THE LUCKY ONE: a CONSTRUCTIVIST STUDY on PAGEANT WOMEN's CONCEPTUALIZATION of EMPOWERMENT MA. REGINA JANINA B. ALZAGA Submitte

Home , Aurora Pijuan, Carousel Productions, Cory Quirino, Karla Henry, Miriam Quiambao, Miss International 2005

THE LUCKY ONE:

A CONSTRUCTIVIST STUDY ON PAGEANT WOMEN‘S CONCEPTUALIZATION OF

EMPOWERMENT

MA. REGINA JANINA B. ALZAGA

Submitted to the

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

University of the Philippines Manila

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

June 2015 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The completion of this thesis would not be, in any way, possible without the help and contribution of these significant people:

First, my thesis adviser, Prof. Claire Berja, who has been so patient with me while it took me so long working on my data. Ma‘am Claire has been providing instructive and constructive comments, not to mention her words of wisdom, since the semester when I first presented my thesis proposal.

I would also like to thank my research participants, the pageant titlists, for sharing their busy schedules with me just so I could have their insights and experiences as first- hand references for my research; as well as to my research informants, Prof. Nathalie

Verceles of UP Diliman College of Social Work and Community Development, and Vian

Bautista of GABRIELA-National, for giving their insights on women empowerment.

Besides the technical help of the people mentioned above are the significant contributions - in the form of wisdom, encouragement, and good vibes - of some beloved people: Slye, who became my constant thesis buddy and adviser, and is - I believe - a gift from Heaven for me to endure hell, a.k.a. Polsci subjects plus Pre-Law plus thesis plus life in between combo; Krish, Vince, Anch, and the ―unit people‖, who genuinely tolerated me and my insanity for months-worth of all-nighters; Juris, Ger, and Ehcel, who went with me when I had to interview my research participants in different areas of QC; and other friends who gave me doses of cheer up and you can do it.

I would also like to thank my parents and my lola, of course, for their financial support - that I was able to afford the high cost of my thesis - from participant-hunting and interview, to all the cups of coffee, coping drinks, and midnight snacks and happy meals; for their patience with me and my stress-induced moodswings; and for their constant reminder that I should, for real, finish this thesis.

All the glory to GOD!

DEDICATION

For my beloved family,

and for You, Lord!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page 1

Acknowledgments 2

Dedication 3

Table of Contents 4

Introduction 5

Review of Related Literature 10

Research Problem 16

Methodology 17

Analysis and Discussion 21

Conclusion 31

Recommendation 33

References 34

Appendices 36

“When you‟re alone all by yourself, and you‟re lying in your bed; reflection stares right into you, are you happy with yourself?”

This is just some of the many striking lines from the song, Pretty Hurts, by

Beyonce. The song‘s video (besides the lyrics itself) powerfully presents how a beauty pageant runs and what pageant women go through just to compete for the crown. It kind of leaves a rhetorical question as to whether or not beauty queens are – for the crown‘s sake – happy or fulfilled with what they do, what they have, or what they had gone through. Perhaps they should feel lucky - that among the many aspiring women, they are the ones chosen as pretty? As deserving? As a beauty queen? But as Taylor Swift quotes in her 2012 song:

“They tell you that you‟re lucky but you‟re so confused „cos you don‟t feel pretty, you just feel used.”

Now, before this thesis becomes a compilation of song lyrics (which the researcher secretly likes and have been LSS-ed with for weeks), let the researcher present you: The Lucky One: A constructivist study on pageant women’s conceptualization of empowerment.

It is of no doubt that empowerment of women is a serious matter to give emphasis on, especially in this era that women have been aware about and – to some extent – progressively fighting for their rights as equally significant members of the society.

On another note, beauty pageants have, for how many decades now, gained an empowering reputation and popularity patronized by people regardless of age, race, and gender. Its eminence transcends from the littlest of local barangays and municipalities, up to the national and international spheres. In the Philippines, among the prestigious

5 national beauty pageants are: Mutya ng Pilipinas, Miss Earth Philippines, Miss World

Philippines, and Binibining Pilipinas.

While it has gained much popularity and has developed as much influence, pageantry has also not been safe from the disfavor of critics especially of those advocates of women‘s rights. They argue about these beauty pageants as just another form of objectification of women.

However, not all people view pageants as an objectification, not even in the slightest way as some critics do. Women in pageants, of course, would not want to consider themselves as being objectified when they even bring the most effort that they can to win the glorious, prestigious crown. These women, rather, believe that joining pageants empower them and that they get this special kind of fulfillment as they are regarded as role models, idols, and pride of their countries, their communities, their barangays, and most especially their families – from immediate members up to their farthest bloodlines.

On raison d’etre

As to give light on the perspective of the different prestigious beauty pageants in the Philippines, the researcher provides a summary of these pageants‘ history, purposes, and banner advocacies. As referenced from their official press sites:

Mutya ng Pilipinas.

With its original name of Miss Asia Quest Inc., Mutya ng Pilipinas was born on

1968 by the initiative of a group of professionals and civic-minded businessmen with the principal mission of promoting Philippine tourism overseas. Over the decades of adhering to preserve the ideal standards in pageantry systems, it has continued to be promoting the exquisite beauty of the Filipino women, their intelligence, with their

6 confidence to continuously boost the tourism for the country. It, moreover, ―is motivated by its ideals to support Tourism, Social Responsibility, Fashion, and Beauty pageantry

— a fusion which differentiates itself from other pageants.‖ Winners are given titles as:

Mutya ng Pilipinas – Asia Pacific International, Mutya ng Pilipinas – Tourism

International, and Mutya ng Pilipinas – Overseas Communities. Major titlists are sent to the international competitions as Philippines‘ representatives - who go, as Mutya claims, go ―deeper into the epitome of beauty inside and out,‖ and magnify the real essence of beauty worldwide.

