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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz slams overtraining of pageant candidates: 'This is not an IQ contest'

Former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz slams overtraining of pageant candidates: 'This is not an IQ contest'

Published Apr 2, 2025 04:35 am

At A Glance

  • The country's first Miss Universe believes that beauty pageants today overtrain their candidates.
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Gloria Diaz in December 2018 (Instagram)

At 73, former Miss Universe-turned-actress Gloria Diaz is a picture of a healthy and happy person.

During a recent media conference in San Juan for the upcoming horror movie "Untold" under Regal Entertainment, Gloria said one of her secrets is that she enjoys dining out.

"I have been dining out for 28 years. I eat anything in moderation," said Gloria.

She mentioned that she neither drinks nor smokes and loves to exercise.

Gloria also revealed at the same event that she has been in a 28-year relationship with Michael O. De Jesus, President and CEO of the Development Bank of the Philippines.

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Gloria Diaz when she won Miss Universe in 1969

When asked to describe their relationship, Gloria said, "It's super good!" She and her partner have an eight-year age gap.

Gloria will turn 74 in April. Her birthday wish is "health, wealth, and time to spend."

The country's first Miss Universe believes that beauty pageants today overtrain their candidates.

"I don’t like too much yung training. I’m always a judge, ano. They talk to me about whether I can be a judge forever, and the thing is, they all look alike," said Gloria when asked about what she does not like about the beauty pageants now.

“In fact when I do judging, hirap na hirap talaga ako kasi ang bilis. Hindi ko na maalala. And I also don't like that they are judged by their answers. Sometimes, the answer is so complicated that I cannot understand what they say. (When I judge, it's tough for me because it's fast. I don't remember. And I also don't like that they are evaluated based on their answers. Sometimes, the answer is so complicated that I cannot understand what they're saying)," she said. 

Gloria pointed out: “This is not an IQ contest. It’s a beauty contest."

The actress stated that she does not care about plastic surgery. Gloria, who has judged beauty contests, seeks more natural contestants.

“But I don't like these parang genius answers, and people think just because you could speak English, magaling ka na. Hindi. Sa akin, gusto ko nga, mag-Tagalog sila, e, para it’s more from the heart. Or Bisaya or whatever. Ayoko yung masyadong trained na pati turning, pati tingin, pati tayo, I don't like that. Wala na. Tapos pag-ikot mo sa likod, iba na sila, hindi ba? So I want to see a more natural person. (But I don't like these genius answers, and people think you're good just because you can speak English. No. I want them to speak Tagalog, so it's more from the heart. Or Bisaya or whatever. I don't like the very trained ones: I don't like turning, looking, or talking. It's gone. After you turn around, they're different, right? So I want to see a more natural person.)

Produced by Regal Entertainment, "Untold" starring Jodi Sta. Maria will be shown in theaters nationwide beginning April 30.

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