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05/02/2022
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By Arlo Custodio February 5, 2022
Shamcey Supsup-Lee (second from right) and husband Lloyd (right) with (from left) Valerie Tan, Janeena Chan, Ariella Arida and Wu Xing Chef de Cuisine Raymond Yeung at the Marriott Clark Chinese Restaurant grand opening. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MISS Universe Philippines (MUP) National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee wants an early holding of the 2022 pageant in April to better prepare the country's delegate in this year's edition of the world's most prestigious beauty contest.
"We don't know when Miss Universe will be held, hopefully it won't be as late as last year. We want to hold the national pageant early so the winner has enough time to prepare. We accept applications starting February," Supsup-Lee, said at the conclusion of Marriot Clark's Wu Xing Chinese Restaurant grand opening in January.
The 2011 Miss Universe 3rd Runner-Up said she was content of Beatrice Luigi Gomez's placement in Top 5 of the 70th edition of the pageant held in Eilat, Israel on December 13 which was won by India's Harnaaz Sandhu. Gomez put the Philippines back to Top 5 after disappointing placements in Top 20 and Top 21 in the 2019 and 2020 pageants, respectively – after the wins of Pia Wurtzbach in 2015 and Catriona Gray in 2018.
She explained that the question fielded to Gomez about the vaccination passport was destiny, although the beauty queen from Cebu did not quite answer it fluidly as expected.
Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez SCREEN GRAB FROM MISS UNIVERSE 2021 PAGEANT
"Let us understand that the delegates had been up all day, slept a little, with the pageant starting at 2 a.m. then the questions were asked at 4 a.m. I think anyone would be as surprised and pressured if suddenly you are asked a question [like that]. I also believe in destiny, that Bea was destined to answer that question. Anyone, whether it's a pageant, any contest or job interview, questions asked [of you] is destiny," she said.
She further said that the crown is not all the aim as the delegates are there also for camaraderie, but it is important for the country's representative to be confident about who she is, and not be sidelined by how she is judged by others.
"That's what I told Bea, she has to be confident about herself first so others may see that too," she said, to which may have played a big role that Gomez did not have to hide her sexual orientation from the very start.
"I told her that the judges have seen that she has something special in her, that's why they chose her to win [in the nationals]," she said, and will give the same advice to the next queen.
As to some girls being touted as shoo-ins, like Miss International 2019 1st Runner-Up Ahtisa Manalo, Supsup said that they are fair at MUP.
"When the girl is ready, we will welcome her with open arms. Hopefully it's not just because she is pressured, but we are fair at MUP, everyone has a fighting chance and if she is destined for the crown that night, then it shall be," she said.
She also expressed her sincere thanks to the fans, whether their comments are positive or negative.
"Some are invested so much into the pageant. And we would like to thank all of them for their support. Whether the comments are positive or negative, it shows that they are involved."
She also confirmed that Gomez and Sandhu were in the same group – along with Misses Vietnam and Singapore, who also both made it to Top 16.
An anecdote she shared, "Singapore had been sending delegates to the pageant and for more than 20 years, it's the first time that it placed in the semi-finals, so for the national director, it was already like a win for them."
Supsup-Lee is also the first nominee of the party-list ARTE – short for Advocates for Retail and Fashion, Textile and Tradition, Events and Entertainment and the Creative Sector.
Accordingly, the Commission on Elections approved its accreditation as it is the first-of-its-kind advocacy group of an underserved sector, which is the very organic purpose of the party-list system.
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