I am not a beauty pageant aficionada. But because I got invited to judge in a number of occasions, I have witnessed realizations and failures of the ladies' dreams. These are dreams that they have been working so hard for many months or even years. Especially in a country that regards not only boxing and basketball but also beauty pageant as serious pursuits. We are in a society that encourages lasses who have shown potentials to jump on the bandwagon, exposing them to early trainings for future beauty contests.
Training centers or organizations are formed out of the need to train young ladies. Trainings include personality development, pageant or runway walk exercises, communication, and social graces. A comprehensive body shaping and conditioning is also needed to prepare them to stand the rigid requirement of standing in high heels. And especially for the question and answer portion, a wide range of issues that the contestants are being made aware of and be conversant about them.
And because of these preparations, one would probably be overwhelmingly frustrated if she cannot get the crown. But because the other ladies are also preparing for this, it is now a matter of getting the nod of a few powerful judges. This made the decision of the judges so critical. As a judge, it is both challenging and critical as when I look at the ladies on the coronation night itself, they seem to look practically the same with the exception to those who are already gifted with good facial features. It is usually in the final question and answer portion that would set the deserving queen apart from the commoners.
Though there are criteria for judging but admittedly decisions are not always unanimous. There are judges whose preferences are different as they tend to focus on certain attributes. But in the end, rating results must be respected. And so the announcement has also to be made accurately as we are dealing with an event whose audience participation is on real time, much more if it is televised with national or international viewership. Such is what had happened during the recently concluded Miss Universe when Miss Colombia was first announced as the Miss Universe when what was in the score card is Miss Philippines. Just a few minutes has passed, the emcee corrected but the damage had been done to both ladies as it created an intense awkwardness. The emcee apologized many times in various forums. But we can't stop people from talking about it even days after the event. A Family Feud host and three-time Daytime Emmy Award winner is someone whom we can't think of not committing mistakes but as the saying goes "nobody's perfect."
And for our own Miss Philippines, her journey to the Miss Universe is a story of determination as it took her three attempts before she won a beauty title. She could have stopped after the first, second attempt but she never settled for less because she believed she can dream bigger, and achieve.
As for Miss Colombia, according to Miss Universe judge Perez Hilton, "she is the most beautiful contestant, without question. But I don't think she deserves to win the title." And so why did he vote for Miss Philippines? Her character shone through. She is truly, like in her final answer, "confidently beautiful with a heart."
It is always the sharpest element that cuts the most precious diamond. In the international setting, Miss Philippines has a kind heart and spiritual wisdom that surpasses the test of character. She could have laughed frenziedly or stretched out her hands and shouted "Yes! Yes! Yes!!" but she waited patiently as the organizers tried to clear the confusion, and kept a respectful distance from Miss Colombia. She put her personal jubilation under control. Her grace and magnanimity in victory allowed her to feel complete compassion for a shamed colleague. Indeed, a Filipino virtue on full display that the entire universe has witnessed!