Miss Earth Philippines.

With the popular aspirations of many women to be a beauty queen, Carousel

Productions, Inc. has decided to ―reinvent and improve the concept of beauty competitions for the new millennium‖, with their vision of beauty queens as effective advocates of certain worthy causes. Together with the Miss Earth Foundation in 2001,

Carousel Productions, Inc. organized and launched the Miss Philippines-Earth beauty pageant in which the candidates promote and involve themselves in the movement of preserving and protecting the environment through various environmental awareness advocacies and programs. Whoever wins the pageant shall represent the country to the

Miss Earth pageant, one of the most prestigious beauty pageants in the international realm; moreover, the winner shall be regarded as an Ambassador to the different environmental campaigns in the country.

Miss World Philippines.

Beauty with a purpose. Coined by the President of the Miss World Organization,

Julia Morley, Miss World beauty pageant has, for more than 35 years, been an outstanding fund-raising activity supporting children‘s charities from across the globe

7 and extending help to hundreds of people in need. ―Charity work is integral to the Miss

World ethos and part of the brief to contenders in each country is that they volunteer their time or fundraise for charity. All of the money raised goes to the nominated cause and the entrants‘ records are credited with details of their personal contribution.‖

Inspired by the Miss World‘s slogan, "Beauty with a Purpose," the Philippine, led by its director Cory Quirino, adopted the theme "Beauty in Giving." As Quirino quotes, ―and this is why, our winner and her court will put her beauty to good use by caring for the marginalized women and children of the Philippines through various charities, namely,

Tuloy Streetchildren Village and the PGH Medical Foundation... It is time for the world to see and to behold the beauty, the goodness and the brilliance of the Filipina and through her, the wondrous beauty that is the Philippines.‖ She who wins the pageant becomes the Miss World-Philippines and competes internationally in the Miss World pageant. Just recently, Megan Young was the Filipina crowned Miss World 2011.

Binibining Pilipinas.

A project of the Bb Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), a non-profit organization with its primary mission of spreading peace and love across the nation, Bb Pilipinas pageant, celebrating its golden years, has been the organization‘s instrument in raising funds for its projects catering the less fortunate members of the Philippine society. It, according to

BPCI, produces the country‘s best beauties not just to represent our country in various well-renowned international competitions, but also to be carriers of the message of hope and love through their humanitarian missions. Among its roster of beauty queens who brought pride to the Philippines with their international beauty pageant crowns are:

Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969; Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973; Aurora Pijuan,

Miss International 1970; Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979; Ruffa Gutierrez,

Miss World 1993 2nd Princess; Miriam Quiambao, Miss Universe 1999 1st Runner-up;

Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005; Venus Raj, Miss Universe 2010 4th

Runner-up; Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner-up; and Janine Tugonon,

Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Beauty pageants are projected as a way of promoting women – representation, expression, and empowerment of women (or of people through women) in the society.

Projections of empowerment are said to be in response to the many criticisms that beauty pageants are protested with. As discussed in the research study on Miss

America pageant by Brook Matthews (2003) entitled, ―Miss America Contestants and the

Self: Evidence for Empowerment‖, Miss America pageant has received several negative responses from the society which, in fact, led to protests that began in the 1920s. Such protests pushed the Miss America Organization for some systematic changes and legitimization of the pageant as a way of empowering their women, particularly through awarding scholarships and, according to the Miss America‘s mission statement, helping them ―achieve their personal and professional goals and (letting them) express their opinions, talents, and intelligence.‖

In the Philippines, many pageant institutions project its aim as for the good of women and even of the members of the lower sectors of the society, i.e. poor children and families. For instance, the Bb Pilipinas pageant is established to fund for the humanitarian projects of Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. According to the organization, they present their beauty queens not just as representatives of our country to the international competitions but also as promoters of hope, love, and charity. They project this pageant to be of humanitarian advocacy addressing the poor and underserved members of the nation.

In an October 2013 article from the official online publication of International

Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) entitled, ―More than a game of crowns: The global political economy of beauty pageants‖, pageantry is viewed to be a battle for glory, recognition and respect among countries. The beauty queen, therefore,

10 becomes like a diplomat who assumes the responsibility of showing to the international audience what her country has to offer or what she can contribute to the advancement of an advocacy (Jison, 2013). It even used Megan Young, the Filipina who was crowned

Miss World 2013 - as an example, in particular, of such portrayal as becoming a cultural diplomat - when Young was chosen to perform in Dances of the World segment of Miss

World 2013 and gave a piece of Filipino culture to an audience who may not have seen a performance of Singkil, a traditional dance among Muslims in the Southern Philippines; and Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry - becoming an environmental diplomat - when she committed a year of service to promote environmental projects and raise awareness to various environmental issues around the world. As the article concludes, a beauty queen may not only be a source of national pride but also a reflection of her country‘s national identity.

However, despite the ―noble raison d‘etre‖ that these pageant institutions project for rationalizing its essence, beauty pageants still have had a ―meat market‖ reputation in which young women‘s bodies are displayed and glared at by many viewers.

Beauty pageants, still, are criticized as a form of objectification.

Objectifying women through beauty pageants

Pageant contestants are said to be objectified through a ―visual inspection of the body‖ and manifests in two areas as such a) during the stage competition, and b) on a day-to-day basis done by their competitors, coaches, judges, and the judgment of their viewers.

