Welcome back, Mutya Datul!

Joyce Burton-Titular

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Mutya's Supranational crown is dedicated to her family

OUR OWN CINDERELLA. Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Datul glows at her victory party on Sept 9. All photos by Jory Rivera/OPMB

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ reputation as a pageant powerhouse took a giant leap with the victory of a Filipina in the Miss Supranational 2013 beauty pageant held last Sept 6 [Sept 7 PH time] in Minsk, Belarus.

READ: Mutya Datul is Miss Supranational 2013

GLOWING LIKE THE SUN. Mutya Datul surrounded by the other Miss Supranational candidates, all happy for her victory. Photo from the Miss Supranational Facebook page

Mutya Johanna Datul, who hails from the town of Sta Maria in the province of Isabela, bested 82 other beauties from all over the world, winning the crown and the Miss Personality special award, and becoming the first-ever Filipina and Asian to win Miss Supranational.

READ: Mutya Datul is Miss Personality at Supranational 2013

The 5’8” stunner won the right to represent the Philippines in the international beauty tilt when she won the Supranational Philippines title during the Bb Pilipinas 2013 Gold pageant last March.

Bb 39: Mutya Johanna Datul, 20, Isabela

WAITING FOR MUTYA. The banquet hall of Gloria Maris in Gateway, Cubao, where the victory presscon was held

At her welcome party in Gloria Maris, Gateway Mall, Cubao the evening of Sept 9, the self-confessed “probinsyana” [country girl] greeted the press and apologized for being several hours late. She admitted that she got confused and missed her flight since it was her first time to travel abroad, alone.

READ: Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Datul returns to Manila

In Filipino, she said, “First of all I want to say sorry that I made you all wait so long. This is not the first time I got lost. I also missed my flight on the way to Belarus!”  

The highlight of the victory party was when Mutya talked about the closed door interview with the judges. She explained that the contestants entered the room in groups of 5 and they all had to answer the same question: Tell us about yourself and why you want to be Miss Supranational.

A FUNNY STORY. Mutya talks about her funny interview experience at the Miss Supranational pageant

Jokingly, she told this story, which drew much laughter from the crowd:

“The other 4 girls were like newscasters. They spoke too much. I was just listening and falling asleep. Honestly! I knew the judges felt the same way. So when it was my turn, I woke them up by saying ‘Mabuhay!’

“Then I introduced myself in their language. After that, I went straight to the point, saying, ‘I want to become Miss Supranational because this is my ultimate dream and I want it more! I want to be an ambassadress, a good example and give inspiration to many different people.’ 

“I think the judges loved me because I kept it short and to the point!”

The loudest to laugh in the audience of press folk was news reporter Patricia Fernandez, a former Bb Pilipinas titleholder herself. Even TV presenters from the different networks laughed at the candor of the newly-crowned beauty queen.

TOUCHING MOMENT. Mutya with her parents and siblings on stage

The most heartwarming part of the night was when Mutya’s family went up on stage. Her mother, father and 3 out of 5 siblings were there to welcome her. For a moment, they hugged and cried together.

According to the beauty queen, her family has always been her inspiration in life and that she joined pageants so she could raise money to help support them. Her Supranational crown is dedicated to them.

VICTORY FOR THE FAMILY. Part of Mutya's winnings will go to her mom's medication, her siblings' education and personal savings

Although Mutya did not expect to win, she says she had a strong premonition she would.

“Right before I set foot on Belarus, I suddenly saw myself returning with a crown on my head. I don’t know why I saw that! And then when the two hosts [on coronation night] said that the winner comes from ‘far, far, far away,’  I suddenly felt something heavy on my head.”

And before she knew it, the Philippines was announced and she was being crowned the winner. 

As Miss Supranational 2013, Mutya also wins a heavy purse: US$25,000 which she says will go to her mother’s daily medication [mom Perly Datul suffers from a blood condition called aplastic anemia], the education of her 5 siblings and a savings account for the future.

LOVING DAUGHTER. Mutya wipes her mom's forehead as her dad gives a message

AS IT HAPPENS: Miss Supranational 2013

Mutya also intends to remain in Manila to work as a model and perhaps make it as an actress so she can continue to provide for her family.

HER VICTORY IS THEIR VICTORY. Bb Pilipinas 2013 1st runner-up Pia Wurtzbach, Bb Pilipinas-Tourism Joanna Cindy Miranda, Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Johanna Datul, Bb Pilipinas-Universe Ariella Arida and Bb Pilipinas-International Bea Rose Santiago

But before that can happen, she has a year of duties to fulfill as Miss Supranational 2013. Mutya said, “Next month [Oct], I will return to Belarus so I can meet the past winners of Supranational. We will be travelling to different countries starting with Panama.”  

Panama is an important nation to the Supranational franchise; its founding organization, the World Beauty Association, is based there. The pageant itself is quite young — only on its 5th year — but it has quickly established itself as a prestigious competition, attracting over 80 nations this year alone.

In 2012, the Philippines also performed well when Elaine Kay Moll, sent by Bb Pilipinas, won 3rd runner-up.

Mutya’s victory coincides with the Gold [50th] Anniversary of the Bb. Pilipinas organization. Before her win, the last time a Bb Pilipinas queen brought home a major international crown was in 2005, when Lara Quigaman was proclaimed Miss International in Tokyo, Japan.  

A LEAP FOR THE PHILIPPINES. Mutya with Bb Pilipinas pageant director Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta

As Mutya Datul begins her reign as an international beauty queen, she only has this to say:  

“I am very thankful to the Bb Pilipinas team and to Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta for giving me this chance. I hope that I can be faithful in my duties as a Bb Pilipinas winner and as Miss Supranational 2013.” – Rappler.com

Bb Pilipinas is holding a grand victory parade featuring Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Datul on Sept 10, 4:30pm at the Pavilion in Gateway, Araneta Center.

You can also read:

Joyce Burton-Titular

Joyce Burton-Titular is a Filipina beauty queen with two Binibining Pilipinas titles: Miss Young Philippines 1980 and Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1985. She currently keeps a beauty queen blog calledAdventures of a Beauty Queen.

Joyce has more than a decade of experience as a news presenter. Her main work today is voicing — hers is the voice that reminds you to fasten your seatbelt and turn off your cellular phone when you fly Cebu Pacific.

Joyce is a mother of two, wife of one and the slave of 7 dogs and 7 cats.

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