*that by strange coincidence, the first winners of the three major international beauty competitions married Filipino men? The first was Miss Universe 1952, Armi Kuusela of Finland, who married Virgilio Hilario. (They have five children, one of which became Miss Philippines herself - Anna Lisa Hilario was our candidate in the Queen of the Pacific 1974.) Second is Miss International 1960, Stella Marquez of Colombia who married Jorge Araneta. Third was Miss Asia 1965, Angela Filmer of Malaysia who married Jose Faustino. Incidentally, Stella Marquez de Araneta is the chairwoman of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. since 1964 (the contest that selects winners for Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International). Source of information is "The Beauty Book" by Doris Nuyda. 1980 Alex A.
*that the Miss Universe pageants in the years 1969, 1980, and 1984 of which Filipinas reign supreme, one very notable judge was Eileen Ford of Ford Modelling Agency? Could it be a possibility that she loves Filipina beauties (including Melanie Marquez in the Supermodel of the World contest in 1986)...co-incidence? I think not!! Todd
*that Gloria Diaz has another sister who's the Filipina Maid of Cotton (forgot the year but in the late 70's also)? Please check on this! Thanks...Todd
*that former Mutya ng Pilipinas-World (Pearl of the Philippines-World) 1978, Louvette Hammond is now a recording artist in Hollywood? She is permanently residing in Seattle. She represented the Philippines at the 1978 Miss World Pageant. Please visit her website at http://www.louvette.com
*that Elizabeth de Padua, Miss Philippines-Universe 1976 who represented the Philippines at the 1976 Miss Universe Pageant in Hong Kong, is now working at Kansas City Hospital as a Neurologist? Lizbeth graduated Summa Cum Laude from the most prestigious university in the Philippines, the University of the Philippines at Los Banos. She received a full medical scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA after graduating from UP. She is now happily married with a new surname (Dr. Elizabeth de Padua-Cravens) and with 2 children.
*that Cecilia Amabuyok, Miss Philippines-World 1968 and 4th runner-up at the 1968 Miss World, was a novice nun and entered the Miss Republic of the Philippines Pageant without the knowledge of her Mother Superior? Donald West
*that 3 individuals of Filipino descent were selected as among "The 50 Most Beautiful People In The World for 1998" by People Weekly Magazine? They are Actor Paolo Montalban of the ABC's musical version of Cinderella & Broadway's The King and I; Latin singer Enrique Iglesias who is the youngest of three children of singer Julio Iglesias and Filipina Madrid socialite Isabel Preysler; and Model/Surfer Malia Jones who's mother is Hawaiian-Filipino-Spanish and father who is of German-English descent.
*that Anna Bayle is known to be the greatest Filipina model alive, who defined Asian beauty and grace in the fashion capitals of the world? She, who belonged to the royalty of the mannequin world, alongside Iman and Cindy Crawford. She, who captivated all the important designers of our time: Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Valentino, Emmanuel Ungaro, Renato Ballestra, Pierre Cardin, Thierry Mugler, Karl Lagerfield, Gianni Versace, Issey Miyake, Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, Vivienne Westwood... Anna who is now 40 (as of 1998) and standing at 5'10", retired from the glamour business when she was 37, and is residing in New York City with her husband Simon Spence and her five-month-old baby boy, Callum.
*that Miss America 1992, Carolyn Sapp from Hawaii is part Filipino? She made a movie in Manila about 2 years ago and talked about living with her Filipino grandparents in the Philippines. Madraybot
*that Miami, Florida has been a lucky pageant site for numerous Filipina bets in the Miss Universe Pageant? To name them: Lalaine Bennett (1963 Miss Universe 3rd runner-up), Louise Vail Aurelio and Maria Clarinda Soriano (1965 and 1966 Miss Universe semifinalists, respectively), Gloria Diaz (1969 Miss Universe), Vida Doria (Miss Photogenic 1971 Miss Universe), Maria Desiree Verdadero (1984 Miss Universe 3rd runner-up), and Abbygale Arenas (Miss Photogenic 1997 Miss Universe).
*that two of our world-class beauty queens have great men for ancestors? Gemma Cruz (Miss International 1965) is the grandniece (paternal side) of the National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Her grandmother, Maria, is a sister of Jose Rizal. She's a Guerrero on her maternal side. The Guerreros produced writers (like her mother Carmen), scientists, diplomats, priests. Margarita Moran (Miss Universe 1973) is the granddaughter of Supreme Court Chief Justice Manuel Moran and President Manuel Roxas. The other world-class beauties are Gloria Diaz (Miss Universe 1969), Aurora Pijuan (Miss International 1970) and Melanie Marquez (Miss International 1979).
*that the most famous woman in Spain is a Filipina? She is Madrid socialite Isabel Preysler, ex-wife of famous Latin singer Julio Iglesias and the mother of Enrique Iglesias, the guest singer at the 1997 Miss Universe Pageant. Isabel is a perennial winner in the Best-Dressed List of the Hola (Hello) Magazine. As noted in her unauthorized biography, she was known to have won the Miss Maxi-falda title in 1969 in Manila before she went to Spain. Her daughter Chabeli Iglesias is a Spanish-language TV personality in Miami and her other son, Julio Jose is a model and singer. Jag of Liberia
*that Gloria Diaz, 1969 Miss Universe has a younger sister who also became a beauty queen? She is Maria Rosario Diaz who was the 1977 Mutya/Pearl of the Philippines-Asia and landed as 4th runner-up in the 1977 Miss Asia pageant.
*that during the prelims of Miss Universe 1973, a lady from the Hotel lobby observed and told Margarita Moran (Miss Philippines) that what makes her different and stand out from the other girls was that she had "Class of Royalty," and that she'll win the pageant? And she did! Jesse Ventura
*that in Miss Universe 1973, Bob Barker told the audiences that Margarita Moran was the Jackie Onassis of the Philippines? Because during her interview, she was asked about her plans in the future. She then told everyone in the pageant that she would like to manage a hotel and restaurant business. And you know what? Her plans came true! Jesse Ventura
*that Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran, before she was crowned Miss Philippines 1973, did not ask permission from her parents to join the Miss Philippines pageant? Only then that her parents knew about it when she was crowned Miss Philippines 1973. Jesse Ventura
*that in 1969, the President of the United States congratulated Miss Universe Gloria Diaz by saying "If the United States conquered the Moon, the Philippines conquered the Universe?" 1969 was the year when American astronauts landed on the moon. Jesse Ventura
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