Filipino-Chinese Olivia Quido-Co, CEO and Founder of O Skin Med Spa in California, USA, said that she's excited to be part of the all-female judges in this year's Miss Universe Competition in New Orleans, Louisiana on Jan. 14 (Jan. 15 in Manila).
During a Zoom with the entertainment and pageant media on Wednesday, Olivia revealed that she knew about being a judge for the prestigious competition last year.
"Ganun ko siya katagal itinago. (That's how long I hid it.) I'm so excited to be part of the Miss Universe selection committee. The Miss Universe fever is for real," Olivia said.
Asked who she will be wearing during the finals, Olivia laughed and said: "Can we keep a secret? Basta hindi pa ako nadadamitan ng designer na ito. I'm so proud to wear this designer."
(Can we keep a secret? This designer has never dressed me. I'm so proud to wear this designer.)
Other members of the selection panel are: American rapper Big Freedia, American radio and TV host Myrka Dellanos, Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete, Roku Vice President of Growth Marketing & Merchandising Sweta Panel; Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam; sports journalist Emily Austin; Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan; and ImpactWayv Chief Marketing Officer Kathleen Ventrella.
Olivia is the 11th Filipino to judge in the history of the Miss Universe Competition. Other Filipino judges were: diplomat Carlos P. Romulo (1974), fashion designer Josie Cruz Natori (1989), singer Kuh Ledesma (1991), philanthropist businessman Don Emilio T. Yap (1994), Broadway star Lea Salonga (2011), boxing champ Manny Pacquiao (2015), Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach; New-York based Filipino-American fashion designer Monique Lhuillier and Louis Chavit Singson (LCS) Group of companies' CEO Richelle Singson-Michael (2018); and Kapuso actress Marian Rivera (2021).
Olivia vowed to be a fair judge in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant.
"I treat this as a job interview. As a judge kinausap na kami kung ano ang mga criteria na hinahanap namin. Speaking for myself, I'm gonna be a fair judge. I will look beyond the sash. Titignan natin yung personality kung magaling ba magsalita, magaling ba ang stage presence, ang communication skills, okay din bang magsalita and how she carries herself. So again, I'll be a fair judge," she said.
(I treat this as a job interview. As a judge we have already talked about the criteria we are looking for. Speaking for myself, I’m gonna be a fair judge. I will look beyond the sash. We’ll look at the personality, does she have good stage presence, communication skills, and how she carries herself. So again, I’ll be a fair judge.)
Olivia also said that she already bonded with Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group, new owner of the Miss Universe Organization.
"She invited me to attend the Miss Universe Gala Night in Thailand. Super VIP ang treatment niya sa amin. She's super gracious and super generous. Tapos she has a bubbly personality kaya nagkasundo kami.
(She invited me to attend the Miss Universe Gala Night in Thailand. She treated us super VIP. She's super gracious and super generous. She has a bubbly personality so we got along.)
"Then she called me. She invited me to New Orleans for a city tour with her close friends. Then we went to her room and chatted for a while. We were holding hands while walking all the time. I really had a great time with her. Then she invited me to go to New York with her. Nakaka-blessed isipin na gusto niya tayong kasama," she also said.
(Then she called me. She invited me to New Orleans for a city tour with her close friends. Then we went to her room and chatted for a while. We were holding hands while walking all the time. I really had a great time with her. Then she invited me to go to New York with her. I feel blessed to think that she wants to be with us.)
Olivia said that she and Anna will hang out with the new beauty queens. "Whoever the winners are, we will spend time with them. We can have lunch and dinner. We will walk in Manhattan with the new beauty queens. So I want you to come with me. So pinayagan naman ako ni hubby. Sabi ni Jason, okay samahan mo na siya. Naka-video call siya at ginising talaga niya ako. So I guess we have bonded well. I feel honored and blessed."
(Whoever the winners are, we will spend time with them. We can have lunch and dinner. We will walk in Manhattan with the new beauty queens. So I want you to come with me. So hubby allowed me. Jason said, okay go with her. She had a video call and she really woke me up. So I guess we have bonded well. I feel honored and blessed.)
Olivia said that she's been part of the MUO for four years now. But this year there are restrictions because she's a judge or a member of the selection committee.
"Last year I was able to interview the ladies prior to the finals just to know them as a skin care sponsor. But this time, I cannot talk to the delegates. I haven't seen them. Pati national directors hindi ako pwedeng lapitan or kumustahin. Ganun ka-strict. So ngayon bawal ako mag-hi sa kanila or tumingin," she added.
(Last year I was able to interview the ladies prior to the finals just to know them as a skin care sponsor. But this time, I cannot talk to the delegates. I haven't seen them. Even national directors cannot approach me or say hello to me. It's that strict. So now I'm not even allowed to say hi to them or look at them.)
MJ Felipe, who accompanied Olivia in New Orleans, added: "Una ina-identify ko muna yung kausap niya if you're a national director or a fan. Kami yung nagsasabi sa national directors, I'm sorry she cannot engage because she's a judge."
(First we identify the person she is talking to if she's a national director or a fan. We are the ones who tell the national directors, sorry she cannot engage because she's a judge.)
Olivia also said that there are many qualified delegates for the title of Miss Universe based on the pageant's book for the judges. She showed a Miss Universe book containing photos and resumes of the 84 contestants. "Meron ditong mga fun facts, personal accomplishments nila. We have the same questions here but different answers so sinusulat namind dito yung mga notes namin about the girls. Things we need to highlight about them so bawal ito mawala. Malaking trouble raw kapag nawala ko ito."
(There are fun facts here, their personal accomplishments. We have the same questions here but different answers, so we write our notes about the girls here. Things we need to highlight about them so we don't want to lose it. I'll be in big trouble if I lose it.)
Olivia has devoted almost 20 years to making women feel and look beautiful. Armed with a deeply-rooted passion for skin aesthetics and nurturing instincts, her holistic approach to beauty and life, in general, has brought her success as a top-rated esthetician, entrepreneur, women’s advocate and Christian philanthropist.
In 2009, Olivia signed with ABS-CBN International and The Filipino Channel (TFC) to star in her own TV beauty segment. Her show entitled, “Beauty by O,” is running in its 14th year and is rating fairly well.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/10/miss-universe-competition-plans-a-reality-show-format-report/