Search For Official Candidates to the 2008 Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) is currently undergoing its search for the fairest ladies in the land to represent our country in the Miss International, Miss Universe and Miss World 2008 beauty pageants with the following basic qualifications:

* Single ladies
* 17 to 25 years old
* Filipino citizen
* minimum 5'5" in height
* at least high school graduate
* with pleasing personality and of good moral character

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2007, Anna Theresa Licaros

Application forms may be secured from the BPCI Secretariat, Araneta Coliseum. Aspirants may also download the form from the Bb. Pilipinas webpage (see below) and fax the same to (632) 911-27-71 or deliver it personally to the BPCI Secretariat Araneta Coliseum.

Bb. Pilipinas International 2007, Nadia Lee Shami

Prospective candidates are requested to submit the following requirements with their application forms :

1. original birth certificate or copies authenticated by NSO
2. certified true copy of high school or college diploma
3. Philippine Passport if any
4. Close-up and Full body photos in color
5. Written consent from parents (if 17 years of age)

Preliminary screenings are held daily from 2:00 – 6:00 pm. Deadline for submission of application forms will be February 6, 2008.

Source: Bb. Pilipinas website

China PR IS CROWNED MISS WORLD 2007

China PR has won the highly coveted title of Miss World 2007 in a glittering, star-studded ceremony at the Beauty Crown Theatre in Sanya, Hainan Province, China.

The 2007 Miss World Festival has seen 106 beautiful and talented contestants spend an unforgettable month in China, but there could only be one winner and the applause rang out in the packed theatre as Julia Morley, Chairman of the Miss World Organisation and of the international panel of judges, announced the winner’s name.

Her smile shone out to a worldwide TV audience of over 2 billion as she was crowned by last year’s Miss World, Tatana Kucharova.

First runner-up was Angola, followed by Mexico as second runner-up. The other two finalists were Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden.
An impressive cast of international stars and music artists ensured that the 57th Miss World Final was a dazzling event.

The TV spectacular was hosted by top Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow, presenting Miss World for the fifth year in succession, alongside co-host Fernando Allende, who is one of Latin America’s biggest stars and was making his Miss World debut.

The show told the story of the contestants’ stay in the tropical paradise of Sanya, with many clips of their activities and sightseeing, as well as their exciting trip to Beijing where they recorded the Olympic Torch Relay Anthem, visited the Great Wall and helped the Red Cross raise over US$5.5m to build new healthcare centres across China.

It also featured a stunning performance by international pop star Duncan James, formerly with the boy band Blue, singing ‘All I care about is love’ from the hit musical Chicago, and spectacular dancing and acrobatics from some of China’s most talented dance troupes.

One of the highlights came when Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, introduced his grandfather’s televised message for World Aids Day. This was followed by a magical moment, when the children from the Mandelas’ home town in South Africa joined with children from a local Hainan school and all 106 contestants to sing the World Aids Day song.

Miss World – The Final is the World’s largest live annual TV event with global viewing figures topping two billion across 174 countries.

The full line-up of official judges at the Miss World 2007 Final was:

Julia Morley Chairman of Miss World Organisation and of the judging panel
Chairman Zhao Chairman of the Huayu Group
Li Xiao Bai Managing Director of New Silk Road
Maki Mandela Eldest daughter of Nelson Mandela
Elena Franchuk Founder of the Anti-Aids Foundation of Ukraine
Krish Naidoo Miss World Organisation International Ambassador
Duncan James International pop star
Annabel Croft Formerly one of the UK’s most successful female tennis stars
Neal Hamil Managing Director of the Elite Model Agency in New York
Ben De Lisi World famous Italian Fashion designer

Miss World 2007 and her court

The Final Five

Photo credit: http://www.missworld.tv

At last a glimpse of Maggie Wilson enjoying her stay in Sanya!

Miss Philippines rep to Miss World 2007 is enjoying her stay in Sanya, China. She seems to be friendly to everyone else. She is most seen with Miss Malaysia, maybe they are roommates... that's why they are seen together... They are such a lovely sight to behold...

Miss Philippines is also fashionable and hip, very young and fresh... Good thing that she knows what is right for her and she is really confident and bubbly... I hope she will maintain her being bubbly until the Miss World finals in December 1...

During the 57th Miss World Press Conference in Sanya, China

Photo credits: www.tianya.cn

RP bet wants elusive crown

By Armin Adina
Inquirer, October 31, 2007

MANILA, Philippines—“Enough with the bashing!"