In the (1997) women‘s study, ―Objectification Theory,‖ by Barbara Fredrickson and Tomi-Ann Roberts, objectification theory is used as a framework for understanding the experiential consequences of being a female in a culture that sexually objectifies the female body. This theory of objectification, as distinct from explanations of why

11 objectification occurs, works on a given premise that ―women exist in a culture in which their bodies are - for whatever reasons – looked at, evaluated, and always potentially objectified‖.

Objectification.

The experience of ―being treated as a body - or collection of body parts - valued predominantly for its use to - or consumption by - others‖ (Fredrickson and Roberts,

1997) is something that is common in all forms of [sexual] objectification. It varies, however, on how they experience and respond to whichever kind of sexual objectification, as determined by ethnicity, class, sexuality, age, and other physical and personal attributes, creating unique sets of experiences across women of particular groups. Yet, this theory proposes that ―having a reproductively mature female body creates a shared social experience‖ - a vulnerability to sexualization.

Sexualization is, according to the Objectification Theory, a "socially sanctioned right of all males to sexualize all females, regardless of age or status" occurring in different forms not just through sexual violence, but also through sexualized evaluation.

Among the many ways of sexualized evaluation is a very subtle form - termed as the

―gaze.‖

Objectifying gaze, as cited in the article, is played out in three related arenas:

1) occurs within actual interpersonal and social encounters.

a. Women are gazed at more than men

b. Women are more likely to feel "looked at" in interpersonal

encounters

c. Men direct more non-reciprocated gaze toward women

than vice versa, particularly in public places

d. Men's gazing is often accompanied by sexually evaluative

commentary, which tends to be most derogatory when

aimed at women of color.

2) Occurs in visual media that depict interpersonal and social

encounters.

3) People's encounters with visual media that spotlight bodies

and body parts and seamlessly align viewers with an implicit

sexualizing gaze.

Objectification implicitly persuades women to adopt a ―peculiar view of self‖ – as theorized to be through a kind of socialization that the culture of objectification imposes.

Effective socialization, according to the article, begins in compliance to minimally sufficient external pressures, proceeding through interpersonal identification, until individuals then claim ownership of socialized values and attitudes - often by incorporating them into their sense of self.

Self-objectification

In a form of self-consciousness characterized by habitual monitoring, at varying degrees, of the body's outward appearance, women are acculturated to ―internalize an observer's perspective as a primary view of their physical selves.‖ Women are led to believe that they are ―sights to be appreciated by others.‖ This perspective, in turn, can increase women's opportunities for shame and anxiety, reduce opportunities for peak motivational states, and diminish awareness of internal bodily states. It can, moreover, provoke pressure upon these women to meet these expectations, lose their ―sense of self‖ and may even develop further psychological circumstances leading to mental health problems. Among the mental health risks affecting women are: unipolar depression, sexual dysfunction, and eating disorders. Objectification theory also highlights why these

13 mental health risksmay contribute to life-course changes in the female body

(Frederickson & Roberts, 1997).

On a slightly different view, this habitual monitoring of the body might be a strategy for some women to help determine how other people will treat them.

Self-power

According to Matthews (2003), it is essential to maintain a sense of personal power in a world of pageants, especially in the face of objectification. ―In doing so, these young women may have found a strength that could be used to help other women overcome the negative impacts of objectification… …some contestants subversively view objectification, thereby turning their situation into an opportunity of personal growth.‖ As used in the thesis on Miss America, pageantry as a way of empowerment is analyzed through a framework claiming that a strong sense of self is a form of personal power, and therefore, a state of empowerment.

Empowerment

Women in these pageants cling onto their idea of empowerment - showing the world of one‘s beautiful self is being beautiful; being beautiful is being strong; hence, empowered.

However, how one is being empowered seems a little too vague. The term

―empowerment‖ itself has gone way beyond its course, with it being overused – or to some, misused. There have been various concepts as to which empowerment is defined and contextualized.

In Laxmi Devi‘s (1998) book, ―Women Empowerment and Societal Improvement‖, empowerment is defined as the powers and/or abilities to handle responsibilities, to

14 envision a better future, and to overcome the obstacles in achieving one‘s fundamental needs and goals. It manifests as in one‘s role in the household, in one‘s opinion about work, and in one‘s involvement in the society.

With a drastic, dynamic change in the perception and expectation from women in the society (Laxmi1998), the establishment of the idea of women empowerment presumes that there is something to address about women, i.e., the fact that women are pushed to the inferior. There arose an awareness about women and their status in the society, moreover the perception that women, seen as the ‗second gender,‘ have yet to prove something in order to be of value. There is even this question of nature or nurture:

Are women inherently weaker? Do women, by nature, become more likely to fail, fall, or stumble?

RESEARCH PROBLEM

As how a constructivist sees it, reality is relative; how one makes sense of one thing may be different with how others do. Case in point, a woman‘s take on a certain experience might be different with another‘s; how a pageant contestant anticipates the idea of self-power or empowerment might be different with how a quiz bee contestant does.

It is in this idea that the researcher thought of venturing onto the world of beauty queens – how is it to be in their realities; what is in their realities. How pageant women came to conceptualize their idea of empowerment?

This study thereby aims:

 to describe how they, as beauty queens, perceive empowerment;

 to understand how such perception came to being - particularly the process of

shaping their perception, with certain variables contributing to such formation;

 to identify the factors, i.e. family, school, etc., which might have had an effect on

their perception (of self and of empowerment)

METHODOLOGY

Guided by a constructivist paradigm - with the premise given above as an important point to consider - the researcher did a neutral and dialectical probing in order to correctly interpret the subject‘s interpretation of its own reality.

