Jamie Herrell goes back to basics for the environment

MANILA, Philippines – For the new Ms. Philippines Earth, it all starts with a simple task.

Beauty, after all, is about being who you really are.

“Natural beauty for me is just being yourself,” Jamie Herrell told Rappler prior to the pageant last May 11. “Because some people don’t know how to maintain their body and their face and other things, [they think that’s the ultimate point], but at the end of the day, as a true person in and out, beauty is just being yourself,” she said.

In her pageant bio, Herrell wrote that one of her advocacies is to fight cruelty against animals. But she also emphasized the importance of starting with the basics when it comes to environmental conservation.

“Some people think that my advocacy is anti-animal cruelty, which for me is one of the things I want to accomplish. But as of now, my advocacy for Ms. Philippines-Earth is simply going back to basics in helping the environment because even the little things we do count and can make a big difference.”

“And for me it’s good to start with baby steps than going to the big steps, because sometimes you have to prepare yourself for the bigger things in life later on,” she explained.   

As she gears up for the upcoming Miss Earth pageant to be held end of the year, Herrell is aware of the pressure attached to it. After all, Karla Henry, a fellow Cebuana, won the title in 2008 and her predecessors have either placed in the top 5 or in the semi-finals.

Herrell vows to do her best.

“Whatever Carousel Productions wants me to do, I promised myself that I am going to work hard for them, that I don’t want them regrettng having chosen me as Miss Philippines Earth.”

“I want the whole Philippines and all Filipinos to know that the judges picked the right person to get this crown.”

Aside from going back to basics, Herrell said that proper communication is key to educating people about the environment.

“I used to be a Mass Com student so I think effective communication is the best way to educate people. So I guess I’ll go around to do public speaking, [attend] seminars, and be a role model.”

She is also looking forward to working with the rest of the girls: Ms. Earth Air Dianne Querrer, Ms. Earth Water Kim Covert, Ms. Earth Fire Bianca Paz, and Ms. Earth Eco-Tourism Monique Manuel, in promoting eco-tourism as part of the pageant’s theme this year. – Rappler.com