Mindanao, The Land of Promise of the Philippines can claim that Mindanaoans are beautiful and can compete internationally especially in pageants.
Beauty pageants are some of the Filipinos’ favorite pastimes. Each region has its own contest to bring out the beauty and intelligence of its women, to be pitted against all the other regions, like in a national competition such as the Binibining Pilipinas. Mindanao has its fair share of the archipelago’s beauties. Here are 9 beauty queens that make a strong case for Mindanao:
1) Maria Margarita Moran, Ms. Universe 1973
Ms. Universe 1973 Maria Margarita Moran married a businessman from Mindanao Tony Boy Floirendo. She’s not born in The Land of Promise but after her marriage she adopted the land and became advocate for tourism, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and promoting peace throughout Mindanao. She is the president of Ballet Philippines.
2) Maria Caroline “Maricar” de Vera Mendoza, Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1981
This lovely Filipina was born in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
3) Maria Isabel Pagunsan Lopez, Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1982
Maria Isabel Lopez is pride of the Kagay-anons, she was born in Cagayan de Oro and she is also a multi-awarded television actress. Aside on her achievement she is also a Fine Arts Graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman and is a member of the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and Arts), where was Secretary of the Committee on Visual Arts for the year 2011-2013.
4) Elizabeth Garcia Berroya, Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1992
Liza Berroya is also a pride of Kagay-anons, she worked as a newscaster with ANC Channel 21 after the fame she received and married to Dennis Salud in 2001.
5) Lia Andrea Ramos, Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2006
No one could be more proud of Davao City’s Lia Ramos than the Davaoeños when she won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title in 2006. She also won the Ms. Photogenic special award of the same pageant. She is a Political Science graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman and is currently the Founder/CEO of Glamourbox, Inc., a Philippines-based beauty and cosmetics retailer.
6) Nadia Lee Cien Shami, Binibining Pilipinas International 2007
Nadia hails from North Cotabato. After winning the crown in 2007, she went home to Mindanao and finished her studies at the Ateneo de Davao University. She hosted a segment of the local telemagazine program, MagTv Na, Sadya Ta and is now the Assistant Marketing Manager for Visayas-Mindanao of Krispy Kreme. Nadia also won Ms. Philippines Air 2005 (first runner up of Ms. Philippines Earth 2005).
7) Shamcey Gurrea Supsup, Binibining Pilipinas 2011 and 3rd runner-up Miss Universe
Shamcey hails from General Santos City. She topped the board examination for architects in June 2011 with a board rating of 86.60%. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Shamcey married businessman Lloyd Lee in 2013.
8) Lourenz Grace Salibay Remetillo, Ms. Supranational Philippines and Supranational
Born in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Lourenz Remetillo holds the distinction of being the first Ms. Supranational Philippines, then later on as Ms. Supranational.
9) Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa Ms. Universe-Philippines
MJ is the perfect example of perseverance. After she failed to get the Binibining Universe crown in two tries, her patience and hard work paid off when she won the crown in 2014. Mj is the daughter of Arabian Saud Al-Shabrami and Filipina Marites Lastimosa. This 5’7” stunner also won the Mutya ng Davao in 2008 then Reyna ng Aliwan 2008. Mj was also Mutya ng UM (University of Mindanao) in 2006.
10) Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
After 42 years of attempting to win the Miss Universe crown again, Pia Wurtzbach brought so much pride to the Philippines after besting other contestants in the recently concluded pageant.
Though with a German surname and born in Germany, Pia is a proud Pinay. She represented her second home, Cagayan de Oro, during the Bb. Pilipinas 2015 pageant.
Source: choosephilippines.com