TV personality and former beauty queen Charlene Gonzales has lauded Miss Universe-Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina for representing the country well amid the pressure and criticisms being hurled against her.

Gonzales, who represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe 1994 pageant in Manila, said competing in one’s homeland was not an easy task. Like Medina, Gonzales also landed in the Top 6 of the pageant, which crowned Sushmita Sen of India as winner.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP6ekcQhBU5/

“We are proud of u. It is not easy to be representing your country. Especially, when the pageant is held in your homeland. The pressure is immense. Victories and defeats are magnified. I commend you Maxine for being a strong woman & for pushing forward despite the pressure & challenges being thrown your way,” Gonzales wrote in an Instagram post.

“That for me shows strength, character and true attributes of a queen. Us Filipinos are ‘one’ in supporting you. Here’s looking to an exciting future ahead as an abundance of blessings awaits you. Again, we are proud of you and congratulations,” she added.

Medina finished in the Top 6 of the competition, bowing out after the question and answer portion. Iris Mittenaere of France was eventually crowned Miss Universe, succeeding the Philippines’ own Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPwJ7rUhGhf/

Gonzales was not able to watch the pageant live in the Philippines as she was abroad.

Days before the coronation event, Gonzales also took to Instagram to express her support to Medina.

“Maxine is a beautiful girl and this is her moment to shine. I look forward to meeting her someday and would love to exchange stories of the experience she went through and is going through as our host candidate for the Miss Universe. We both had been given the honor and privilege to represent our country in our home town and that is a gift that we both will forever cherish ,appreciate and be grateful for,” she said. JE