon in their new home, Jewel said that she and Alister do take time to “explore” Michigan.

Jewel was discovered by GMA Kapuso Network talent search StarStruck. She later moved to the ABS-CBN Kapamilya Network where she stayed only for a while. She was the “silent” girlfriend of Richard Gutierrez, referred to as such because she didn’t mind being “hidden.”

Barely a year after she broke up with Richard (now happily going steady with Sarah Lahbati, also a StarStruck graduate, with whom he has a son, Zion, turning two years old in May), Jewel met Alister first online and then at a church during his trip to the Philippines. They became engaged in October last year.

In an interview with The Buzz late last year, Alister said that he proposed to Jewel by giving her a copy of The Bible.

“It’s over Christmas time actually,” Alister was quoted as saying. The Bible was my gift to her. When she opened it, she was very happy. She said yes before seeing the ring.”

Said Thess, “Jewel told me that she and Alister have been traveling these past two years. They plan to travel some more but have no plans where to go.”

And how soon do Jewel and Alister plan to have a baby?’

The couple didn’t say when.

A beauty-ful harvest

The pageant season was up to a very exciting start for Aces & Queens (A&Q) as four of its bets made it to the Top 7 in the recently-concluded Bb. Pilipinas pageant. Pia Wurtzbach, who was first runner-up in 2013 and semi-finalist last year, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines. Christi Lynn McGarry, who was semi-finalist in the 2010 Miss Intercontinental pageant as Mutya ng Pilipinas Intercontinental, took the Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental title. Ann Colis, who was one of the early favorites, was named Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism. Kimverlyn Suiza, 26, was very happy to have finished second runner-up on her last year of pageant eligibility. Aces & Queens bets bagged eight of the 15 semi-finalist slots with its other four candidates — Alaiza Malinao, Justine Felizarta, Kylie Verzosa and Teresita “Wynwyn” Marquez.

According to a report by A&Q member and Funfare’s “beauty specialist” Gerry Diaz, his group hosted two dinners to mark its Binibini wins. Last March 21, Saturday, the team had its first victory dinner at Pedro n Coi, the newly-opened restaurant of Lloyd Lee and wife Shamcey Supsup at the third floor of Fisher Mall. It was a beauty-studded party as it gathered 15 of A&Q beauties. Present were the 2015 winners Pia, Christi Lynn and Ann Lorraine, and second runner-up Kimverlyn, together with former Miss Universe runners-up Ariella Arida (third, 2013), Shamcey  (third, 2011) and Venus Raj (fourth, 2010).

2010 Miss World Top 5 finalist Mafae Yunon-Belasco was also there looking slimmer and more beautiful than ever. Elaine Kay Moll, 2012 Miss Supranational third runner-up, joined the celebration and so did 2013 Miss World semi-finalist Valerie Weigmann. The others were Wynwyn, Justine, Neesha and Kylie.

There was another, more intimate, dinner the following night at Seven Corners in Crowne Plaza. Joining the party were the moms of Pia and Christi (whose mom was celebrating her birthday on that day).

“Everyone was hoping that the Philippines’ Miss Universe crown drought of 42 years will be ended by Pia,” said Gerry. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

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