Beyond the Crown: 10 Inspiring Filipina Beauty Queens

7. Queen of Culture, Arts, and Beauty: Margie Moran Floirendo (1973)

via 3stoogiez

Maria Margarita “Margie” Moran, the second Filipina to win the Miss Universe contest, is a multi-awarded peace advocate for her efforts in Mindanao and currently the President of Ballet Philippines. Her answer in the Top 5 Q&A round of the 1973 Miss Universe pageant is regarded as one of the most honest responses in pageant history. When asked what she would do if she had one million dollars, she replied that she’d buy a house and lot because she couldn’t afford it and she’d “live in it…with other people, of course.” That answer just makes you wanna go awww.

Truly a beauty queen both inside and out, Margie has been active in social and civic works especially for promoting peace and livelihood as part of the Mindanao Commission on Women Organization. She is also an ambassador-trustee of Habitat for Humanity Philippines. Margie promotes arts and culture with Southern Philippines Foundation for the Arts, Culture, and Ecology and she runs the over-all operations of Ballet Philippines.

When she was a beauty pageant contestant undergoing a Q&A round, she said she’d use the hypothetical one million dollars to buy a house and lot she can’t afford. Now, this former beauty queen is building homes and livelihoods for others who can’t afford it. Again, awww.

6. Beauty and Brains: Shamcey Supsup (Miss Universe-Philippines, 2011)

If there is anyone quite fitting for being reputed as having beauty and brains,  it’s Shamcey Supsup. This Miss Universe 2011 3^rd runner-up obtained her Architecture degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Studious, highly intellectual, and hard working, she topped the June 2010 national examinations for architects with a score of 86.6%. The ever intelligent Shamcey has never broken her diligent student streak, having graduated a valedictorian in grade school and salutatorian in high school.

When she was three years old, she moved with her family to General Santos. She was raised primarily by her father while her mother worked overseas. Before moving to Manila to pursue collegiate studies, she helped out her father on a farm.

Since her life as a beauty queen, this expectant mother has ventured into hosting gigs and showbiz. Added to her stellar list of credentials is restaurateur. Shamcey and husband, Lloyd Lee recently launched their Filipino restaurant, Pedro N’ Coi, in Fisher Mall, QC. Shamcey is certainly the epitome of #BLESSED.

5. Sun-kissed Queen of Arts and Letters: Gemma Teresa Cruz-Araneta (Miss International, 1964)

via Missosology.info

Who knew that the Philippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal, would have a connection to contemporary beauty pageants? The paternal great-grandmother of Gemma Teresa Guerrero Cruz-Araneta, Miss International 1964, was Doña Maria Mercado, the sister of  José Rizal. To add to her noble lineage, her mother is journalist and historian Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, and her maternal uncle is diplomat, journalist, and historian León María Guerrero III. So it should come as no surprise that Gemma would later dabble in literature, culture, and politics.

Gemma claimed that no one expected her to win the pageant because, being a morena, she did not conform to the Filipino idea of of beauty. To echo the words of Carmen Nakpil in her memoirs regarding her daughter’s victory, viva la genta morena! (Long live the brown-skinned people!)

Gemma was not only the first Filipina to win Miss International (1964), but her victory was also the first time that the Philippines won an international title. She donated her US$10,000 prize money to Manila Boys Town and Girls Home, a place where indigent and out of school youth are housed. To date, Gemma has authored and co-authored six books on Philippine History and has a bi-weekly column editorial section in Manila Bulletin.

4. Ms. Major Major: Maria Venus Raj (Ms. Universe-Philippines, 2010)

Who can forget Venus Raj’s memorable answer in that Q&A portion? She may have faced a lot of criticisms and many claim that it was her response that cost her the crown. But this regal beauty created quite a stir with her answer and thus was born the major major catchphrase.

Tall, tan, young, and lovely, you just knew this woman was born to be a beauty queen. But her less-than-glamorous upbringing may tell you otherwise. Growing up with four other siblings and being raised by a single mother, Venus didn’t always have it easy.

As a young girl, she lived in a nipa hut made of wood, bamboo and anahaw leaves, in the middle of a rice field. She allegedly used rice paddy dikes for her early beauty queen training, eventually developing her signature walk at a young age. In her desire to alleviate her family’s poverty, she joined local beauty pageants and oratorical contests. She bought land on installment basis using the prize money she won in contests.

When she claimed the Ms. Universe-Philippines title, Venus’ eligibility to represent the country in the international competition was called into question because of inconsistencies in her birth certificate. Not backing down, this strong-willed hometown girl fought to defend her integrity. She became the first dethroned contestant to reclaim the crown. Atta girl!

Who are the other inspiring beauty queens? Find out on the next page.