What I Thought Before

I grew up into a family who's addicted to Beauty Pageants (My Mom is the ONE who's really addicted to beauty pageants; my big brother and my Father are just like semi-contemporaries of my Mom when it comes to this, I suppose). I grew up hearing my mom talking about how she loved Gloria Diaz’s Q&A Answer; Margarita Moran’s elegant looks; The Miss Universe 1974 that was held in the Philippines and how she fell in love with Amparo Munoz’s Barbie like looks when she saw her personally; When Evangeline Pascual placed as First-Runner Up to Marjorie Wallace of USA; About Melanie Marquez and her answer in the 1979 Miss International; How beautiful Armi Kuusela is; How she loved the Beautiful Faces of Venezuelan Beauty Queens; About Miriam Quiambao almost taking home the Miss Universe crown in 1999 and etc. I grew up hearing these things and at first, I find it funny to listen. I was like asking questions out of the box. If it was a food, it’s funny for my taste. I don’t understand why my Mom was putting too much importance into these beauty pageants, because for me then, I don’t see any reason why such importance and even at times, emotion, should be applied in beauty pageants. My mom will always answer me that they bring pride to our country, and in my very young age and innocent mind, I would answer back in my usual way and I answer that they don’t. For me then, it was just a series of walking down a stage, showing off amazing gowns and answering dumb questions they throw at you. My Mom, putting her hands down at times due to my hard-headedness, would always tell me that I was young and she wonders that unlike many girls in my age, I wasn’t that fascinated with such things at these. Until a turn of events made my belief change to what I believe right now.

I was 12 years old when I watched the Eight Edition of Miss Earth (2008). That time, Miss Karla Paula Henry represented Philippines. I like her not because of the pageant but because I got fascinated with her beauty. I can’t explain why but I suddenly felt fascination as well on the beauty pageant. When Miss Henry was announced as the Miss Earth 2008 I was jumping up and down. It was weird but I had a change of belief. There I realized that beauty pageants do bring pride in our country, most especially when our delegates place in either Top 16, Top 10 or even Top 5.

Starting from then on, I fell inlove with beauty pageants. Though I easily fell inlove with it, it really changed my belief. Every year, I always watch out for the Big Four Pageants. I surf the Internet occasionally to know information about the contestants or about the pageant that year. I shout and scream until I will almost lose my voice. I give so much emotion when my bet don’t win or even place. I also watch out for those new International Pageants that might be added to the Big Four Pageants (Someday, probably. It’s not anymore four; it might already be one of the Big Pageants :>). And secretly, I use it as an inspiration because one of my dreams is to be one of the winners of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International or Miss Earth. (I dream BIG after all)

So to those who don’t love beauty pageants (I bet there are some), It’s time. J