Gines Shainon Santiago Angeles is the reigning Mrs. Universe International North Pacific Asia 2022 and recently placed in the Top 18 of the highly-competitive Mrs. Universe tilt in Bulgaria. She is only 25 years old but she has maturity beyond her years. Aside from being a loving mother to her daughter, she has also set her sights on being the "queen mother" to aspiring beauty queens by mounting the Miss Lla Bealla pageant in her native province of Nueva Ecija.
Now on its second year, Miss Lla Bella is gearing up to be the biggest and most popular pageant in Nueva Ecija with the search being opened to other aspirants from Luzon. In the next few years, Gines announced that they will accept applicants nationwide.
"Miss Lla Bealla is different from other pageants because it is named after, and produced by, my aesthetic clinic. My vision is to show to the world that our beauties are not limited to Nueva Ecija, we have also what it takes to compete in national and international pageants," she noted.
Gines was a former flight attendant before she became an entrepreneur. She revealed that she has always been in love with pageantry, that's why she aspired to be a beauty queen. Now that she has fulfilled it, she now wants to be known as "a Beauty Queen Maker."
"This is what I see myself as becoming after joining pageants.I find happiness and fulfillment in supporting others achieve their dreams as well," Gines stated.
She pointed out that she will use her platform to promote her advocacy for equality. Gines expressed the belief that there should be no room for discrimination. "A beauty queen should always be a role model and must encourage others to be the best they can be."
The first 15 candidates of Miss Lla Bealla 2023 were recently presented to the press in a short program in SM Cabanatuan City. They are: Roxanne De La Cruz, Maryan Hasna Caira Mercado, Marla Joy Policarpio, Gerrah Evea C. Domingo, Dyna Faye D. Garcia, Mary Ann C. Tualla, Rowena H. Inovero, Jemalyn T. Nueda, Rizza Mae Cruz Caning, Noreen Cunanan, Jessica Roxas Peralta, Marinel M. Slavador, Reinalyn Gatmaitan, Kate Hazel Tapang , and Kathleen Flores.
Misses Policarpio, Domingo and Peralta were eventually picked as Darlings of the Press.
The 15 candidates also walked the ramp and underwent pre-screening with a panel composed of Miss Universe Philippines 2021 2nd runner-up Steffi Rose Aberasturi, Miss Diamond of the World 2016 Christine Picardal, Binibining Aurora 2023 Carmela Joy Cuaresma, Director Anshari Hablo Alonto of 2xsist Events Production, and make-up artist Bebong Belleza.
The Grand Coronation Night of Miss Lla Bealla 2023 will be held in Cabanatuan City on March 30.
Five ladies will be proclaimed Miss Lla Bealla 2023 Universe (with a P100,000 cash prize), Miss Lla Beala 2023 World (P50,000), Miss Lla Bealla 2023 Earth (P40,000), Miss Lla Bealla 2023 International (P30,000), and Miss Lla Bealla 2023 Tourism (P20,000). There will also be other prizes from the sponsors.