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CHIANG RAI, Thailand – When Filipinos watch the 2013 Miss Universe pageant this November 9 (November 10, Philippine time), they can cheer not just for the Philippine representative, Ariella “Ara” Arida, but also for two other Pinay beauties: Riza Santos of Canada and Alixes Scott of Guam.
Out of the 3, Riza Santos, whose parents are both Filipino, is by far the most accomplished in the world of pageants. She is a triple national pageant winner having represented Canada in Miss Earth 2006, Miss World 2011 and now Miss Universe 2013.
Riza, who was raised in Calgary, Alberta, is also the most controversial queen among the 3 Pinays, but not because of her own doing.
When she competed in Miss Universe Canada 2013, she was announced the 1st runner-up to Denise Garrido. However, one day later, pageant organizers admitted a mistake was made in the scoring process and that Riza was the true winner. She was crowned a week later as the official Miss Universe Canada 2013.
“Pinoy Big Brother” fans will remember Riza as a housemate in the Celebrity Edition of the show in 2007, where she placed second to Ruben Gonzaga. Speaking of housemates, Riza happens to be the roommate of Ariella Arida in Moscow, and the two have reportedly hit it off quite well.
Given the number of Filipinos in Guam, it isn’t surprising that the other Filipina in the fray is Miss Guam Alixes Polendey Scott. The Hawaii-born beauty queen is part-Filipino (she moved to Guam when she was one year old) and in her official Miss Universe profile she boasts about having visited the Philippines.
The confirmation of a 3rd Filipina was made by Ariella Arida herself when she posted on Instagram her photo with Riza and Alixes (see lead photo) saying, “Mabuhay ang Pinay!” (Long live the Filipina!)
Out of the 3 rivals for the crown, Alixes Scott is the youngest at 18. She’s the sporty type who loves adventure and travel. She lists exploring caves, hiking, swimming as well as rugby and volleyball as among her favorite activities.
There would have been a 4th Filipina in the pageant if the reports about Gabon’s representative, Jennifer Ondo, were true.
Earlier this year, news began to circulate that the African queen’s mother was Filipina. However, this author sent Jennifer a tweet to confirm, and she replied saying both her parents are Gabonese but added that she had origins in the Philippines.
@joycetitular. Everybody say me that. I m gaboness by my father and my mother. BUt i have some origins to filipine
— Jennifer ondo (@MissGabon2013) July 31, 2013
With two Filipinas, one part-Filipino and another who says she has Filipino origins, the Philippines can claim that it’s definitely more fun in the Miss Universe beauty pageant this year!
If you missed the November 5 Preliminary Competition, here’s the Rappler live blog.
The 2013 Miss Universe coronation night takes place on November 9 (November 10, Philippine time) at the Crocus City Hall, Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia. Watch out for the Rappler live blog. – With reports from Lex Librea/Rappler.com
The 2013 Miss Universe Official Fan Vote is ongoing until November 8. The winner will automatically be included in the semi-finals. (To vote for Ariella Arida, click here.) Voters are required to have a valid email address, and can vote for up to 100 times a day. To vote, go to http://www.missuniverse.com or http://www.telemundo.com.
You can also read:
- Glitz and politics as Russia hosts Miss Universe for first time
- AS IT HAPPENS: 2013 Miss Universe Preliminary Competition
- 2012 Miss Universe Olivia Culpo: ‘Filipinos are the greatest fans’
- Ariella Arida: Tough contender in 2013 Miss Universe
- IN PHOTOS: 2013 Miss Universe National Costume competition
- Ariella Arida competes in National Costume at Miss Universe 2013
- Watch! Miss Universe-Philippines Ariella Arida plays ‘Truth and Dare’
- Ariella Arida’s official Miss Universe photos released
- Watch! Miss Universe-PH Ariella Arida: ‘Whatever happens is God’s will for me’
- Miss Universe-PH Ariella Arida leaves for Moscow
- 10 things you don’t know about Miss Universe-PH Ariella Arida
- Miss Universe Philippines 2013: ‘I’m prepared’
- Bb 41: Ariella Arida, 24, Laguna
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 called Adventures 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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