Filipino beauty contestants are known in the international pageant arena for bringing not a few suitcases filled with an enormous amount of clothes, shoes and accessories, and Miss Universe Philippines Rachel Peters shared one of the reasons why this is so.
“We should always bring extra for the other girls who unfortunately do not have many gowns,” Peters told the Inquirer during her send-off press conference at the Novotel Manila-Araneta Center in Quezon City held earlier this November.
“I’m coming from the Philippines. I’m privileged to have so many people wanting to help me, and working with me to create the person that I am today, and the clothes I’m wearing,” she explained.
Not all countries are as passionate about pageants as the Philippines, that is why some delegates do not have as much support (and as many clothes) as Filipino candidates have, Rachel said.
Designer Val Taguba provided Rachel with several gown options for the competition. He also made the gold Vegas-themed, Sarimanok-inspired national costume that she paraded in the national costume competition.
Peters had all bases covered. Aside from her wardrobe, she also underwent a rigorous “pasarela” (pageant walk) session with her beauty camp “Kagandahang Flores” of pageant mentor Rodgil Flores, make up tutorials from Jelly Eugenio (who she said handles “big artistas”) and an intensive question-and-answer training from TV host Boy Abunda.
But for her, the most difficult part of her preparation was “staying in the right frame of mind all the time,” she shared.
“There are a lot of bashers on social media, and it’s difficult to ignore them because I get tagged in those posts,” Peters said, adding: “None really stuck to me. It makes me sad for a day, but the next day I’m okay.”
During the press conference, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) also sent off two of Rachel’s fellow queens who will be competing in the coming months, and welcomed two other ladies who garnered podium finishes in their respective international competitions.
Nelda Ibe finished second in the Miss Globe contest in Albania earlier this month, while Elizabeth Clenci placed third in the Miss Grand International tilt in Vietnam last month.
Two other Filipino queens from two other organizations bagged crowns afterwards – Miss Earth Karen Ibasco and Reina Hispanoamericana Teresita Ssen Winwyn Marquez.
“It makes me feel really proud. The girls have set the bar so high for us and that makes me wanna work even harder to do even better than I ever imagine I could. So, thank you to these girls for motivating and inspiring us,” said Peters.
Chanel Olive Thomas, who will compete in the Miss Supranational pageant in Poland on Dec. 1 (Dec. 2 in Manila), said: “I think this is the year of the Philippines yet again, right? I guess for all of us, we’re just gonna remain humble. We have a really amazing year, but that does not mean we have to slack off. We’re gonna work even harder.”
Katarina Rodriguez, who will participate in the Miss Intercontinental tilt in Egypt in December, shared the same sentiments.
“It makes me feel very proud of [Nelda and Elizabeth] who have gone first. They started a streak, and that makes me excited to be the last to compete,” she said.
Rachel will compete against over 90 international delegates in the Miss Universe pageant, which will be staged a The Axis theater of Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Nov. 26 (Nov. 27 in Manila). /atm
