ABQ’s Best and Worst Beauty Queen Stories of 2009
Wow!!! I still can’t believe I am actually writing my very own TOP 10 List. When I began this blog in January of 2009, I had no idea that so many people would drop by and check it out. My biggest views per day was right after the Miss Universe contest – I logged in nearly 8,000 views! I was left astounded with that number. Of course, the bigger pageant blogs like OPMB, Crtical Beauty and Hector Joaquin’s blog must be doing 10 times that everyday, but I still feel so blessed to see such stats on my humble little WordPress!!!
I originally began Adventures of a Beauty Queen as a personal diary (but not too personal it you get my drift) of… um… my adventures (LOL!!!) But a couple months into blogging I got inspired to start covering pageants and interviewing Filipina Beauty Queens. Then I attended a couple of blogging seminars, read several blogging books and voila! The numbers started piling up. Not bad at all for a non-techie like me!
So, here are my Best and Worst Beauty Queen Stories of 2009. If you think I missed anything significant, drop a note in the comment box!!!
Carrie Prejean
1) BRATTY QUEEN – MISS USA 2009 FIRST RUNNER-UP CARRIE PREJEAN – After giving Perez Hilton a slightly ditzy answer against gay marriage during her Q&A in the Miss USA contest, Carrie Prejean shot to fame and became the most famous First-Runner up in Beauty Queen history. I originally was supportive of her but after her bratty display on Larry King Live, I have withdrawn all hope for this chick.
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Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez
2) CHEERS TO VENEZUELA’S BACK TO BACK WIN AT THE MISS UNIVERSE 2009 – They won in 2008. They won again in 2009. Is that fair? I don’t know, but what I DO know is that the beautiful contestants from Venezuela go to extremes just to win beauty pageants.
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Donald Trump
3) JEERS TO MISS UNIVERSE 2009 FOR EXCLUDING ASIANS IN THE SEMIFINALS!!! – Ok, fine, so Ms Philippines didn’t place at all. But why didn’t ANY of the other Asians make it either? S’up with THAT Donald Trump?
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April Love Jordan
4) FILIPINA APRIL LOVE JORDAN WINS THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY & MODEL FESTIVAL – Although this festival is not one of the BIG 4 beauty pageants, winning it is still commendable. Before April Love Jordan won this contest, though, she was a Bb. Pilipinas 2009 semi-finalist. I think she should have made it to the Top 5. You Go GRRRRL!!!!
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Camilla Kim Galvez
5) FILIPINA CAMILLA KIM SHINES IN MRS. UNIVERSE 2009! – My dear friend Camilla Kim Galvez won 2nd Runner-Up in the MRS. Universe 2009 Beauty Pageant and made the Philippines proud in Latvia when she was invited to sing at a local Music Festival. Camilla was a former ANC reporter and is now one of the co-hosts for CBN Asia’s 700 Club Philippines.
Another MRS who shined for the Philippines in the Mrs. World 2009 contest – actress and businesswoman Daisy Reyes!!
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Joji Felix Velarde, RIP
6) THE PASSING ON OF GREAT FILIPINA BEAUTY QUEENS: JOJI FELIX VELARDE, EDITH RABAT and MYRNA PANLILIO – Beauty Queens never die; they just become one with the UNIVERSE!!!
Joji Felix Velarde – Died at age 73. Was Ms Caltex RPM (1950s), Ms Aviation 1954 and VP for Miss Earth’s Carousel Productions.
Edith Rabat – Miss Philippines 1956
Myrna Panlilio – First ever Bb. Pilipinas winner passes on at age 66.
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Miss Argentina Solange Magnano
7) ARGENTINA BEAUTY QUEEN DIES AFTER BUTT SURGERY – Another story in the RIP category. It is also a warning to those who go to any length to get that perfect body part.
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Sandra Seifert
8) FILIPINA SANDRA SEIFERT PLACES 1ST RUNNER-UP IN MISS EARTH 2009! – Sandra Seifert, who was disqualified from Bb. Pilipinas for a racy photo spread she did in FHM Magazine went on to join and win the Ms Earth Philippines 2009.
In the Miss Earth 2009 in Boracay, Sandra Seifert almost gave the Philippines a back-to-back win but Ms Brazil took the top spot. A good fight, IMHO!!!
