After an absence of seven years, Miss Teen Philippines made quite a comeback to the national beauty pageant circuit.

At the Grand Pageant Night on May 31 at Philippine International Convention Center, Reissha Nicole Magadia took home the crown as Miss Teen Philippines 2014.

Apart from being a student of St. John’s Wort Montessori International School in Antipolo City, the 15-year-old is now the Department of Education’s Ambassador for Education and a member of the Philippine Delegation to the Southeast Asian Youth Program and the National Youth Parliament team.

With its objective of promoting education for global readiness, Miss Teen Philippines 2014 is honing its 40 candidates to inspire

t0606y-krista_feat5_2 — IVORY Claire Dequilla from Mlang National High School,North Cotabato, in a teal gown by Martin Bautista

the youth to value education.

The coronation night was a spectacular event of sparkling lights, pink pageantry and youthful beauty.

How to wear a gown

As the 40 candidates strutted their way down the Miss Teen Philippines stage, 2bU spotted a few favorites for the night’s best-dressed.

For teens everywhere, donning a gown worthy of double takes is an opportunity that must be grabbed as soon as it arrives. But to be the star of the night on special occasions like prom, you must keep a few tricks up your sleeve when picking the perfect dress to wear.

t0606y-krista_feat5_3 — CLAIRE Trinidad of University of the PhilippinesManila, from Iriga City, Camarines Sur, in a pale blue gown by Bautista

First off, try, try, try until you find the perfect gown. Never give up. Try on dresses in a variety of different styles and cuts to find the one that works best for your body. If you have a slim figure, you may look best in a dress that shows off your silhouette. If you are curvy, you may want to opt for an A-line dress that will highlight your waist and minimize your lower body.

Once you have narrowed down your choices to one particular style, try it on in different colors and finishes. Pick a shade that complements your skin tone. When choosing a fabric finish, keep in mind that shinier finishes will tend to show off figure flaws, while matte finishes will obscure undesirable features.

Likewise, choose a dress that is age-appropriate—one that would highlight elegance and youth. But most importantly, just be yourself. At the end of the day, you are dressing up to make yourself feel beautiful inside and out. So, let your true self shine through your dress, and make sure you are comfortable enough to dance the night away.