Mary Jean 'MJ' Lastimosa reacts upon being named Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2014 Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum. (Rhoy Cobilla/InterAksyon)
As clichéd as it sounds, the third time turned out to be a charm for Mary Jean Lastimosa.
The 26-year-old native of Tulunan, North Cotabato finally won the Miss Philippines-Universe crown that she has coveted since she first joined the pageant in 2011 and finished as second runner-up.
After making it as far as the semifinals in her second attempt in 2012, Lastimosa traveled to Brazil to gain more training in modeling and beauty pageants before returning to the country to give the Bb. Pilipinas pageant another shot. This time, she was more than ready.
“I’m releasing everything, all the past experiences that I’ve had and I’m treating this pageant as a totally new experience for me to show the new MJ,” she told InterAksyon in a pre-pageant interview.
The new MJ looks like she’s ready to face the world and win the third Miss Universe crown that has eluded the Philippines since Margie Moran-Floreindo last won it in 1973.
She had the most applauded answer in the Q&A portion when Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler asked her, “What is the greatest advantage of a woman?”’
Mary Jean 'MJ' Lastimosa in a publicity photo.
“The greatest advantage of being a woman is being able to compose ourselves. Like here, we are not sure if you will support us or you will boo us. We keep our emotions to celebrate beauty,” was the winning reply of the entrepreneur who also operates a slimming center in Davao.
Lastimosa also told InterAksyon that if she wins any of the Bb. Pilipinas titles, she will give the international pageant she’ll compete in her “1,000 percent to maintain the victory that all the title holders have brought to our country”.
Aside from Miss Universe-Philippines and the People’s Choice Award that automatically comes with it, Lastimosa was also named as the new brand ambassador for PLDT Home and won the Lactacyd’s Bb. Best in Swimsuit special award.
Other winners of the pageant’s grand coronation night held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum are Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti from Taguig (Bb. Pilipinas-International), Kris Tiffany Janson from Cebu (Bb. Pilipinas-Intecontinental), Yvethe Marie Santiago from Albay (Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational) and Parul Shah from Pangasinan (Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism).
The Binibining Pilipinas 2014 winners: (from left) Bb Pilipinas-Tourism Parul Shah, Bb. Pilipinas-Intecontinental Kris Tiffany Janson, Miss Universe-Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa, Bb. Pilipinas-International Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti and Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational Yvethe Marie Santiago. (Rhoy Cobilla/InterAksyon)
Laura Lehmann and Hannah Ruth Sison, both from Makati, won first and second runner-up respectively.
Guidotti and Santiago are given the tough tasks of duplicating the remarkable feats of their respective predecessors, Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago and Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Johanna Datul.
Like Lastimosa, Janson and Santiago were also considered as heavy favorites to win any of the five crowns up for grabs. Guidotti and Shah also figured in some fearless forecasts.
However, the loss of another heavily favored contestant, Pia Wurtzbach came as a shock to many. The former Star Magic talent who finished 1st runner-up last year seemed to have done everything right, including a Tagalog question by judge Senator Sonny Angara that she also answered in the same language.
Wurtzbach nonetheless won two special awards, Miss Philippine Airlines and the She’s So Jag award of Jag Jeans.
Janson also won Bb. Best in National Costume and Face of Bb. Pilipinas Bb. Photogenic. Other special awardees are Racquel Kabigting (Bb. Friendship), Gabrielle Erika Tilokani (Bb. Talent) and Ladylyn Riva (Bb. Manila Bulletin Readers Choice Award).
All three failed to make the top 15 semifinalists, which included Julian Aurine Flores, Joana Angelica Romero, Nichole Marie Manalo, Zahara Mae Soriano, Emma Mary Tiglao, Kenneth Santiago and Mae Liezel Ramos.
Third-time contestant from North Cotabato crowned Miss Universe-Philippines 2014
Source: InterAksyon.com (March 31, 2014 at 07:48AM)
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