All-Filipino team heads Miss Universe Bahrain 2023

An all-Filipino team is spearheading the Miss Universe Bahrain 2023 organization, led by Josh Yugen as the national director of the Dubai-based Yugen Group of Companies.

Now on its third season, the Miss Universe Bahrain 2023 is comprised of actress and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa as head of empowerment; host and TV personality Raymond Gutierrez as fashion director; serial entrepreneur Lorenzo Vega as head of innovation; TV executive and film producer Joey Abacan as senior executive consultant; and Cannes-winning filmmaker Brillante Mendoza as artistic director.

Reigning Miss Universe Bahrain Evlin Khalifa is the head of culture, who will “make sure that the organization is aligned with the beautiful and respectful culture of Bahrain.”

“I received some questions like, ‘Why do you put Filipinos in the council?’ I mean for me, Filipinos should not be put in the box. We could also be leaders. We can also be head of councils… I would love to break stereotypes all the time,” Josh said on his newly-assembled Filipino council in a recent press conference in Makati City.

He also shared that pageant fans can expect “more renovation, more fashion and a reality-show type” of presentation for the Miss Universe Bahrain 2023, reminiscent of America’s Next Top Model and RuPaul’s Drag Race.

He will maintain the traditional swimwear portion, he noted. “We never wear bikini by the way. We are the only country that wears burkini, of course, to respect the culture. But also we have some types of, you know, drama and exciting portions that we are actually going to do in July. So stay tuned for that,” added Josh.

The theme for the Miss Universe Bahrain this year is youth empowerment. Out of the hundred that auditioned for the competition, 25 had been selected as semifinalists and eight of them will be joining the reality show.

“It’s going to be like a film, (shot) in a studio and then, we’re going to show it in a platform” explained Josh. Interestingly, 99 percent of the show will be filmed in the Philippines.

As for the qualities he is looking for in a beauty queen, having “a kind heart and (being) authentic” top the list.

“I know that the mold of the beauty queen would be like beautiful, stunning, sexy and intelligent but, you know, what I’m always looking for (is) someone with a kind heart. Someone authentic,” he said.

“Sometimes, we question the organization, ‘Ay, why did she win?’ But we don’t know that she has a bad attitude pala or because there are things that we couldn’t see behind the scenes.”

So the important thing for Josh in choosing Evlin’s successor is someone who “can inspire young women” by the way she treats other people.

“Kasi I believe in kindness, eh. If you are a kind person, you can inspire young people to do the same. So, for me, that’s the most important thing that we should (search for) because there are so many things happening in this world,” he shared.

“But for me, the most important thing is like we come together, we unite, we protect the peace that we do have. And this is what I love about Filipinos because although we (experience) so many challenges in life, we’re still happy, we’re still kind people (and) we support each other, so I feel like it’s something that I look for in the next queen.”

Managing director of Yugen Group and Miss Universe Bahrain organization Ian Borromeo added that the organization “hopes to find a woman who is armored with her purpose in life and wishes to use the Miss Universe Bahrain platform to amplify her messages and advocacies.”

Aside from Miss Universe Bahrain, Josh is also managing the Miss Universe Pakistan and a franchise of another country which he will announced soon.

On how he got the Miss Universe franchise, he recalled, “Three years ago, I was actually approached by one of the executives of Miss Universe if I wanted to get a franchise. So, I did not pitch, it was offered to me. And I said yes, of course, because my expertise is fashion like Mon (Raymond) and of course, marketing and PR. I (also) own a magazine (company) in Dubai.”

“But of course, pageantry is in the heart of the Filipinos. Like what Kylie said, ‘You cannot take the pageantry out of you.’”

He also has good words to say about the new owner of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), Thailand billionaire Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, which he described as a “very kind person and a good listener.” They met in Bali years ago.

Josh has lived in Dubai for 16 years and adapted to its culture. He told The STAR, “I can say that half of my culture is the Arab culture. It’s a beautiful culture. Although of course, I don’t wear the same clothes that they do, but you know, I adopted some of their best (traits)… like, for example, they are so generous, they are so giving, they are respectful to everyone, so I feel like that’s the same thing in the Philippine (culture).”

“Filipinos naman love being jolly, being humble, and being supportive. And I feel like it’s a good harmony, it should not be separated,” he added.

Meanwhile, he commended the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) for doing a great job.

He further told this paper, “I think I’m very proud of the MUPH. They are doing so excellent. They are doing so well. I met Jonas (Gaffud, creative director of MUPH) in Thailand because we judged the same competition.”

“I think they are doing a superior, excellent job, so I’m so proud of that. Of course as a Filipino, I’m also happy for them and we should be happy for all Filipinos being successful in their own fields,” he concluded.

The MUPH 2023’s coronation night will be held on May 13 at the SM Mall of Asia.