The Philippines still has a couple of other girls to offer including the doll-like Francesca Taruc. Her anime-like eyes, porcelain skin, and youthfulness fit the mold. Even her smile and the shape of her face resemble former Asian winners and frontrunners Kevin Lilliana and Ahtisa Manalo. However, she's still no Vickie. I feel like she has to work on showing substance to make up for her current lack of engagement and presence. Maybe curating her IG can help exude some elegance and charisma. She has to be careful not to post photos of her in unflattering light and angles. Photos of her are hit or miss. Here's one that definitely hits the MI mark:
There's also Karen Laurie Mendoza, who interestingly, also resembles former MI winners, Bea Rose Santiago, Mariem Velazco, and Edymar Martinez. She's the closest to Vickie's ethereal flawlessness. But there's a catch: Karen is too supermodel, too fierce, too game face to be Miss International. She should smile more, but her smile can still look more Miss Universe, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International than Miss International. MI wants soft, delicate, youthful, unassuming, friendly, charming. Karen needs to work on that. Maybe lighten up the brows a bit? Make the skin brighter, minimize the tan, I don't know, maybe lighten up the hair? Wear more white and pastels? Get Vickie's makeup artist? Gain 5 lbs to soften the angles a bit?
We also have Hannah Arnold. Personality-wise, she's very Miss International: soft-spoken, shy, bubbly, youthful, sweet and endearing. She has the MI charm down pat. Her calm demeanor, unimposing aura, and kind eyes are all reminiscent of past winners Lara Quigaman and Fernanda Cornejo. The most recent winner, Sireethorn Leearamwat, is very much like Hannah as well, seemingly unsure of herself and yet so princess-like. Unlike Vickie, though, Hannah is still every inch a pageant ingenue. She seems to not understand that pageants are not fairy tales, there's politics, marketing, a whole lot of body work, incessant mental and physical training, social media and traditional media campaigns, etc. I'm not saying Hannah is not working hard. I'm saying she needs a solid, experienced team who will guide her and give her all the inside info needed in order to win. But who knows, right? She might just pull off a Bint Sireethorn.
Other girls vying for the top crown, but does not fit the fairy tale Disney princess MI template are: Gabby Basiano (too top model, better suited for Miss Supranational or Miss Earth); Maureen Montagne (undeniably sexy, better suited for Miss Grand International or Miss Universe); Patricia Babista (too inexperienced, but looks perfect for Miss World.)
At the end of the day, the pageant world still weeps for Vickie Rushton. There's just no replacing her.
Binibini will stage its finals night on April 17, 2021. And until then pageant fans will hope for stars to align for Vickie the way they did for Samantha Bernardo.
Looking back, these two girls should have been given their chances the first time they joined. Or the second time.
Binibining Pilipinas 2018 winners line up should have been:
- BBP Universe - Catriona Gray
- BBP International - Vickie Rushton (Reserve Ahtisa Manalo for 2019)
- BBP Supranational - Someone that fits the Supranational prototype (Jehza is a sentimental favorite, but is too short for MS)
- BBP Grand International - Samantha Bernardo (Eva Patalinjug as Face of Binibini is a good enough award for her performance already)
- BBP Intercontinental - Karen Gallman
- BBP Globe - Someone that fits the Globe prototype (Michelle's beauty and overall packaging is strictly for MU as only MU celebrates unconventional beauty)
- 1st runner up - Michelle Gumabao
- 2nd runner up - Jehza Huelar
- BBP Universe - Patch Magtanong (Could have placed at least in top 5 MU)
- BBP International - Ahtisa Manalo / Emma Tiglao (Ahtisa could have won MI 2019)
- BBP Supranational - Isabela Galeria / April May Short (Resham was just not the right beauty and body type for MS)
- BBP Grand International - Gazini Ganados (Could have won a back to back with SamBer)
- BBP Intercontinental - Leren Mae Bautista
- BBP Globe - Aya Abesamis (Could have won since the Miss Globe org apparently likes her)
- 1st Runner up - Resham Saeed
- 2nd Runner up - Hannah Arnold
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