Symbolic Interactionism. The researcher is also guided by a premise that what and how an individual acts is based primarily on how it perceives its reality; case in point, how women in pageants perceive empowerment determines what they do before, during, and even after the pageant.

Social constructivist theory. This researcher considers some (meaning-making) institutions that might be affecting the perceptions of these women (i.e., family, pageant institutions, etc).

Objectification theory. Citing Fredrickson & Roberts (1997), the researcher uses self-objectification and self-power as variables in determining the process of these pageant women‘s ―way towards empowerment.‖

Empowered-self theory: power of ―I‖. The researcher considers that an individual‘s idea on empowerment might be based merely on an experiential or individual perspective; in other words, one might say that one is empowered solely because one acquires what one believes as empowering.

Different conceptual elements - dependent, independent, and intervening variables – are used as to identify how women in these pageants are led to their perception of empowerment.

Dependent variables pertain to the beauty queens‘ perception of empowerment, regardless of whether or not empowerment is what they get from joining these pageants.

How they handle external pressures - the influential factors, i.e., past experiences, pressures and/or frustrations caused by its environment, people's judgment, etc. - might have led them into how they perceive (internal pressures) and how much they would want to achieve empowerment. Moreover, as presupposed, mechanisms and/or processes became instrumental to this formation of a perception. In other words, there are connecting factors between how these women perceive empowerment and what brought them such perception. The researcher shall look upon and consider these intervening variables, i.e., dominant societal perception of empowerment or of being empowered; the perception, criticisms or acceptance of pageant viewers; the pageant institutions themselves; pressures from the society, institutions or close environment surrounding these women, whether of family, peers, or even the popular media.

In order to materialize the variables of this research, the researcher conducted an intrinsic case study. This process was done through in-depth, semi-structured interviews – in which the researcher used probed and explored on further follow-up questions which sustain for a proper interpretation of the informants‘ perceptions.

The interviews were done with the beauty queens from prestigious beauty pageants as its key respondents. The researcher also consulted an expert on women studies in order to be guided with more objective knowledge on women empowerment and the popular culture of beauty pageants, and a progressive advocate on women‘s rights for a deeper view on the empowerment of women.

It is important to note, however, that the key respondents were pageant titlists of prestigious pageants. The researcher acknowledges that the perceptions and/or realizations of other pageant women who were less fortunate – in other words, those who did not win any title – might be different to that of those who successfully got the crown. Moreover, the researcher failed to interview beauty queens of the past decades

(i.e., 1960s, 1970s, 1980s). It can also be considered that their realities during their time were different to what and how they are now, in other words, there could have been some changes as to how these women, through time, perceive empowerment.

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

It has become a normal occurrence that beauty pageants do not require women to be of high intellect. Since people dwell on a certain social norm - that is on the concept of ―beauty and brains‖ - and that many, if not most, women who join beauty pageants do not meet what is set by such norm, beauty queens are usually not expected to be intellectuals. Thus, they are occassionally belittled, and oftentimes associated with the connotations such as being ―maganda lang‖ and/or ―puro arte lang‖.

However, a respondent expressed that beauty queens should not be belittled as such, for being one, in fact, requires too much - from the processes they had to undergo, to the changes and sacrifices they had to make - before, during, and even after the course of the pageant. Because there are terms of what or how beauty queens ought to be, these women struggle and become so driven and immersed into the competition, while trying to meet the standards, if not perfection.

Consequently, beauty pageants feed society‘s stereotypes on women (and on beauty) - wherein beauty queens are used as ―models‖ (i.e., on how to look like a beauty queen; on how to act like a lady), as mirrored in the dominant standards existing through the meaning making institutions. These insitutions - such as the market and the popular media - have the hegemonic capacity to set ―what should be‖ or ―which is better‖ in the perception and acceptance of the society, which in turn 1) force women in pageants to conform; and 2) build up insecurities among women outside pageants, through comparisons and self-monitoring.

Beauty pageants moreover restrain beauty queens on self-expression. This is through the criteria of judging, as set by the institution and as sustained by the viewers.

Because candidates are compelled to be something ―better‖ or something that is more appealing to the judgment of the people in and outside the pageant, women in pageants

21 are restrained into somebody they are not, or to act with something they ought not to – contrary to the customary design of pageantry as letting women express themselves.

On reason/s for joining

These women enter the competition since they see it as 1) an impermanent phase towards 2) a certain post-pageant opportunity, for reasons that they have bigger dreams to follow and/or bigger needs to address. Women in pageants become so determined to win that they give their best in every part of the whole process. Women in pageants do their best to succeed; sometimes up to the point of exhausting all means.

In some cases, women who join pageants have had experiences on being insulted, bullied, and/or hurt. Such experience/s developed in them thoughts of inferiority and a kind of eagerness to prove themselves, to the people and even to their own selves.

These women, moreover, try and/or struggle to break stereotypes on beauty queens and on women in general. These women feel that they are empowered when they see themselves overcoming a certain stigma – i.e., through their educational attainment; their attributes/capabilities which are not popular to the set standards.

These judgments and stereotypes – or, as to the many cases revealed by a respondent, forms of objectification – are, moreover, answered by a notion that it is a woman‘s responsibility to resist any form of abuse. It is, as transcended over time, in the candidates‘ own perception and/or in people‘s judgment, because of the acknowledgment of a patriarchal society and that people believe that women should be aware of this; hence, as one respondent believes, it is women‘s responsibility to first and foremost take care of themselves. In this light, women in pageants become either watchful of their environment and get rid of a possible harm, or merely let themselves sink into the pit of the status quo.

