What Makes Miss Bikini Philippines different?
By Bibsy M. Carballo (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - Next to becoming an artista, a young girl dreams of becoming a beauty queen. Why do you think there is a proliferation of beauty pageants from the barangay level to the iconic Binibining Pilipinas? It is because it has been part of our culture through the decades with every neighborhood helping to equip the prettiest child to eventually become Reyna Elena at the Santacruzan someday.
We attended the media launch of Slimmers World Miss Bikini Philippines 2011, confronted by a bevy of 27 candidates while the TV and print media elbowed one another for the best spot in the house during the bikini portion, after which the photographers quickly disappeared. Pulchritude, after all, is what matters in a liberated and highly visual world.
So what was there to differentiate this pageant from the others? Of course there is their mission — The Binibining Pilipinas Charities for funding orphanages and the indigents of society; Miss Earth in institutionalizing environmental concerns; Slimmers Miss Bikini for health, fitness, and beauty. Otherwise, the methodology is all the same. Candidates move easily from one pageant to the next, until they reach their goal. We agree there is really nothing that can give one more confidence, derring-do, discipline, the qualities of patience and understanding than participation in a beauty pageant. It is a humbling process, difficult for the candidate as much as for the organizer.
Slimmers World has been the leader in the health and fitness department in Asia for 33 years. Our introduction to its philosophy came 10 years ago when Jackielou Blanco, our talent then, won the Ms. Great Bodies competition of Slimmers in 2001. She must have been among the first from showbiz then to join such a competition and her participation opened the doors to a whole lot of women and men (The Mr. Great Bodies component) to be conscious of healthy bodies. To this day, the Great Bodies competition remains attracting staunch supporters of the strong and beautiful (opposed to sexy?) bodies.
We turn to Michelle Sadiasa, Slimmers senior marketing and events executive for assistance to get an inside view of Miss Bikini. “Miss Bikini’s goal,” she says, “is to preach to the younger generation the importance of having a healthy and fit lifestyle.” And being slim, healthy, fit, and beautiful make one reach these goals. On the other hand, Great Bodies showcases the achievements of Slimmers World International, Michelle continues. Without her spelling it out, obviously beauty is not a big factor with Great Bodies. We guess Jackielou just happened to be beautiful which is why she stirred so much commotion.
Candidates to Miss Bikini must be 18 to 25 years old, single, never married nor given birth, at least 5’6” in height, a Filipino citizen. Prize money is P500,000 in cash, and various other goodies from sponsors, plus the chance to represent the country in the Miss Bikini International pageant in China on August 2011. April 12’s coronation night at Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila will have finalists in National Costume, Long Gown, Talent Competition and Bikini category. If this will mean an end of stress for the aspirants, it will also end months of teaching discipline, values, respect for one another on the side of the trainers.
We sought out Cebuana Princess Angela Abella, nursing graduate and 2010 winner. She told us “Winning has changed my lifestyle. I was shy, not confident of my body. I have changed completely socially, mentally and physically.” However, having enjoyed the lessons taught by her year’s reign tremendously, she will join another pageant for another crack at representing the country abroad.
The girls are well aware of the challenges and intrigues that face them. Backtracking into Miss Bikini Philippines history, Michelle singles out several names involved in big and small challenges. Nadine Ignacio, purportedly Willie Revillame’s girlfriend and Erika Padilla were batchmates entering Miss Bikini Philippines 2008. Erika was No. 18, Nadine No. 19 and both guested in Wowowee where apparently the gossip started. It does seem credible that Willie gifted Nadine with a designer gown and pendant, and invited her family to stay overnight at his home in Tagaytay Highlands but nothing came of it.
Her batchmate Erika Padilla was luckier. An Ateneo political science graduate, she was among Metro Magazine’s Top 10 models, chosen Miss Photogenic at Miss Bikini, and now is Miriam in Imortal. 2009 Miss Bikini candidate Ella Castillo won Miss Global Teen Philippines in 2010, and is now part of The Price is Right.
Roxane Cabanero is the latest of the controversial dismissed contestants in the upcoming Binibining Pilipinas 2011 pageant. Nudity was the reason for their dismissal although Roxanne denied the charges. In 2009, this same Roxanne had joined Miss Bikini winning Miss Congeniality, reports Michelle.
