Reigning Binibining Pilipinas – International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago is my favorite amongst the Binibining Pilipinas golden queens. Not only do I believe that she’s the most ready for her international stint, I honestly think that she could win the fifth Miss International crown for the Philippines! Here’s my short yet juicy online interview with Bea.
Can you tell us where you grew up and was it always your dream to become a beauty queen?
Bea: I grew up in Cataingan, Masbate of Masbate City, Bicol then moved when I was 15 to Toronto, Canada. After watching Miriam Quiambao’s Miss Universe pageant, I started dreaming to grow up and become a beauty queen
her glam shot released by her camp Kagandahang Flores
Out of curiosity, do you carry dual citizenship having stayed in Canada for so long? I’ve asked this because I would like to know if you have tried joining Canadian beauty pageants before?
Bea: Yes I am dual. My 1st pageant was here in the Philippines 2011 (folks, she won Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Communities 2011 and represented the Philippines at the 2012 Miss Tourism Queen International becoming one of the finalists) I was a member though of a Can-Fil community of pageant enthusiasts who help me win my 1st national pageant.
You used to be a Model, which do you find easier – being a model or a beauty queen?
Bea: Yes I was signed when I was 17, I find being a beauty queen a lot harder because you become the pride of your country. It is not just beauty and brains anymore because you become a role model, a person where everyone looks up to but also can also relate to.
What are the things that you are doing in preparation for the upcoming Miss International 2013?
Bea: Well, Binibini gave us a lot of classes that keeps us busy and will help us win like personality development, fitness classes and language classes.
Bea looking insanely divine here
photo taken by Raymond Saldana
You are deemed as one of the front runners in this year’s Miss International edition and your name is always on the top 10 lists practically in almost every MI hot picks, do you feel any pressure from all of this? How are you handling the expectations?
Bea: In all honesty, I actually feel motivated and excited. the Philippines always makes headlines and I know they are all waiting for the Binibini’s this year.
Do you check out the MI representatives from other countries? If yes, who do you think would be your biggest competition?
Bea: From time to time I check it. Venezuela is my biggest competition because they won Miss International than any other country.
Elián Herrera is the delegate of Venezuela for this year’s Miss International!
Given a chance to be dressed up by a Filipino designer for Miss International, Who’s it going to be and why?
Bea: If I were to be dressed by Filipino designers I would love to be dressed by Michael Cinco, Kim Gan, Rene Salud (dressed Melanie Marquez) Francis Libiran, Carey Santiago and Albert Andrada.
Barely 3 months before the competition, how ready are you if the competition will be held tomorrow?
Bea: I’m very ready.
Who is your favorite Filipina beauty queen?
Bea: My favourite Filipino beauty queen is Margie Moran because she’s a beauty with substance.
Miss Universe 1973, Margie Moran
(credits to the owner)
What would you like to say to your supporters and to your critics?
Bea: I love you and thank you for keeping me up to my toes, to not stop, to always make sure I have to always be at my best for the Philippines!
Bea’s fight is indeed not only for herself but for the Philippines!
credit to the owners of each image via binibining pilipinas, missosology, saravelasco, raymond saldana, mvlanuevaera