On being empowered

Women‘s frustrations, as mentioned earlier, led them to a self-assurance that they are able to do something which they perceive they can be good or better at. They sublimated these frustrations, including the achievement of goals and exploration of opportunities, with such self-power. Such is supported by how these candidates perceive themselves and how they are assumed to improve throughout the process (trainings, workshops, etc. that the candidates undergo). Women in pageants attain a certain development in their sense of self.

―Role model paradigm‖. These beauty queens strive to attain ascendancy and to meet the expectations of the ―eyes looking out‖ on them. It is either:

A. self-empowering, because

1. they feel that people look up to them, and

2. they are compelled to be at their best self because people look up

to them, therefore

3. they get inspired to be an inspiration ;

B. self-objectifying, because

1. they feel that people look up to them, and

2. they are compelled to be at their best self because people look up

to them, therefore

3. they get anxious due to the feeling that people look up to them.

Furthermore, these women are said to be still judged even after the pageant – through how society looks at and treats beauty queens – since these women have already gained an established status as beauty queens, and that the society is ―on the

23 lookout‖ on whether or not these beauty queens achieve the standard. Consequently, women in pageants are affected, pressured, and/or burdened by the judgment of other people; even to the extent of having their daily routine affected.

However, as what most of these respondents said, these women in pageants feel empowered with their ascent to influence others in the light of the idea of being appreciated and being a ―role model‖ to their family, to the community, and to the extent of the mass media. Furthermore, for them, the act of joining pageants itself is empowering for women, with or without winning –through the idea of being able to set themselves ―free‖ from any inhibition (i.e., economic status, insecurities, etc.) Women in pageants, moreover, feel a special kind of fulfillment, being able to express themselves and/or their advocacies, and inspire others with their experiences and achievements

TOWARDS AN “EMPOWERED I” Pageant women’s quest to a sense of self-empowerment

PROCESS PROCESSES PROPERTIES DIMENSION CONTEXT OUTCOME

How these women monitor External. Respondent 2 was mocked  Drive for self- and perceive their self and as not beautiful enough; affirmation and for the their environment - i.e., she believed that she can achievement of a experiences; people be even better than some certain goal surrounding them; other beauty contestants. (economic/social/physical) attributes and status - Respondent 3 had a Reception of environment which led them to : simple life as a

probinsiyana (normalized a. feeling and/or subcultures); seeing themselves was exposed to beauty as inferior; and/or pageantries (i.e., local b. their frustrations to beauty contests) even achieve and/or during her childhood. prove something

 urge to prove their Internal. Respondent 2 wanted to  Recognizing a personal worth or the fact prove people wrong for power (―power of I‖) that they are more mocking her as not which they utilize as than how they are beautiful. they adapt themselves seen to the environment, Process of self-affirmation Respondent 3 aimed for a processes, and realization of a passion, standards of pageant and how such passion can institutions contribute to achieve what she really dreamt of.  beauty pageantry seen as an Respondent 1 was inspired opportunity for to challenge the stereotype

achieving a certain that beauty pageants are goal and/or as a only about beauty, powerful tool to regardless of the other attest to their self- attributes of a woman. confirmation (―puro arte lang‖)

 submission to the Internal and external. Respondents 1, 2, 3  Recognition of the fact standards of a) the underwent trainings and that stereotypes on pageant institution; some changes as required beauty queens (and on and b) the people throughout the process. women in general) do exist, which then lead Conforming to the status  with a (―when you‟re part of the- them to quo determination to the pageant, you‟ll realize.. succeed, as shown how hard it is to be a  their drive to overcome in the amount of beauty queen, and the these stigmas effort they give things that we have to towards winning undergo to become one‖)

 Strengthened Internal. Respondent 1 felt that  Self-empowerment. personality since she won in a national (personal growth) and international pageant,  Defined power many other women of high Overcoming stigmas  Influence / intellect were inspired to through the “power of I” Ascendancy enter pageantry as well.  Fulfilling a purpose Respondent 3 strongly believes that it helped her become an inspiration (especially on beauty standards, i.e., skin color).

As mentioned in the framework of this research, Empowered-self theory or the theory of the power of “I” assumes that one‘s idea on empowerment might be based on an experiential or individual perspective, or that one might say that one is empowered solely because one acquires what one believes as empowering.

Professor Nathalie Verceles from the Department of Women and Development Studies of UP

Diliman CSWCD describes empowerment as self-defined. It is likewise unfair for one individual to determine what applies as empowering for all women. To quote:

―So in many ways, it‘s also self-defined. If you feel that you are stronger, that you‘re fulfilling your potential, you‘re growing. Eh siguro you are being empowered. Diba yun „yung empowerment? You want to be able to live a life that matters to us. ‗Di ba? And to be able to do it without any impediments. If they feel they‘re self-actualizing..‖

Towards an Empowered “I‖ (Table 2) is a narration of a presupposed process of how these beauty queens attain self-empowerment. Derived from the conditional relationship guide (see: Table

1 in the Index part) is a pattern with consistent variables which seem to denote common stories.

(Note that tables 1 and 2 provide merely emic constructs or that of which are based from the perspective of the key participants).

These women grasp a sense of self based on their reception of their environment (external pressures) i.e., experiences; people surrounding them; economic/social/physical attributes and status

– leading them to a) feeling and/or seeing themselves as inferior; and/or b) their frustrations to achieve and/or prove something.

Case in point, Respondent 2 was mocked as not beautiful enough by her own family. She has always been chosen to compete in quiz bees, but never in beauty contests. Since then, she has been frustrated to prove that she, too, can be a beauty queen; she believed that she can be even better than some other beauty contestants.

