R’Bonney and Catriona see great ‘beauty queen’ potential in Gabbi Garcia
What is that thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet?
For Gabbi Garcia, her dream to become a beauty queen still sits within her heart, waiting for the right time to make it a reality.
“It has always been a childhood dream but I have so much to consider before I decide to join,” began Gabbi whose beauty, height, and physique, as well as her being articulate, could easily qualify her to join any beauty contest.
“It’s not just a basic desire na kung gusto ko sasali ako, especially now that I’m currently locked up with so many brands and also, I’m with GMA so I have to let go of all that. Well, not naman to let go but maybe pause a bit so as to (be able to) join because you have to be ‘clean’ (read: free from any commitments or contracts) when you join.”
“So, perhaps, that’s what is stopping me a bit but if we’re talking about the want and the desire, it’s a frustration of mine, but I’m happy hosting as of now as I feel the energy of the stage,” added Gabbi in response to The STAR query.
If you’ve been reading the entertainment news then you’ll know that the GMA Sparkle artist created a buzz for her excellent hosting skills at the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) last month and she again left a good impression at the Miss Manila 2024 Grand Coronation Night.
Gabbi did not only display her gift of gab but also her stunning beauty as she stood on stage alongside two beauty queens — Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray — who shared hosting chores with her in the just-concluded grand Manila beauty pageant.
As part of her preparation, Gabbi revealed that she had sessions with seasoned host Boy Abunda.
“He’s my mentor for hosting now. I’m learning a lot from him,” she declared.
Gabbi narrated it all began when the King of Talk saw her as one of the hosts in MUPH and then they saw each other three days after the event.
“He’s been telling me na, ‘I watched you, you have potential’ and then I asked him (to mentor me) because I’m so eager to learn about hosting and to improve more. So, he took me in at nakakatuwa because he gave me his time to mentor me for this one (Miss Manila).”
On her Instagram post, Gabbi wrote, “Learning from the best!!! Having Tito Boy mentor me for my hosting stint at Miss Manila 2024 was the first of many heartfelt learning sessions. I’m deeply grateful that Tito Boy took the time to help me out. He would always check on me, sending texts and making calls, just to ensure I felt his constant support and availability. Your wisdom and kindness have taught me so much, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have you as a mentor for hosting.”
The Kapuso actress equally expressed delight at the opportunity to share the stage with two beauty queens.
“It was so surreal. It’s funny kasi parang ako ang tapang ko naman, ‘di ba?” laughed Gabbi. “Ang tapang ko naman maka-host sila Miss Universe but it’s so fun because everybody has the same wavelength, everybody has the same connection and they’re just so beautiful inside and out. So, it’s easy to banter with them and they made me feel so comfortable also.”
Besides, Gabbi and Catriona often see each other at various events. With R’Bonney, Gabbi narrated that they’ve been seatmates in Mega Bowl. “We’re very comfortable with each other, so feeling ko isa rin ‘yun sa nakatulong on why it’s a very smooth hosting stint,” declared Gabbi who looked radiant in the three evening gowns she wore in the Miss Manila event. They were created by designers Mike Yap Ching, Mestiza New York, and Neric Beltran.
In fact, Catriona and R’Bonney saw a great potential in Gabbi about becoming a beauty queen.
“I was asking her about it but I think from where she’s coming from is just the practical sense of when you join a pageant, you don’t have any ongoing contract or obligation and I think it’s a bit difficult seeing how she’s associated with so many projects and brands. But she said it’s been a childhood dream of hers, so I love to see her, maybe take a shot at it, why not,” said Catriona.
R’Bonney assured that if and when Gabbi decides to join, she will definitely give her all-out support “because I think she could do really well.”
“And if she really feels in her heart that she’s called to do it, then she should go for it,” she stressed.
Gabbi, on the other hand, described how pleasant Catriona and R’Bonney were on- and off-camera. “We were talking backstage and I was eager about their hardships during the reign, the challenges so I was asking them so many things. Then, ako shini-share ko rin sa kanila the comments na bakit daw ako mag-ho-host. They were laughing about those things. Seriously, it was a memorable thing for me because I got to host with them and I also got to talk to them behind the scenes.”
She, too, admitted that they’ve been talking about her interest in beauty pageants. But Gabbi still finds it tough to decide whether to join or not. “As of now, I’m really focusing on hosting because I kind of felt that I actually belong here, I have this strong feeling so why not improve more on it instead,” remarked Gabbi who also confessed that she’s been a pageant fan ever since she was a kid.
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