Filipina Celebrities who could've made us proud in the world of pageantry

1. Georgina Wilson

Gorgeous George

This woman not only has a flawless, angelic face, she's also incredibly smart. She studied Economics in Ateneo de Manila University and later transferred to the University of Sydney and graduated with a degree in Commerce with a double major in Accounting and Finance.

George Wilson. She would have given early 2000s Latinas a run for their money.

She's also Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz's niece, who we can only wish nagged her to join pageants. At 5'10, with her beauty, intelligence, sophistication and wit, she would have easily bagged Miss World and Miss International titles. Even during Trump era Miss Universe (1996-2014) where there was a strong preference for blonde bombshells and Latina Barbie prototypes, Georgina could have given Natalie Glebova and Stefania Fernandez a good fight. Georgina winning during her age of qualification - years 2004 to 2012 - could have ended the long drought for Filipina delegates in international pageantry earlier before Venus Raj in 2010.

Georgina is now 32 and a wife and mother. She preferred modelling, hosting and a little bit of local acting over trying Binibining Pilipinas. Whether it was the crazy pressure from being in everyone's dream candidate wish list, or if it was her socialite status she was protecting, George broke everyone's hearts when she turned 26 and did not audition for BBP in 2012.

2. Isabelle Daza

Georgina's cousin, and Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz's daughter, Isabelle has been on every Filipina pageant fan's watch list since she started modelling. At 5'7.5 and with a duskier, fiercer version of her gorgeous mother's face, it's long been expected that Belle would someday try repeating her mother's successful stint in the world of pageantry. 

Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Isabelle Diaz Daza in 2016

Like her cousin, Georgina, she shied away from pageantry and dabbled in acting and hosting. She even hosted Miss World Philippines 2011. During her launch as a local actress, she was asked questions about following her mom's footsteps, to which she replied that her mom tells her that one crown in the family is enough. She said she never dreamed about becoming a beauty queen and that there are way too many beautiful women for Binibining Pilipinas. She said if she joined and won, people might say she only won because she's the daughter of Gloria Diaz.

photo from her twitter account

Isabelle is now a wife and mother at 30 years old. I remember reading a magazine article where Gloria takes pride in her daughter's achievements in school and interest in basketball. Must be difficult having a Miss Universe for a mom. Seems Belle decided early on that she is going to be her own person. She could have been a strong contender during Jennifer Barrientos or Bianca Manalo's BBP seasons. Isabelle could have paved the way pre-Venus Raj for a string of consistent placements in Miss Universe.

3. Sarah Lahbati

I remember the first time I saw Sarah on TV. She was this tall, fresh-faced Moroccan-Filipina teenager from Switzerland who wowed the audition judges by introducing herself in French. It was a SHE'S GOING TO BE MISS UNIVERSE moment. I wasn't all that interested in pageantry back then, but that face, that body, that aura, heck she speaks French, English, Filipino, Arabic, German and Italian, dances, sings and plays the piano and guitar, she's well-traveled and cultured = MISS UNIVERSE!!! She's 5 freaking 10. She's evvvverything. (Now that I think of it, I should have written a separate post for this amazing woman!)

photo from Sarah Lahbati's instagram

She's still young and would have still been qualified to join pageants until 2020. The sad news is - and a lot of pageant fans still cry over this - she gave birth to a child with actor Richard Gutierrez in 2013 - she was 19. Pageant fans have been mourning for 5 years now. Both photos above are of a very pregnant Sarah Lahbati - the first one is a few days away from giving birth to her second child! Now if we can all look even half that gorgeous while pregnant.

She needs no crown.

She is an alumna of Starstruck - the same reality TV show that propelled Miss World 2013 Megan Young to Philippine showbiz. Her fiance is the brother of Miss World 1993 2nd Runner Up, Ruffa Gutierrez.

4. Kim Domingo

I know, I know. It's a lost cause. But for those who do not know: Kim qualifies age-wise (born 1995, she's currently 23), height-wise (she's 5'7), educational attainment-wise (she studied Dentistry), nationality-wise (though half French, she's born and raised here), obviously face-and-body-wise. Here's the deal breaker: early on in life, Kim decided to take the sexy star route. And we all know how that doesn't sit well with our national directors. 

Kim started modelling at an early age to help provide for her family. And because of her inherent beauty and sex appeal, she was thrust into the world of car show modelling. It's a shame she wasn't first spotted by a ramp or commercial modelling agent - she could've gotten the same amount of exposure and money, without consequentially getting disqualified from joining pageants (or Binibining Pilipinas at least). And hey, there's money to be made in pageantry. I know I'm not the only who thinks that face and body isn't for local tabloids only.

I mean, if a very young, raw, inexperienced girl like Janina San Miguel could be plucked from nowhere and be encouraged to join Binibining Pilipinas, why wasn't anyone there who could have done the same for Kim before she started doing car shows as a teenager? This world is truly unfair. It's years too late now, Kim has done way too many topless and skimpy shoots and videos, and while she now gets help in cleaning up her image, BBP will never overlook her past. She could have been a Mutya Datul or an Ahtisa Manalo. Imagine her all tanned and polished - imagine all that could have been.