“May time nung bata ako na, na gustong gusto kong sumama ng Sagala. Kasi diba uso- mas uso sa probinsya- mas bongga sa probinsya ang Sagala. Then

nakarinig ako sa kamaganak ko na, „hindi siya pwede mag-Reyna ganito, kasi maitim siya.‟ Tas parang „yun „yung.. uma-ano lagi sa isip ko na, „hindi pala ako maganda ha.. hindi pala ako maganda ha.‟ Tas parang ang- ang binibida lang sa‟kin palagi, kasi lagi akong honor student since elementary, so „okay yan sa mga quiz bee..‟ ganyan ganyan.. „So, quiz bee pala ha.. quiz bee lang pala ha..‟ Ganun.” - Respondent 2

The figure above explains one‘s reception of environment in metaphor. Imagine a woman looking at a mirror: what she sees is not her mere reflection; but what she thinks is her reflection to other observers. In other words, how she recognizes what she sees in the mirror is depending on how she forms parts of what the external pressures make her.

This formation of a sense of self drives them to a pursuit of self-affirmation and for the achievement of a certain goal. These women develop an urge (internal pressure) to prove their worth or the fact that they are more than how they are seen. In such case - through how institutions frame

28 up the concept of pageantry - beauty pageants are seen as an opportunity for achieving a certain goal and/or as a powerful tool to attest to these women‘s self-affirmation.

As how Respondent 3 wanted to realize her passion, and how such passion can contribute to achieve what she really dreamt of, especially since she came from a very simple life in province.

With this, they recognize a kind of personal power (―power of I‖) which they utilize as they immerse themselves into the environment, processes, and standards of pageant institutions (and of the viewers, obviously), while moreover bringing out a determination to succeed, as shown in the amount of effort they give towards winning. This is where the external and internal pressures meet.

The external provides pressures to the external; the internal grasps the pressures of the external.

These beauty queens also shared some of their experiences during throughout the pageant process:

―when you‘re part of the- the pageant, you‘ll realize.. how hard it is to be a beauty queen, and the things that we have to undergo to become one‖ - Respondent 1

One respondent even revealed how she (and her fellow contestants) experienced some not- so-good things from some ‗friendly‘ people in the institution:

―Oh my gosh.. I‟ll be honest.. Sa- sa- sa Miss Earth, meron- meron talagang mga.. portion na.. parang ako, mapapansin ko, teka.. inaano mo na „ko ah, teka.. ganyan…‖ “So parang.. ako, asa babae din… …Parang kailangan, you should be assertive na… …maging.. ah equipped ang beauty pageant contestants and titlists sa mga ganyan..‖ - Respondent 2 Throughout the process, as the participants reveal, they are then able to recognize that stereotypes, stigmas, and/or other objectifying conducts on beauty queens (and on women in general) do exist, leading these women to their quest to overcome these.

Respondent 3 strongly believes that (Bb Pilipinas) helped her become an inspiration, especially on beauty standards (i.e., skin color).

These women then develop a strengthened personality (personal growth), a defined power, and/or influence and ascendancy. Thus, a recognition that they are – as presumed to be – empowered.

CONCLUSION

To briefly sum everything up, let us revisit and highlight the conceptual variables as mentioned earlier:

How these women deal with the external factors defines how they perceive empowerment. As they overcome pressures, including (self-) objectification, they develop a personal power through a strong sense of self; therefore, making them empowered. External pressures such as one‘s past experiences, frustrations given by one‘s environment, and the judgment of other people helped these women determine how they establish their sense of self, as they are driven to enter the world of beauty pageants.

These beauty queens, moreover, perceive empowerment as something that is engraved in their sense of self; in other words, self-empowerment.

RECOMMENDATION

Let the researcher, however, hand down the question as to whether or not these women‘s concept of empowerment is what being empowered truly means. Does being able to prove one‘s beauty and/or ability make one empowered? Or does the fact that one has yet to prove one‘s worth mean that something is wrong with how we define what is empowering?

“. . .Kasi nakukulong „yung babae dun sa kailangan niyang habulin na ganda, kailangan niyang habulin na katawan” – Vian Bautista, GABRIELA

Pointing out on this matter, this research encourages further studies that will critically challenge the concept of self-empowerment, and what it really means to be empowered.

“The illusion has been shed, are you happy with yourself?”

REFERENCES

Devi, Laxmi. (1998). Women Empowerment and Societal Improvement. Institute for Sustainable

Development.

Fiel, C. (2012). Maita Gomez–from highborn beauty queen to „Queen of the Toiling Masses‟.

Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/57603/maita-

gomez%e2%80%93from-highborn-beauty-queen-to-queen-of-the-toiling-

masses#ixzz3LRenKPY5

Fredrickson, B.L., Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification Theory. Psychology of Women Quarterly.,

U.S.A.

Hontiveros-Baraquel, R. (2012). A feminist in the House of Binibining Pilipinas. Rappler.com.

Retrieved from: http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/4184-a-feminist-in-the-house-

of-binibining-pilipinas

Jison, J.R. (2013). More than a game of crowns: The global political economy of beauty pageants.

International Association for Political Science Students. Retrieved from:

http://johnraymondjison.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/more-than-a-game-of-crowns-the-

global-political-economy-of-beauty-pageants/

Matthews, Brook. (2003). Miss America Contestants and the Self: Evidence for Empowerment. Ronai,

C.R., Zsembik, B., Feagin, J. (1997) Everyday Sexism in the Third Millenium.