Filipino-Scottish Margaret "Maggie" Wilson, the Philippine bet to the 57th Miss World pageant, made the appeal to her kababayans during her send-off party last week at the Araneta Coliseum Gazebo in Quezon City.

The 18-year-old actress and MTV VJ said she needs all the support she can get as she prepares to fly to Sanya, China tomorrow to compete in the prestigious beauty pageant.

Unfavorable comments

Maggie was reacting to unfavorable comments hurled against her by pageant fanatics on numerous media, including the Internet.

Maggie, who was also adjudged Miss Photogenic in Binibining Pilipinas-World last March, has been enduring scathing comments about her supposedly imperfect looks.

"It's such a bad habit that we Filipinos have," Maggie said, referring to the insults.

Up to the last minute, Maggie had to dismiss rumors about her being stripped of her title after questions were raised on her eligibility to participate in the prestigious competition.

She reportedly failed to comply with a pageant requirement: That contestants should at least be a high school graduate during the competition. She was just about to graduate from high school when she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas-World.

"I only heard about it from my friends who asked if what was said on the radio was true," she recalled. "I just came from the Araneta offices for my training and fitting. I told the Binibining Pilipinas Charities about it, so they released an official statement saying I'm still the girl."

Maggie chose to brush off rumors, concentrating on her preparations for the finals instead. She said she got valuable tips on how to win the judges' approval from Miss World finalists Mafae Yunon and Karla Bautista, her predecessor Anna Maris Igpit and 1993 Miss World princess and second runner-up Ruffa Gutierrez.

Maggie will face competition from more than 100 delegates around the world. She finds Angola's Micaela Reis and the Dominican Republic's Ada Aimee de la Cruz as among the most beautiful.

In Asia, she believes her strongest competitors are Malaysia's Deborah Priya Henry and India's Sarah-Jane Dias. "India always sends strong competitors," Maggie noted.

Semifinal slot

But she believes her being multi-racial and well-traveled will give her an edge in the competition. She has also prepared for "fast-track" events where the winners automatically earn a semifinal slot.

"I'm doing the sports challenge because I'm athletic. I've been hitting the gym a lot-training," she revealed. "If I do the talent event, I'll sing a local song by artist Julianne. Her songs are feel-good."

The 5'9 1/2" beauty also hopes there would still be SMS voting this year, as in the last five editions. "I'm not sure. There's still no feedback from the Miss World organization," she said.

But before she leaves for the Dec. 1 pageant, Maggie begged her fellow Pinoys to "pray for me."

"I need you to believe in me and what I can do," she said. "I'm going to give it my all!"

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

MAGGIE WILSON (MW) for MISS WORLD (MW) MOVEMENT

It's Miss World pageant once again. The 57th Miss World Final will be held in Sanya, China once again on December 1st. A total of 120 contestants from around the world will converge once again in Sanya for a month long activities leading to the finals on December 1, this is also the celebration for the World AIDS Day.

The Philippines' representative to this most watched beauty pageant in the world is Margaret "Maggie" Wilson. Maggie is only 18 years old and stands 5 feet and 9 inches tall was born in the Philippines but raised in Saudi Arabia. She has a rich heritage having a Filipino-Spanish mother and Scottish-Irish father. Having just graduated from High School after specialising in Computer Programming (Web Design) she is intending to study law after completing her duties as Miss Philippines. Interests include: Travel, fashion sketching, interior design, acting, singing, both modern and belly dancing. She is also very active in the promotion of Filipino music; she has worked as an actress and video jockey for TV. Sporting interests are: Horse riding, swimming, tennis, volleyball and badminton. Margaret is very fond of her native food but also loves Chinese & Japanese. Her motto is: “Never take life for granted” You have to take care and share the blessings that you receive and make something meaningful out of your life as you go through each day.

In the history of the Miss World pageant, there is no Filipina who has won this title. The closest to having won this title was Evangeline Pascual, the 1st runner-up during the 1973 edition where Marjorie Wallace of the USA won! And the rest is history. Another Filipina who is expected to bring home the Miss World title was Sharmaine "Ruffa" Gutierrez during the 1993 edition where she placed 2nd Princess to eventual winner Lisa Hanna of Jamaica. I am still hoping that the Philippines will win the Miss World title and I am pinning my hopes to our representative this year, Maggie Wilson.

Let's start the campaign for Maggie Wilson to become the first ever Filipina Miss World. I hope everyone who visit my blog will support our Philippines' rep to Miss World if there will be text voting. I'll post it here soon on how to vote through texting. Thanks everyone!

Photo credit: Miss World website