Author:
PJ Admin
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 00:46:14 01/02/03 Thu
How I survived a beauty pageant
By Frances Margaret H. Arreza
Published in Young Blood, Philippine Daily Inquirer
WITH all the glamour and prestige attached to beauty pageants, one would never guess the rigors that the candidates have to go through. It was only when I joined the Mutya ng Pilipinas this year that my eyes were opened to beauty myths, pageant boo-boos and cliches. And I discovered that pageants are not at all synonymous to triviality.
Unlike some candidates who allotted at least a year to prepare themselves physically by going through fitness training and choosing the right "look" in makeup and hairdo and mentally by learning how to pose and do the catwalk, I had little preparation for the contest.
When I was chosen as one of the 10 official candidates from among more than 200 applicants in the National Capital Region, I was still preoccupied with some extracurricular activities in college. I was a staff writer for The Varsitarian of the University of Santo Tomas and although I had already graduated in April, we still had tasks to do until June.
I went through the screenings with only light makeup on (I did mine) and with my straight hair down. It was nothing compared to what the others did to themselves. I wanted to be chosen simply as I am.
We were an hour early for the final screening, so my mother and I decided to have breakfast in a restaurant near GMA Network Center in Quezon City. As we were leaving, I fell down the stairs of the restaurant. I was red not only with embarrassment but also with blood from the bruises on my knees. I tried to compose myself but tears fell uncontrollably, smudging my mascara and ruining my makeup. I felt hopeless.
I was inconsolable despite my mother's frantic efforts to reassure me. I wanted to kick myself with my four-inch stiletto heels. My eldest sister, whom my mother called on the phone, chided me for losing my composure. After a brief sermon, she told me to go on with the screening and leave everything to God.
We reached GMA 30 minutes later than schedule but the screening had not started yet. I hastily cleaned up my wounds with alcohol and retouched my makeup. With smiles, poise and wit, I finished the screening.
A few days later, I was informed that I had made it to the pageant!
The final screening only made up a fraction of the whole mental, emotional and physical exercise. We were 24 official candidates from all over the country, meaning I had to relate with 23 different personalities for at least a month. Some were easygoing and nonchalant, others were solemn and profound and the rest were fiercely determined to win.
The activities that followed the pageant were a test of stamina. We traveled from one province to another, riding buses and ships or flying in helicopters. There were endless make-up sessions, video shoots, pictorials, rehearsals, fashion shows, press conferences, dinners with government officials and prominent personalities and festivals to be attended. There was an activity scheduled every hour, and sleep became a luxury we rarely enjoyed. We would come back to our hotel late at night only to wake up as early as 5:00 a.m. the next day.
The toughest part of the pageant was the mental game. During our trips, we met town folks who were all warm and welcoming. Being with them made me feel close to home. I took every chance I could get to mingle with them, get their insights and share mine. But some people took this as my way of showing off. I heard some nasty comments about my capabilities. I felt left out intentionally. My self-esteem plummeted and I was close to losing hope. I only found solace in prayer.
Back in Manila, I learned to accept the complexities of a pageant. I recognized that it was part of human nature to forge alliances. But while I noted that people banded together to promote their mutual interests, everyone did so with a personal motive. There was competition even among the closest of friends. Each candidate vied for attention, to gain favor from others. No matter how much a candidate tried to enjoy the lifestyle of a celebrity, she could never forget that she had to stand out from the rest.
Since each one had her flaws, there were times when we felt insecure and unsure of how we looked and worried ourselves sick about other people's perception of us. One had to draw from her inner strength to get through all of it with grace and composure.
I was grateful for my family, relatives and friends' support. They sent me their good wishes through text messages and phone calls. They also visited me at the hotel. I learned that my parents' fellow members in Couples for Christ and my grandmother's fellow parishioners were praying for me every night. They told me to keep believing in myself.
It must have been God's will to have me in the Mutya ng Pilipinas. And he helped me overcome all the troubles I encountered during the screenings. My family, relatives and friends were united in prayer because of the pageant. I thought of the people whom I met in the provinces and how in small ways we have touched each other's lives. My faith boosted my morale and taught me to appreciate the things God has given me: good friends, family and the gift of life.
With newfound confidence, I was prepared to face anything. The night before the pre-pageant, I practiced alone in our room how to walk and project myself. The pre-pageant was the most critical part since 90 percent of our total score would be based on it. It actually determined who would be the top 10 candidates.
During the pre-pageant, I felt beautiful inside. Beauty for me was a state of mind. I believed that my optimistic aura would elicit a positive response from other people. I steered clear of negative thoughts and only thought of the happy moments I had with my loved ones. This helped me give my best smile. I let my mind control my body and concentrated on every word I uttered, every move I made.
I must say that I emerged a better person from my experiences in the pageant. Taking part in the Mutya ng Pilipinas was a blessing. I got to travel and learn more about my country, meet interesting people, build friendships, and above all know myself better.
During the pageant last June 8, I was voted by the judges as second runner-up in addition to being picked as Ms People's Choice. There was a bonus after all the blessings God gave me.
* * *
Frances Margaret H. Arreza, 20, is a journalism graduate of the University of Santo Tomas. She will represent the country at the 7th Ms Tourism International Pageant in Malaysia this December.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
|
Feedback: 
Frances Margaret Arreza's Tale