Routledge, U.S.A

Silverio, S.G. (2005). Nelia Sancho: The beauty queen turned activist bats for Comfort Women. Our

Life & Times. Asian Journal. Retrieved from: http://asianjournalusa.com/nelia-sancho-

the-beauty-queen-turned-activist-bats-for-comfort-women-p1417-79.htm

(2014) Pageant History. Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. Retrieved from:

http://www.bbpilipinas.com/main.php

(2014) Binibinis Celebrate International Women‟s Day. Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. Retrieved

from: http://www.bbpilipinas.com/sub.php?c=p&b=spark_a_change-pr

(2010) About Miss Philippines Earth. Miss Philippines-Earth. Retrieved from:

http://www.missphilippines-earth.com/about.php

(2011) Miss World Philippines: Beauty in Giving. Miss World Philippines. Retrieved from:

http://www.missworldphilippines.com/index.php/about-us/miss-world-philippines

(2014) About. Mutya ng Pilipinas. Retrieved from: http://mutyapilipinas.com/about/

APPENDICES

(Secondary Data)

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) itself has conducted interviews with its beauty queens in a press conference held during the celebration of International Women‘s Day last 8 March 2014. As the institution claims, these women ―embody Filipinas' strength and character and are champions of women empowerment‖; in line with this was the interview wherein the beauty queens were asked about their ideas and perception on women‘s rights, gender equality, and the celebration of the International Women‘s Day. The Institution published the said interview in their official website.

It is quite apparent in the interview how these beauty queens perceive the Pageant as empowering. As in one of the questions, ―What can women do for society?‖, Binibini No. 31

Angelique Celine De Leon answered that as a Binibini, she can inspire women to ―become better versions of themselves‖. She said that through this, they are able to freely propagate their advocacy of women empowerment.

Binibini No. 5 Hanna Mariz dela Guerra, moreover, answered the question - on issues which women are facing today that need to be addressed – with human trafficking in which women are the ones who are most susceptible, being exploited and violated while ―not given the choice to say no‖; just like with Binibini No. 3 Joanna Angelica Romero‘s answer to the question on gender equality that women are still subject to certain problems like cases of abuse. These women promote projects that bring awareness on issues as such. Binibini No. 1 Julian Aurine

Flores, on a different question, moreover, adds that awareness is a key to solve these social issues.

These beauty queens have in them such kind of perception - as abovementioned - on the situation of women and on how to empower them owing to some presupposed factors:

36 institutions, such as schools or their family; the popular media; their past experience/s; or a close environment which might have a profound effect on their way of thinking. When asked about what advocacy for women would she have when she wins, Binibini No. 28 Carla Jenina Lizardo answered that she wants to support sexually abused teenagers since she has strong feelings about it after being exposed to many stories of this kind of abuse. Her idea is obviously affected by how she has been exposed to the environment – a society where women are always victims of various threats. Another is with Binibini No. 36 Krystal Alonday‘s statement that ―women deserve to be treated equally with men and that women are capable of reaching their dreams‖ when she realized the importance of gender equality because of her experiences of different struggles in life, which she always keeps in mind in achieving her goals.

A change in perception

A case of a change in perception is in the life story of Nelia Sancho, a beauty queen of the early 1970s- turned activist. Nelia Sancho was the first runner up to Gloria Diaz during the 1969

Bb Pilipinas pageant. In 1971, she was crowned as the ―Queen of the Pacific‖ in a different pageant held in Melbourne, Australia. She was ―on top of the world‖, to quote Sylverio (2005).

However, as the years passed, she came to realize that it was not the life meant for her. Although she recognize that it was a pleasurable experience to her being able to travel to different countries and be exposed with different cultures, she realized that she has found no meaning to being a beauty queen, especially when she was involved to a student movement influenced by a nationalist, leftist ideology. Moreover, she even ended up as a credible, high-profile leader of various movements against commercialization of the women‘s body and a capitalist system of beauty pageants.

She was exposed to a brutal treatment of the Marcos regime to the civilian members of the administration‘s opposition. Although she did not admit being a leftist, she was tagged as

37 being one. In an interview with Nelia Sancho by the Asian Journal:

―Because of my beauty queen title and celebrity status, people would invite me, even pick me up in their helicopters, so that I could be in their office and collect money from them.‖

―I have been asked that question many times over. Did I regret my actions? No I did not, because those were my decisions at those particular moments, dictated by my conscience. Would I do them again given another chance? Well, I have already experienced them, perhaps I might try another experience.‖

CODING RELATIONSHIP GUIDE

CATEGORY WHAT WHEN WHERE HOW WHY CONSEQUENCE ―Beauty w/o brains‖ Beauty queens are Transcended over In people‘s Through Because women Women in not expected to be time; hence, it has judgment. socialization; since who join pageants pageants are intellectuals. become a normal our schemas dwell usually do not meet belittled, especially (―Maganda lang‖ / occurrence that on a certain social the standard of by the intellectuals. ―Puro arte lang‖ beauty queens are norm (i.e., concept being a woman of connotation) usually of lower of ―beauty and ―beauty and intellect. brains‖) brains.‖ ―Pretty hurts‖ It takes too much During and after In beauty queens‘ By how these Because there are Women in being a beauty the course of the own judgment. beauty queens norms of what or pageants become queen. pageant. struggle to meet how beauty queens so driven and  Sacrifices the standards, if not should be. immersed into the  Processes perfection. competition. to undergo  Standards to meet  Changes to make Stereotypes Beauty pageants Before, during, and In the perception of Through meaning Because of the Women in feed society‘s after the course of society. making institutions dominant standards pageants are used stereotypes on the pageant. such as the media. that exist in the as ―models‖ for beauty society i.e., these stereotypes Western standards. (i.e., standard of beauty, how to dress up as a beauty queen); such stereotypes build up insecurities among women outside pageants. Beauty pageants Beauty pageants Before, during, and In the perception of Through Because these Women in feed insecurities build up insecurities after the course of the candidates comparisons with women think that pageants feel on women the pageant. and/or of the the existing not having such inferior from others society. dominant dominant standard who own certain

