Marie Ann Umali, Bb. Pilipinas World 2009
After a night of partying with Cesar Obrero and the rest of my Fashion Week friends, I had to drag myself out of bed to catch the 9am send-off party for our Bb. Pilipinas World 2009 winner Marie Ann Umali. With red wine still coursing through my veins, I somehow made it to the gazebo at the back of the Araneta Coliseum where Bb. Pilipinas beauties are traditionally said good-bye to. Although I have retired from my party animal days and frown upon over-indulgence, there are some people that are worth “partying for”.
And then there are others who are worth waking up for in spite of a splitting headache and upset stomach.
When I arrived at the gazebo, I saw the throng of press folk and pageant fans surrounding not just Marie Ann Umali, but also Bb. Pilipinas Universe Pamela Bianca Manalo and Bb. Pilipinas International Melody Gersbach! They were there in a strong show of support for their co-beauty pageant winner.
Kissing Queens! L-R Bb. Pilipinas Universe Pamela Bianca Manalo, Bb. Pilipinas World Marie Ann Umali and Bb. Pilipinas International Melody Gersbach
First thing I noticed: Marie Ann Umali looked slightly slimmer than the night she won her title 7 or 8 months ago. With the help of fitness guru John Jay Cuay of Gold’s Gym, she was able to shave off 4 pounds to make a perfect 35-24-35. She swears by his Pilates routine and says that that’s how she got her waistline down from 25.5 to 24 inches. That’s about how big my thigh is. Drat!
But I jest! Marie Ann Umali was a sight to behold with her tawny golden eyes that made me wonder if she was wearing colored lens. But she assured me she wasn’t and upon closer inspection I was convinced well enough. With looks like that, I wasn’t surprised to find out that she had joined several pageants in the past – two in her home province of Batangas where she placed runner-up (on both occasions) and the Bb. Pilipinas pageant in 2006 where she placed in the Top 10.
2006 headshot of Marie Ann Umali
2009 Headshot of Marie Ann Umali
Marie Ann Umali's Miss World 2009 Headshot
One piece of wisdom she gave to beauty queen hopefuls – finish your studies first before joining a major pageant. When she joined Bb. Pilipinas in 2006, she wasn’t focused because her attention was divided between the pageant and her Hotel and Restaurant Management studies at Saint Benilde Taft.
But that’s all water under the bridge now; Marie Ann Umali came back a 2nd time in March this year to win the Bb. Pilipinas World title (a dream come true she says) and now she is off to her international competition! Her first stop is London where she and the other contestants in the Miss World 2009 will participate in the charity auction. Her gift is a set of jewelry made of Philippine pearls.
From London, all the Miss World 2009 contestants will fly to Johannesburg, South Africa to begin the formal competition for the crown which will be given away on Dec. 12, 2009.
Is Marie Ann Umali ready for it? She says she is 99.9% ready after 7 months of rigorous training under Bb. Pilipinas Universe Pamela Bianca Manalo and other beauty experts. It was like being in college again with classes almost everyday. She had sessions on walking, posing, public speaking, grooming, hair and make-up and fitness.
Thanks to the internet, Marie Ann Umali has been able to check out the competition and although she isn’t too worried or nervous (yet) she feels that Ms Mexico is a strong contender for the Miss World crown, a crown that no Filipina has been able to bring home to date. Nevertheless, she has set her eyes on it and is believing she will be the first one to do so.
She is quick to admit that she will miss her family and boyfriend during her 5 week sojourn. But apparently they’re behind her all the way: Marie Ann Umali’s mother and boyfriend will fly to South Africa to watch her on pageant night.
Her message to all her fans:
Support me. Pray for me. I will try to make you proud and bring home the crown.
My message to Marie Ann Umali:
Whatever happens, you mean the WORLD to us. Go kick some pageant butt, grrrrl!
by Joyce Burton Titular, the blogging beauty queen
Farewell, Bb Pilipinas World Marie Ann Umali!!!
[...] Africa. After checking the Wikipedia list of winners at the Miss World 2009, I also discovered that Marie Ann Umali did not get any of the other titles. DANG! ~~~Ms World 2009 winner Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar ~~~ [...]