After the media launch we found out that No. 7 candidate Lady Ruiz had fainted because she was not eating right (possibly dieting), coupled with lack of sleep and stress. The management wanted to terminate her for not living up to the Slimmer’s World philosophy. At press time, we found out from Michelle that management decided to give Lady another chance.
The present Miss Bikini competition has also dismissed two of its finalists, one for being underage at 15 years, and another for needing to leave the country during the finals. We ask Michelle then why they were so strict on age but seemed to ignore the height requirement of 5’6” with one we noticed at 5’4”. Michelle explains they give special consideration to those who are very qualified candidates.
We zeroed in on stunner No. 6 April Jane Panugaling from Cebu and asked her how she intended to improve herself in the coming days. She answered in what sounded like a memorized English spiel. We move on to statuesque 5’11” No. 22 Unique Fadul from Paete, Laguna who is joining Fashion Week this year. Both stammered through stilted English. Their faces brightened up when we asked if they would like to speak in Tagalog or Bisaya if they make it to the International competition. “Dapat maging proud tayo with what we have,” affirms Unique with April beaming wholeheartedly. “Siyempre gusto ko mag-Bisaya para I can express yung gusto ko at masabi ko ng tama.” Besides, clarifies Unique, they do have translators don’t they? This is exactly what we have felt strongly about for quite some time. If Slimmers World Miss Bikini Philippines 2011 manages to deliver her answers in a Filipino dialect this coming August, it would be an innovation of which every Filipino will be proud.
Slimmers World Int'l Miss Bikini Philippines Princess Abella ready to shine in Miss Bikini International 2010 in Beijing & Sanya, China.
Princess Angela Abella, the radiant crown holder of Slimmers World International’s 2010 MISS BIKINI PHILIPPINES, takes the stage once more, competing in Miss Bikini International 2010 in Beijing, China from May 15 to June 1, 2010.
Miss Abella, a print and ramp model from Cebu City, stands as one of the most luminous of title holders of Miss Bikini Philippines. Now she is stepping up, ready to outshine more than 70 other delegates for the Miss Bikini International title.
Established in 1972, Miss Bikini International traces its roots as a local beauty contest. Over the years it evolved into one of the more prestigious pageants, founded on values beyond the appreciation of beauty, including friendship among countries and the promotion of world peace.
Miss Abella will compete in several categories along with the title of Miss Bikini International. The categories include Best in National Costume, Best in Evening Gown, and the Talent Competition.
An exemplary representative of Slimmers World International, Miss Abella, once more, represents the Philippines at its most beautiful. Slimmers World International and the entire country wishes Miss Princess Abella the best of luck in bringing home the crown of MISS BIKINI INTERNATIONAL 2010!!!
What?! Another wardrobe malfunction?
STAR BYTES By Butch Francisco (The Philippine Star) Updated April 24, 2010 12:00 AM
Last year’s Miss Bikini Philippines competition yielded such promising hopefuls that some of the contestants were again drafted to enter other beauty pageants this 2010.
Ella Castillo, an Alma Concepcion look-alike, who was a finalist in the 2009 Miss Bikini contest, tried her luck in the recent Binibining Pilipinas (the one with the controversial Venus Raj) and ended up in the Top 10 — not bad since Stella Marquez had a good harvest of candidates this year and the competition was tougher than usual.
In the Miss Earth Philippines pageant scheduled tonight, the winner of last year’s Miss Bikini Philippines-International, Kimberly Brandon, is said to be among the favorites to win the crown (another one in her growing collection of beauty titles).
When she returns to relinquish her duties as Miss Bikini Philippines on May 1 at the Aliw Theater, I’m sure she will heave a sigh of relief because she doesn’t have to compete on that stage. The arena this time will have shapelier bodies and more beautiful faces compared to last year and even in 2008 when this Slimmers World International-sponsored pageant began (no offense meant to previous batches).
This year’s candidates — 24 in all — were introduced to the press last Wednesday evening in a pre-pageant presentation held at the theater of the RCBC Plaza. (The winner on coronation night will be sent to the Miss Bikini International contest to be held later this year either in China or Vietnam.)
Looking at the contestants parading in their two-piece swimsuits, you notice that there are some who resemble movie stars. One looks like Glaiza de Castro, but slightly taller.
Why, there’s even a Pinay version of Debbie Reynolds, but who in this generation knows her? Okay, she’s the mother of Carrie Fisher. I hope the name already sounds familiar to today’s youth.
