Exactly two weeks before its much-anticipated conclusion, this year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant has many fans glued to their computer and cellphone screens following every event and activity it has staged leading to the final competition by month’s end.
Almost all are in agreement that this year’s contest is a special one since it has drawn participation from the country’s beauty goddesses who are trying to snatch one of only four titles at stake: Binibining Pilipinas-International; Binibining Pilipinas-Grand International; Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental; and Binibining Pilipinas-Globe. With recognized names in pageantry throwing their hats into the ring for this year’s battle royale, fans are awaiting a bloodbath of a competition come coronation night. Amidst all the noise coming from this year’s competition, what’s turning out to be the loudest and most impactful is the participation of comedienne Herlene Nicole Budol, whose TV persona is named after one of the bountiful creatures of the sea. Already a popular television personality who has given people a lot of laughs because of her wild antics and “unconventional” beauty she is the first one to give herself her own showbiz monicker of “Hipon” (or shrimp), whose body is eaten and whose head is often discarded and/or thrown away.
After getting a minor nose job, taking her braces off and getting much-needed coaching on pageantry from her team, the shrimp has transformed into Nicole, a stunner whose fanbase has grown over the past few months.
A reliable pageant source believes these are enough qualities for the TV personality to assure herself to go far into the competition.
From a field of 40, this year’s first cut will trim the ladies down to a top 16, which, the pageant source believes, should be an easy feat for Nicole.
“Top 16 is a certainty. Ang laki ng transformation. She is stunning, tall, and with a great figure. Her face is now “pang-beauty queen.” You can see that she’s really been working hard for it. She’ll definitely be rewarded for it. She even has a very, very good chance of bagging a crown.”
At 5’9, the Angono, Rizal representative has been proving to fans that she’s got the goods in her recent exposures in the pageant’s mini-competitions. She recently wowed the audience by singing and dancing to her own composition “Gandang Hipon,” during the Binibining Pilipinas Talent Show. She showed off her killer pasarela in a press launch where the candidates were asked to don their swimsuits. Over the weekend, she awed fans once again with her Higantes-inspired costume during the on-stage national costume parade.
“She is really crown worthy,” says the pageant source.
Then again, even if she does make it to the top 16, will she be able to deliver in the question-and-answer round where most candidates, even experienced ones, usually falter? The pageant source is confident with Nicole’s capability to do well even in that round: “Yes, maririnig natin sya, for sure, sa Q-and-A. We all know na much awaited ang Q-and-A for her. She will be able to deliver. She easily understands questions in English, and she usually has very good thoughts about issues.”
While it took a lot of convincing to make her join the pageant at first, because of her previous heartbreaking experiences in pageantry, she finally made a decision to join Binibining Pilipinas only last February. Nicole’s decision was anchored on the premise that this will be her last shot in pageantry, so she’ll definitely make the most of it. Her priorities after Binibini will once again be show business and providing for her family.
While now getting massive support from fans, especially on social media, Nicole is keeping her eyes locked on the Binibining Pilipinas Grand International title. In a recent interview, Miss Grand International President Nawat Itsaragisil said he wants to crown someone who has a strong social media presence. While her social media following is an obvious strength, it has, in some parts of the pageant, also affected Nicole in a rather negative way. Two cases come to mind. First, was her showing off her comedienne side during the pageant’s Santacruzan event around the Araneta Center.
“That incident taught Nicole to tone down her act,” admits the source. “Her actions were caught on camera, and it didn’t translate the way she intended them to. Nicole just wanted to entertain people at that time kasi pagod na pagod na raw lahat kalalakad.”
Then there was her controversial photo shoot where she wore an afro. “She really meant no harm with that post. She even wants to impart a good message that people should be able to wear their confidence no matter what they look like. Pero, that one taught her to be mindful with her posts.”
Given all these, are we seeing a winner in Nicole? Will the Philippines finally have its first shrimp queen?
“One thing is certain, she is not all hype,” confirms the pageant source. Let’s see in two weeks.