Behind the Spotlight

What it feels like to be in a Beauty Contest.

I never liked joining beauty contests. Never did, never will.

So when I was told that I’m going to join the very 1st Search for Miss San Beda Alabang, I wanted to dig a hole underneath me and hide forever. Exaggerated, I know. But you see I’m not the beauty pageant type of person. I would rather eat or hang out with my friends.

We had practices for one week. We rehearsed the opening number, presentation of our costumes, the talent portion, etc. Sir Deck was there for us all the way. Sometimes he would get mad at us for being pasaway but we admire his patience for teaching his knowledge especially at one thing he’s really good at - dancing.

I never imagined how ramping could be stressful. Doing the “catwalk” made me realize that even the job supermodels do is also stressful. I thought that all they even did was to walk around and strut their stuff. We had to practice everything– our walk, smile, and even the smallest details. That did not made me complain even though I felt weary for the whole week

You don't have to be a beauty queen to prove that your beautiful.

Because of the talent portion, I had to go through the kicks, punches and blocks again. The last time I practiced taekwondo was almost four years ago. I can’t sing or dance so what choice do I have but recall the sport that made me go crazy over martial arts. Even the idea of doing magic tricks even crossed my mind even if I don’t know how!

My parents were there for me during the pageant. My mom was very patient with me especially when I begun panicking backstage. It was hard since I’m not used to the pressure of dressing up quickly. I don’t have any make-up so that also triggered for me to lose my calm. Everything I did was new to me. A beauty competition is much more different than the sparring tournaments I joined before.

When a fellow candidate was asked if she agrees that beauty pageants exploit women, I wanted to answer that question. I would have answered that yes I think beauty pageants exploit women. I believe that a woman doesn’t have to join beauty contests just to prove she’s beautiful. I don’t see the need why women should swagger themselves to many people. Every woman could be beautiful even if she doesn’t take part in contests like these.
A true beautiful individual for me is a person with not just physical looks but with brains, talents and the most important thing of all – personality.

Of course, people could tell who’s the pretty and smart one among us and who’s talented from not. But could they tell who has the personality? Personality is one important factor that makes up a person. People see a totally different person on stage. How will they know who’s got the character? A pretty face and good grades are useless without PERSONALITY.

I wondered how my aunt who used to be Bb. Pilipinas Universe could have felt. She went through much stress than I did – she faced a bigger crowd, tougher judges and a larger venue… Mexico! After joining the pageant, I realized how much she went through. What I joined was just a beauty contest in my school, hers was Miss Universe!

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not regretting that I got into this pageant. In fact, I’m game with everything. For me it’s just for fun. I’m happy that I crossed paths and made friends with everyone, especially with Armay, Ingrid and Mary.

The First Search for Miss San Beda Alabang is a memorable event in my life. Not only it took place on my birthday, it was the first beauty pageant I joined (and it would also be the last).
After they announced the winner and when the judges came up to the stage to greet us, one judge told me, “You’re Binibining Pilipinas material.”

And boy, that made me laugh…