The Miss Globe 2021: Maureen the Marvelous
AFTER Ann Lorraine Colis in 2015, the Philippines now has a second The Miss Globe winner in Maureen Ann Montagne. The Fil-french/american, 28, bested 49 other beauties from around the globe in a pageant held in Tirana, Albania, early morning Saturday Manila time.
The Miss Globe is an annual international beauty pageant run and produced by Deliart Association since 2004 with headquarters in Canada. Since the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. acquired the franchise in 2015, our delegates have done exceptionally well in the global tilt. This is not to be confused, though, with its predecessor Miss Globe, which our Maricar Balagtas won in 2001.
GLOBAL BEAUTIES
AFTER Colis’ victory in 2015, Nichole Marie Manalo placed third runner-up in 2016, Nelda Dorothea Ibe was first runner-up in 2017, Michele Theresa Gumabao finished Top 15 in 2018, Leren Mae Bautista was second runner-up in 2019. Rowena Sasuluya, a Binibining Pilipinas 2019 candidate, was invited to compete last year and placed fourth runner-up.
During the preliminaries, Maureen was Top 2 in Miss Bikini, and a finalist in the head-to-head challenge and talent competition. Her court is composed of Nigeria’s Esther Ogechi Gabriell (first), Turkey’s Melike Bali (second), Venezuela’s Jhosskaren Smiller Carrizo Orozco (third) and Canada’s Hailey Hamelin-wilson (fourth). Last year’s winner was Lorinda Kolgeci of Kosovo.
PAGEANT JOURNEY
OUT of all our beauty queens, Maureen possesses the most extensive experience as she has competed in all the major pageant systems. At Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013, she finished as the first runner-up. As Miss Arizona USA 2015, she placed in the Top 15 at Miss USA 2015. She was Miss World America 2017 first runner-up.
Maureen won Century Tuna Superbods 2018. She then joined Miss World Philippines 2018, was crowned as Miss Eco Philippines 2018 and emerged as Miss Eco International 2019 first runner-up.
The winner, Peru’s Suheyn Cipriani, was later dethroned for getting pregnant and Maureen was offered the title. She refused. By then she was deep into Binibining Pilipinas 2020, representing Batangas, which rolled into 2021. Crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2021, she set her sights on Tirana. And the rest is herstory. “The BPCI Executive Committee is delighted with the double winnings of [Miss Intercontinental 2021] Cindy Obeñita and Maureen. Once a Binibini, always a Binibini,” says fashion director Raymond Villanueva.
GORGEOUS GARBS
MAUREEN’S marvelous performance is because of her modeling background as a Mercator Artist and Model Management Inc. talent (under Jonas Gaffud) and a prized ward at the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp (under Rodgil Flores). Patrick Isorena created her national costume, called “Sampaguita,” inspired by our national flower which symbolizes “fidelity, purity, devotion, strength and dedication—a perfect symbol of a modern Filipina.”
Her preliminary gown was made by Louis Pangilinan, a “fully hand-beaded metallic and lustrous gown with high slit from the Louis Pangilinan Fashion Empire collections. From a perspective, silver speaks volumes to one’s air of dignity and classiness—with the combination of the new beautiful and wit, it says the story titled ‘Maureen.”’
CAPTIVATINGLY ARTICULATE
MAUREEN’S final question was: Do you think beauty is a merit and how can we enrich it with other values?
Her answer? “I think that true beauty comes from within. To be a Miss Globe is to be a beauty that inspires. What makes us beautiful is our smiles, it is what we do for our community, it’s how we give back to others, and it’s how we carry ourselves through life. I believe that everyone has beauty inside of them and I believe it is our duty to share it with the world, give back, and truly inspire others.”
And when Mias Pilar Alcantara, Fil-canadian special correspondent to the pageant, asked her about her feeling and plans after winning, an overwhelmed Maureen replied:
“Thank you so much. I want to thank my parents for everything. I haven’t seen them in three years. The pandemic has been so hard. Even my journey with Miss Philippines was two years. So it has been such an honor and I can’t wait to celebrate with all of my Filipinos. Thank you so much for all your love and support. I felt your presence this entire pageant and this would not have been possible without you. Thank you so much and I hope to hit the ground running with my advocacies and feeding the hungry all around the globe.”