Oh, and how can I forget the Angelica Jones dead-ringer? There’s nothing wrong with that. Angelica is very pretty and sexy — and so is this Miss Bikini Philippines contestant. But I didn’t say that this bet sounded like the controversial entertainment personality, who once declared on television (in my old show in ABS-CBN) that: “I am not a GR.”
Most of the Miss Bikini Philippines candidates this year actually speak well (which speaks well of what’s in their head). During the introduction and even in the interview portion, there were no fumbles that all of us love to see in beauty pageants.
Some of the girls even traded jokes with the hosts for that evening, disc jockeys Sheryll Crystal and Christian “Slyde” Ardiente.
The proceedings went very well (I had fun, especially since I had a reunion that night with Nelson Canlas, who was once head writer for Startalk) and the evening concluded without a glitch — save for one incident: Another wardrobe malfunction.
In the talent portion, a delicate area of the participant’s upper body partly slid out of her top while doing her dance number. To the organizers’ relief, she was wearing what wardrobe experts now call “niplets.” It turned out that Slimmers World International vice president Helen Camacho had a sixth sense that this may happen and instructed all the contestants to put on these safety devices. Such wisdom.
If ever anything comes out on the Internet, I have to say this early that this picture was photo-shopped because we were there as witnesses — and we were in the front row. The contestant had that “covering” when that happened. Whew!
Ms. Camacho surely must have heard about the Anne Curtis incident — and poor Anne, she suffered from the meanness of some people who posted that picture on the Internet without thinking that they, too, have females among their family members.
Fortunately, something positive could still come out of the worst scenario in life: Anne’s experience served as lesson to a lot of young women today — they now all wear protection. And they have to thank Anne Curtis for this.
Don’t worry, Anne. We all know it was an accident and in spite of what happened we will always look at you with utmost respect.
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT MISS BIKINI PHILIPPINES?
Summer is about to sizzle as Slimmers World International answers the season's hottest question, "Who will be Miss Bikini Philippines 2010?"
Recently, Slimmers World International unveils the 26 candidates for Miss Bikini Philippines 2010. They are: Rinalyn Santos of Olongapo and Aiza Faeldonia of Koronadal representing Slimmers World Caloocan, Amara Sangria from Imus and Karen Dela Paz from Antipolo representing Slimmers World Alabang, Paula Cusipag from Parañaque and Rhoane Aguilar from Bacoor representing Slimmers World Greenhills, Tey Empeño and Iya Ramos both from Olongapo represent Subic Center, Carolyn Fuerte from Makati and Betsy Naluz from Parañaque representing Slimmers World Trafalgar, Princess Abella of Cebu and Sharla O'Hara of Antipolo represent Slimmers World Legaspi, Karvina Li of Binondo and Elvira Hernaez of Davao City represent Slimmers World Binondo, Rochelle Saavedra from La Union and Aliza Yamamiya from Baguio City represent Slimmers World Adriatico, Kristine Ladera from Taguig and Gaydra Rama from General Santos City representing Slimmers World Pasay Road, Andrea Marquez from Davao and Sheryl Dan of Antipolo representing Slimmers World Megamall, Abigail Ho and Heide Ronato from La Union representing Pasig Center, Suzie Brown from Davao and Iro Reyes of San Mateo Rizal represent Slimmers World SM City and Pearlyn Hortelano and Roxanne Acosta of Cebu City represent Slimmers World Cebu.
For the past few days, the candidates have been making the rounds, engaging in the rehearsals for Talent Competition, Creative Posing and Press Launch, made appearances in media, malls and the Slimmers World centers.
Each candidate takes center stage as the brightest in Slimming, Health, Fitness and Beauty. Each one has the opportunity to shine the brightest in both national and international pageants. See who will take the titles. Find out on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
Get your free tickets now, call: Hotline: (02)536 3333 / (02)525 8771 Mobile: 091 SLIMMERS or visit Miss Bikini Philippines Site for further details.
Everyone is invited to see the biggest bikini event in
the country, Slimmers World Internationals Miss Bikini Philippines 2009.
For further information call: Hotline: 536-3333 / 525-8771 Mobile: 091
SLIMMERS Fax: 522 1879 or visit www.missbikiniphilippines.com.ph.
For more information, you may call the SLIMMERS WORLD HOTLINE NUMBERS
at 536-3333 or 525-8771 MOBILE: 091-SLIMMERS FAX: 522-1879