One of the many things that Filipinos can look back and be thankful for in 2021 was how its pageantry delegates performed during the year. While COVID-19 may be considered as the great equalizer among nations over the past two years, the world of crowns and sashes still provided room for some healthy competition among beauty pageant followers—and, specifically, for the Filipinos, a venue to prove their global superiority.
All told, the Philippines won six beauty titles in 2021, five in women’s pageantry and one in a gay men’s competition. Among those who enriched the country’s crown collection last year were: Maureen Montagne, The Miss Globe 2021; Cinderella Obenita, Miss Intercontinental 2021; Alexandra Faith Garcia, Miss Aura International 2021; Samela Aubrey Godin, Miss Culture International 2021; Miriam Damoah, Miss Interglobal 2021; and Leonard Kodie Macayan, Mister Gay World 2020 (this edition was delayed and held October 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic).
On top of these victories, the country also stamped its supremacy in pageantry through the successful international campaigns of the first two queens of the Miss Universe Philippines Organization. With Rabiya Mateo finishing in the top 21 and Beatrice Luigi Gomez recently securing the country a top 5 slot in the 70th edition of the world’s most prestigious pageant, the nation’s 12-year Miss Universe semi-final streak remains uncut. Similarly, the Miss World Philippines Organization’s crowned ladies also gave the country a strong showing in their respective international competitions. Kelley Day emerged as Miss Eco-International First Runner-Up; Tatiana Austria grabbed the same honors in the teen edition of the same pageant; while Emmanuelle Vera landed as Third Runner-Up in the Latina-dominated Reina Hispano-Americana 2021 pageant. The Binibinis had their first major win early in the year, when Samantha Bernardo, gracefully sashayed and glided to the First Runner-Up post in the 2020 edition of Miss Grand International that was held in 2021. Not to be totally outshined, Naelah Alshorbaji’s best efforts landed her in the top 8 of the Miss Earth 2021 pageant’s virtual edition. In Miss Supranational 2021, Dindi Pajares’ charm and elegance were enough reasons for her to enter the top 12. Just before the year ended, Keith Petrasanta brought home the Miss South East Asia crown from the Miss Tourism International 2021 pageant.
This already impressive (and if I may add, still incomplete, because it does not include the winners of Mrs., Misters, Trans pageants) list of pageant accolades should explain why Pinoy fans are quick in tagging the country as the Powerhouse Country for Pageantry in 2021. While other countries may still want to challenge such a claim, The Thrillmaker just thought it would be fun to give away its own special pageantry awards for this year, focusing only on the major national pageants, their queens and candidates.
WASTED BEAUTIES OF THE YEAR:
Nominees:
From MUP: most people say all runners-up could have won the crown.
From BBP: Aya Abesamis (not able to compete internationally); Vickie Rushton (aged out); Meiji Cruz (should have won a crown); Justine Felizarta (shocking elimination from the first cut).
From MWP: Ganiel Krishnan (shocking final placement; should have won a crown)
WINNER: Vickie Rushton. We all felt sorry for her for people saw in Vickie the certainty of the country’s seventh Miss International crown.
DARK HORSE VICTORIES OF THE YEAR:
Nominees:
From MUP: Beatrice Luigi Gomez (most fans predicted her runners-up to win)
From BBP: Cinderella Obenita (no one really considered her a major threat until she opened her mouth in the final Q and A)
WINNER: Beatrice Luigi Gomez. Her performance and placement in Eilat, Israel was a big slap to bashers and haters who predicted she wouldn't even crack the semis.
MISS COVID-19 OF 2021 (The one who was most disadvantaged by the pandemic)
From BBP: Vickie Rushton (for having aged out because of BBP pageant postponements); Aya Abesamis (for having aged out because of MGI delays)
From MWP: Kelley Day (for having been infected with the virus during her Miss Eco-International competition); Rufa Nava (for being tested positive of COVID-19 before even departing for her Reinado Internacional del Café stint).
WINNER: Rufa Nava. (Now that’s heartbreaking!)
CRAMMING BEAUTY OF THE YEAR (the one given a short time to prepare for international competition)
From MUP: Beatrice Luigi Gomez (73 days)
From BBP: Samantha Bernardo (20 days)
From MWP: Emmanuelle Vera (9 days)
WINNER: Emmanuelle Vera. (Given an ordinary person’s standards, her time allotment wasn’t even enough to finish packing for travel clothing)
FROZEN DELIGHTS OF 2021
From BBP: Hannah Arnold (for still being left out in the cold, not knowing exactly when she’ll be able to compete in Miss International)
From WMP: Tracy Maureen Perez (for being sent back to the bench for some bench-warming time before she resumes in her Miss World journey)
"FPJ’S ANG PROBINSYANO" AWARD (for the longest-staged pageant, everyone thought there wouldn’t be any crowning moment this year!)
WINNER: Miss World Philippines 2021.
PROVINCE OF THE YEAR: (The province that scored the most wins)
WINNER: Cebu!!!! (What’s so special about their water there?)