PAGEANTRY isn’t just about beauty and glory, it is also about causes which utilize the winners’ amplified voices.
Through the years, the world has seen countless beauty queens talk about their areas of empowerment and causes close to their hearts. Along with wearing their crowns, titleholders are expected to champion advocacies which they uphold even after their reign ends.
Let’s look back at some of the most prominent Filipina beauty queens and the advocacies they fought for.
- Pia Wurtzbach
Image via @piawurtzbach
From 1973, the Philippines endured a long wait until another Filipina emerged victorious in the Miss Universe pageant. In 2015, the entire Filipino nation was overjoyed when Pia Wurtzbach’s win ended the country’s 42-year victory drought.
But her triumph didn’t come easy. Wurtzbach, who was then a struggling actress, lost in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant before she snagged the title on her third try.
The then 26-year-old beauty queen impressed the universe with her impeccable answer when asked why she should be crowned.
She said: “To be a Miss Universe is both an honor and a responsibility. If I were to be Miss Universe. I will use my voice to influence the youth and I would raise awareness to certain causes like HIV awareness that is timely and relevant to my country which is the Philippines. I want to show the world, the universe rather, that I am confidently beautiful with a heart. Thank you!”
Her answer underscored the fact that she is a staunch advocate of HIV awareness and LGBTQIA+ community rights.
In fact, she often speaks for HIV/AIDS charity groups UNAIDS Asia-Pacific and LoveYourself Philippines.
- Catriona Gray
Image via @Catriona Gray Facebook
The Philippines had to wait for another four years since Wurtzbach’s victory before another outstanding Filipina brought the Miss Universe crown back home again.
In 2018, Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe in Thailand. Just like Wurtzbach, Filipinos had a strong feeling that she would win.
She is a total standout and had a seamless entry into every cut. Then came the question and answer portion, and Gray sure kept up with Wurtzbach.
She was asked “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?”
Her answer: “I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila, and the life there is poor and it’s very sad. And I have always taught myself to look for the beauty in it, to look in the beauty in the faces of the children and to be grateful. And I will bring this aspect as a Miss Universe, to see situations with a silver lining. And to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. And if I can teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity cannot grow and prosper, and children will have smiles on their faces.”
As can be seen in her previous works and speeches, Gray has advocated for women’s rights, indigenous culture and HIV/AIDS awareness. In fact, Gray and Wurtzbach have collaborated to amplify awareness on the disease and help for patients.
- Megan Young
Image via @worldprettyfaces Instagram
Megan Young goes down in history as the first ever Filipina to win the Miss World crown.
She was asked: “Why should you be Miss World?”
She answered: “I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides people why they act the way they do. I will use this to show other people how they can understand each other … as one, we can help society.”
Apart from her historic win, she took on a new role, being a “beauty with a purpose.”
Her beauty advocacy has since become a running mantra for other Filipinos.
- Kylie Versoza
Kylie Versosa brought pride to the country when she won the country’s sixth Miss International crown in 2016.
She is among the celebrities who staunchly advocate for mental health awareness.
Having been through depression and anxiety herself, Kylie purposefully talks about the subject and how to seek help for it in her tours in and out of the country. She also encourages people to discuss mental health issues and to make more resources available to address these.
- Beatrice Luigi Gomez
Image via @allforbeatrice Instagram
Even if she failed to bring home what could have been the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown, Beatrice Luigi Gomez still had an impressive feat with her Top 5 finish.
She is the first open and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community to win Miss Universe Philippines, and this was also seen as a victory for the community. She used her voice to advocate for equality and anti-discrimination initiatives for the sector.
But aside from raising the rainbow flag, she also pushed for youth empowerment for children in conflict with the law and victims of armed conflict. These children are victims and should receive guidance, she said in a 2021 interview.
