She started her quest for a pageantry crown in the first pandemic edition of Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) back in 2020, representing her beloved province of Bohol. While emerging as one of the top contenders for the crown, she had to settle for runner-up honors when Ilongga Rabiya Mateo snatched the coveted title that year and earned the chance to wear the Philippine sash in the Miss Universe pageant’s 69th edition. Two years later, Pauline Amelinckx staged a brave comeback, still keeping her province’s tag close to her chest, bringing public expectations up for an eventual win. She did ace the final and all-important question and answer round of the competition, with an answer that lifted the spirits of those who have experienced body-shaming, but somehow, lady luck still didn’t reward her with the crown everyone anticipated to land on her head. She was given the title Miss Universe Philippines-Charity. Third place, in other words, and part of Filipina-Italian Celeste Cortesi’s court of honor for this year.
“It’s still an improvement. I was happy. I am happy. Although, of course, there was a short time where I was a little bit disheartened. But let's say that was just a split second of the overall experience,” she now says, looking back at the whole experience. She adds: “I can see my growth, myself. I know how far I’ve come. I’m just happy that I was able to get my message across and I was able to reach people’s hearts. I still feel it up to this point.”
Turning 27 this year, she technically has only one more year to go before she ages out of the age limit requirements per international pageantry standards. Given her rather heartbreaking experiences in past pageants and the pressure of potentially breaching the age barrier, is there still a chance for her to consider staging a third comeback on the pageant stage?
“I think a big part of me still wants to join another pageant but before anything else, I need to save up and have the resources and funds to do so. As I go along the road, I’ll see where the universe or God directs me and then we will see,” she shares.
After two tries in MUPH, pageant fans are convinced that she is more of a Miss World prototype. She has a gentle, feminine beauty, unquestionable charm and a powerful command of speech. For a third attempt in realizing her beauty queen dreams, is she now ready to conquer the world instead of the universe?
“I do appreciate the different platforms that Miss World stands for, that Miss World has. After some self-reflection I can see myself entering such a similar pageant, too, because of how I see myself. But I need to self-reflect also on what my next move is gonna be. I’m a very calculated person and I make very calculated moves, too. I don’t want to do anything on a whim, especially since it's gonna be my last year. I try to move with meaning now,” Pauline reveals.
Should she decide to take a third and final dip into the world of pageants, what changes can we expect from a Pauline Amelinckx the next time we see her sashaying on the pageant stage again?
“The second time that I joined MUPH, I felt like I already gave it my all. So now I also have to reflect on that question even more and see what more I can give,” she answers profoundly.
If changes in endings were all up to the fans, I’d say, what they would love to see is a change in the final outcome, with Pauline finally earning the crown she truly deserves.