A beauty with a purpose
Newly-crowned 2014 Miss World-Philippines Valerie Weigmann benefitted from the so-called beginner’s luck by winning on her first time to join a beauty contest
Even before she competed in the Miss World-Philippines pageant, and winning on her first first try, Valerie “Val” Weigmann (pronounced Wayman) has been toeing the trademark of its bigger counterpart, the Miss World pageant which, as the oldest (since 1951) search, prides itself in propagating “Beauty with a Purpose.”
Turning 25 on Nov. 22 (a Scorpion-Sagittarian because her birthday falls on the transition between the two zodiac signs), Val stood out among the 27 aspirants for the title that entitles her to represent the country in the 2014 Miss World pageant on Dec. 14 in London with some pressure because the reigning queen, Megan Young, is from the Philippines. In the history of Miss World, there have been only two backto-back winners: Sweden’s Kerstin Hakansson (1951) and May Louise Flodin (1952), and India’s Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000).
A combination of beauty and brains, Val is half-German and half-Filipino. Her father, Luther Erich Weigmann, was German and part-Danish who died when Val was 14; while her mother, Lilia Clacio, is a pure Filipina from Albay.
With her stunning looks (5’10” tall, 115 lbs. and measuring 32-24-36) and intelligence, Val (handled by Aces & Queens, the group that has been grooming beauty queens) can easily draw attention from among the more than 80 expected Miss World candidates. Who knows?
How much of you is Filipino and how much is German? “I feel that I am 100 percent Filipino.
Napalapit na sa akin ang mga kapwa ko Filipino. I was born and raised in Germany, Wiesbaden near Frankfurt, but my mom and my dad made sure that we came to the Philippines every year for holiday so I could get the values and the traits of a true Filipino.”
Are you an only child?
“I have three half-siblings, pure Germans, on my father’s side and one halfsister, pure Pinay, on my mother’s side.”
How are you going to maintain your figure for the Miss World pageant?
“Uhm, with the help of Aces & Queens and the trainers of Venus (Raj), Shamcey (Supsup) and other queens. I’m also training with Bianca Guidotti, 2014 Bb. Pilipinas-International. We are aiming for a back-to-back win.”
Any tips from Megan? “After she crowned me as her successor, Megan told me, ‘Be yourself and enjoy the whole experience. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Don’t be stressed about anything. You have already proven enough, especially after this, the first journey. Everyone loves you for who you are.’ I will keep that in mind.”
After you were crowned, you told the media that your mom reminded you to always be kind to everybody. That was also what Megan said when she was crowned Miss World (in Bali, Indonesia).
“That’s what my parents have been reminding us siblings since we were young — be kind to everyone. I’ve met Megan’s mom, Tita Victoria (Talde-Young), and she reminded me so much of my own mom. She’s so nice, and she’s just as excited for me as she was for Megan when she competed in the Miss World pageant.”
As a beauty queen, will you still visit depressed areas as you did in Eat, Bulaga!’s Juan For All, All For Juan (with Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros)?
“Of course, I would! I already miss everybody in Eat, Bulaga! and the whole crew of Juan For All. I used to be with them 24/7. I’m so happy that they are so loyal to me, and for always reminding me, ‘Val, we love you for what you are.’ When we were visiting the barangays, I enjoy how they laughed at me, the way I was.”
I learned that the Bulaga people are impressed with your kindness.
“Somebody has to show everyone how to be kind to everyone, to care for each other. My dad used to remind me how beautiful the Philippines is, with beautiful tourist spots. He said, ‘But I also want you to see the depressed areas of the Philippines.’ My dad brought me to the (former) Smokey Mountain when I was six years old. He was a curious man. He loved the Philippines so much. He was a chef. My dad was my biggest inspiration in life.”
You reminded (especially) beauty enthusiasts of 2002 Miss Universe Oxana Fedorova (from Russia, dethroned four months after she won due to “bad behavior”) because you wore your hair the same way and you wore the same gown. Was it intentional or mere coincidence?
“A lot of people told me that pero ako, I’m just flattered to be compared to her because she was such a gorgeous woman, such a gorgeous representative of Miss Universe. I’ve been reading about her, what her life was.” What were you doing before Eat, Bulaga!? “I joined PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) Teen Edition when I was 18, bagets pa. I auditioned in Germany where I studied from grade school to college. I graduated with a degree in Communications. The practice in Germany is that, after graduation, you have to look for a job. I love to experience new things, so I tried several jobs such as graphic designer in an ad agency and as a photographer’s assistant. I wanted to work not in front but behind the camera.” How did you get into PBB? “My uncle is one of the biggest dealers of TFC (The Filipino Channel). He heard about the PBB auditions. There’s a big Filipino community in Germany. My friends and I were curious about the auditions, we were excited. Germany has its own Big Brother show. I got into PBB as representative of Europe. After I was evicted from PBB, I stopped for a while because I had to figure things out. I wanted to go around the Philippines and I wanted to learn more Tagalog. Mahiyain pa ako noon. Star Magic was getting me, but I said I wasn’t ready yet. They understood my situation naman. So I tried modeling. I met a lot of designers and, after doing a lot of VTRs, I did commercials. Bench got me. Ben Chan has been supporting me along the way. I was blessed.” And then, Eat, Bulaga!? “It was an OJT (On the Job Training). I started as a writer. I was excited to work for the longestrunning noontime show. Thirty-five years is amazing, isn’t it? So they told me to report to the set. As a writer, I would observe the location and visit the houses of the possible contestants for Juan For All and help with the idiot board. After three weeks, Jose was teasing me, ‘ Si Val, parang hindi naman OJT, eh.’ I said, ‘ Hindi, a,’ because all I was after was the experience on the set. He was saying, ‘Ang ganda naman ng OJT natin!’ I said, ‘ Oh my God, ako ba ‘yon? Grabe naman!’ Then, Jose said, ‘Tingnan mo mamaya.’ At isinama niya ako doon sa segment. That’s how it all started. A lot of people were naaaliw at nagulat naman ako.”
So you quit Bulaga for the Miss World-Philippines contest?
“Yes. A lot of people were pushing me to compete. They said, ‘Val, you’re 24 already and it’s your last chance to join. Malay mo baka ikaw ang manalo.’ I haven’t joined any beauty contest, so why not? Might as well try.”
Here’s a Miss World question: If your boyfriend made you choose between being Miss World and marrying him, what would you do?
“I would choose to reign as Miss World because of the experience. If my partner in life is supportive, he will understand kasi it’s only one year lang naman. It’s a rare chance for me to be a better person and to inspire others to be better persons, too, and be advocates of change. If he really loves me, he will be there with me and behind me.”
Is there any pressure of bringing home the Miss World crown two years in a row?
“Without pressure, there won’t be any excitement and any challenge. I’m always looking for challenges, I have set it as a goal in life — you know, I can do this, I can do that. The obstacle is myself, so if I push myself, I can do it. And I will do it for my country. Our OFWs are so hardworking and I want to give that back.”
My favorite finale question: Describe yourself in three words?
“Aside from being balanced? Relaxed, loving and kind.”
(Postscript: Over the weekend, Valerie and Miss World Philippines national director Cory Quirino went to Albay to distribute goods to the evacuees. Valerie was also honored by her fellow Albayanons.)
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