Another Beauty Queen who did well in her international pageant – Bb. Pilipinas International 2009 Melody Gersbach entered the semi-finals of the Miss International 2009 Beauty Pageant.
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Pamela Bianca Manalo
9) BB. PILIPINAS UNIVERSE 2009 PAMELA BIANCA MANALO: HOTTEST SEARCH NAME! – Although this gorgeous former flight attendant did not place in the Miss Universe 2009 pageant, she was last year’s MOST searched Filipina beauty queen online.
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Miriam Quiambao
10) MIRIAM QUIAMBAO AND OTHER BEAUTY QUEENS VOLUNTEER DURING ONDOY! – Yessiree!!! Beauty Queens are willing to drop their crowns and roll up their sleeves to help those in need! Miriam Quiambao on behalf of World Vision was one of the most active volunteers and the Miss Earth beauties also helped out with relief operations for Ondoy victims.
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SPECIAL MENTION:
Rochelle Barrameda
NON-BEAUTY-QUEEN STORY OF 2009 – “Beauty Queen” Rochelle Barrameda’s sister is finally found. Ruby Rose Barrameda was murdered and packed into a cement-filled barrel then dropped into the Manila Bay. The story is indeed a horrific one and it topped the headlines for several days.
However, I still am searching for proof that Rochelle Barrameda was indeed a Beauty Queen. I have searched the Mutya, the Bb Pilipinas and Ms Earth candidate lists for her name but haven’t found it. If anyone can confirm what her title is or if she ever joined a pageant, I’d be VERRRRY grateful!
Rochelle won the Miss Photogenic Philippines in 1993,I remember their profile shots featured inthe Philippine Star entertainment section bit I lost it years after.maricel Morales was among her closest competitor,there were male contestants too.
ROCHELLE BARRAMEDA WAS FORMER MISS YOPADA, NOW A DEFUNCT PAGEANT, THIS WAS NOT A POPULAR PAGEANT THEN BUT PARTICIPATED BY CANDIDATES FROM ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES, USUALLY 30-40 CANDIDATES REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT CHAPTERS OF YOPADA WHICH STANDS FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AGAINTS DRUG ABUSE. ROCHELLE REPRESENTED LAS PINAS CHAPTER.
Gelo, thanks for sharing this information!
I think she’s a poser. She should have said something already that she is not a beauty queen. Maybe she just want to mislead people. Tsk! She should be ashamed!
Well, lets not assume the worst of her. She did lose her sister in such a grisly manner. It’s enough that we all know she has been mis-labeled as a beauty queen. Besides, it could really be the fault of the press… you know how the press likes to label people and maybe she’s tried to correct them but they ignored her. Malay mo. Anyway… it’s still irritating when I hear her referred to as a beauty queen.
Rochelle was constantly a favorite muse in school and did some commercial stints during her teens. She and her sister were known in suburban Las Pinas for their beauty. She had some acting gigs, but no big scale pageant record.
Makes you wonder why rochelle never tried to correct this. She just accepted the title.
Well, baka naman she did but the media folk just ignored it… just speculating but yes, the whole beauty queen label confused me for awhile…
Hi Joyce,
Rochelle was never a beauty queen (at leaast if we’re thinking along the lines of a major or semi major pageant is concerned). From what I know, she was being convinced to join Binibini by her fellow actresses (and Binibini beauties) Alma Concepcion and Joanne Quintas (Santos) with whom she did a movie back in the 90s (“Massacre Files”). I just don’t know if this is true because someone relayed this to me back then.
She would have been a great beauty queen if she did.
🙂
Yeah, I was wondering from the very start where that ‘former beauty queen’ label came from when the media was reporting on the grisly murder of her sister. And also wondering why she hasn’t corrected anyone….
Hi Miss Joyce,
If I am not mistaken, Rochelle won the Miss Photogenic Philippines or Miss Press Photography title. I’m not sure though what’s the actual title.
BTW, love your articles here.
More power!
Hey thanks for the lead Mark, I will try to research further on this. It’ll help clear up the doubts I have 🙂
A Blessed New Year, Joyce, to your family and to the EDGE radio family. I pray for more beauty queens this 2010 with a positive outlook! Take care.