Life begins at 60 for Classic Mrs. Asia Int'l 2023 winner from Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU, Philippines — When Aniana Boliche Saunders was in Bangkok, Thailand to represent the Philippines at the Classic Mrs. Asia International 2023 pageant, organizers informed her at the last minute that there was a talent round.

“So I removed the Sto. Niño from my traditional costume, found a dress, then researched the Sinulog dance of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia,” the 60-year-old businesswoman from Lapu-Lapu City said.

“We didn't have time to practice, not even for 30 minutes or one hour. But I told Sto. Niño that ‘I never danced [with you], not even once. But bear with me, I will show you to the world that you are the most powerful.'”

Despite little preparation, Saunders made it to the top three in the talent competition.

She was also awarded Best in Traditional Costume for her ensemble that weighed 16 kilos, and which also included a Sto. Niño image.

Best of all, she won the main title of Classic Mrs. Asia International 2023 during the December 4 finals, besting over 22 candidates aged 45-60 years old.

Saunders shared that during the close-door interview, finalists were asked what they would bring back to the country after the competition.

“I answered, of course, the crown for my country and my family. After that, I will work as a motivator and speaker of our international businesses,” she said.

- From 16 to 60 -

Saunders was only 16 years old when she joined a pageant in her hometown of Iligan City.

Formerly a nurse, Saunders became a self-made millionaire at the age of 29 when she was a tupperware distributor in Pagadian City. It was when she was promoted as National Business Development Director that she moved to Cebu.

She later on became the Vice President of the Philippine Educational Trust and Pension Plan before moving to LifeWave as an International Business Developer and Senior Director.

Forty-four years after her first pageant stint, the national director of Mrs. Asia International Philippines, Aida Patana, gave the Iliganon an opportunity to represent the country in a beauty tilt because of how much she took care of her employees, as well as for her notable work in the Rotary.

Patana explained, “She has the quality we are looking for because she is beautiful inside out. She helped a lot of people so that’s why I selected her as my candidate.”

Saunders was initially hesitant to join because of her age.

“If I am a negative person, I would think that, ‘Oh, she is 60 years old. Why is she joining a beauty pageant?’ But I have a positive mental attitude, so I thought I should try,” said Saunders, whose Australian husband, Michael, likewise pushed her to take the big leap.

In the end, she only received positive feedback.

- Love at 60 -

Saunders met her husband online when Michael was looking for properties in Cebu.  They exchanged professional communications about one of the properties, before their interaction progresssed to romantic territory.

“We talked almost every day. We went from texting and calling about real estate to getting to know each other through video calls. We weren’t looking for marriage at first, but we were so drawn to each other,” Michael, 71, said.

Not long after, they met each other in Cebu, which Michael described as as a “mixture of happiness and sadness” because her mother had just passed away.

The couple is now nine years strong, and counting.

“Michael told my eldest son that he would take care of me for life. He said that on our second month together,” Saunders recalled.

One son now lives in New Zealand, while the other is in the process of moving to Dubai.

As Michael was encouraging his wife to join, he was amazed by the passion that Filipinos have for pageants.

“I saw the significance in the enthusiasm and what it means to be part of one. It’s a very esteemed thing and you work hard to achieve a goal when people hold pageants at such a high value,” he said.

- Health and wellness -

Saunders said that she learned the most about discipline during the competition.

“You have to listen carefully and follow instructions. Read everything in the group chat and don’t ask questions because it’s already there. You must be attentive. Manage your time, don't let time manage you.”

With her title, Saunders plans to promote health and wellness to senior citizens in Cebu by tapping leaders from local communities, as well as continuing her activities as a Rotarian.