standards. trait puts them into traits that they don‘t inferior. have; such is much worse for women outside pageants. Institutions are Certain institutions Transcended over In the perception of By the power of the Because the Women in setting the (i.e., market, time. society. hegemony (i.e., society accepts pageants are being ―standards‖ media) have the Western culture) what is presented constrained by the capacity to set to them as the standards of the ―what should be‖ or ―standard.‖ pageant institution. ―which is better.‖ Restraining self- Beauty pageants During and after In these women‘s Through the Because Women in expression. restrain beauty the pageant. perception and in standards of the candidates are pageants are queens on self- the society‘s people and the compelled to be restrained into expression acceptance. criteria of judging something ―better‖ somebody they‘re set by the or something that is not or to act with institution. more appealing to something they the judgment of ought not to, which people in and is contradicting to outside the the customary pageant. design of pageantry as letting women express themselves. Bullied in the past Some women who Before the pageant. In the judgment of By how some Because there are Women in join pageants have society. people see these existing standards pageants develop a experienced women as inferior of beauty. kind of eagerness bullying in the past. to some. to prove themselves to the people (and even to their own selves), as rooted from a painful experience of being insulted, bullied, and hurt. Determination as a Candidates strive Throughout the In the candidates‘ Through the efforts Because they are Women in drive to win. course of the environment and they give in and out working on an open pageants do their

pageant (selection, own perception. of the pageant. opportunity. best to succeed; trainings, pageant sometimes up to proper). the point of exhausting all means. Open opportunities These women Pre-pageant. In these women‘s Through how they Because they have Women in enter the perception and work on their bigger dreams to pageants become competition environment. environment (i.e., follow and/or bigger so determined to because they see it reaching certain needs to address. win; they give their as: goals) best in every part of the whole process. 1) An impermanen t phase towards 2) a certain post- pageant opportunity ―I can do it‖ (self- These women‘s During their In these women‘s By being exposed Because they feel Women in power) frustrations led developing stage; thoughts and to the factors that empowered when pageants become them to self- until they are actions. trigger their they are able to do armored with self- assurance that they oriented into frustrations. something which power which they can do/fight pageantry. they perceive use to address their for/pursue them. they‘re better at. frustrations, achieve goals, and explore opportunities. Breaking a stigma Women who join During the pageant. In the candidates‘ Through how these Because these Women in beauty pageants thoughts and women act during women pageants feel that are trying and/or actions. and even after the acknowledge these they are struggling to break pageant. stereotypes and empowered when stereotypes on they feel the need they see beauty queens and to empower themselves on women in themselves and overcoming a general. break such stigma. certain stigma (i.e., through their high

educational attainment). Ascendancy as These women feel During and after In the beauty By how they are Because of the Women in empowering empowered as they the pageant. queens‘ perception being appreciated idea of being a pageants feel (what they can do and in people‘s and seen as ―role ―role model‖ to their empowered with and/or what they judgment. models‖ family, to the their earned power have) are being community, and to to influence others. appreciated. the extent of the mass media. ―Role model Either: During and after In people‘s and By how these Because these Women in paradigm‖ the course of the beauty queens‘ beauty queens women feel that pageants are either A. Self- pageant. own judgment. strive to attain they ought to prove empowered or empowering ascendancy and to that they are worthy pressured with the 1. You feel meet the of appreciation. fact that people that people expectations of the look up to them and look up to ―eyes looking out‖ that there is a need you; on them. to limit themselves 2. You are on what is compelled expected from to be at their them. best self because people look up to you; 3. You get inspired to be an inspiration

B. Objectifying 1. You feel that people look up to you; 2. You are compelled to be at their

best self because people look up to you; 3. You get anxious due to the feeling that people look up to you

Personality and Beauty pageants During the course In the candidate‘s Through the Because of how Women in confidence build-up build up of the pageant. own perception. trainings, these candidates pageants attain a confidence/persona workshops, etc. perceive certain lity that the candidates themselves and development in undergo; also how they improve their sense of self. through throughout the socialization. process. Joining pageants The act of joining Throughout the In the perception of By being able to set Because these Women in as a way of pageants itself is course of the the candidates. themselves ―free‖ women relate pageants feel a empowerment, with empowering for pageant. from any inhibition empowerment with special kind of or without the women, with or (i.e., economic freedom of fulfillment, being crown without winning. status, insecurities, expression. able to express etc.) themselves and/or their advocacies, and inspire others with their experiences and achievements. Post-pageant Candidates are still judged After the pageant. In people‘s By how society Because the Women in even after the pageant. judgments judgment. looks at and treats beauty queens pageants are the beauty queens. have already affected, gained an pressured, and/or established status burdened by the as beauty queens, judgment of other and that the society people; even to the is ―on the lookout‖ extent of affecting

on whether or not their daily routine. these beauty queens achieve the standard. ―Nasa babae yan‖ The notion that it is Transcended over In the candidates‘ Through how these Because of the Women in a woman‘s time. own perception women are looked acknowledgment of pageants become responsibility to and/or in people‘s at and understood. a patriarchal either watchful of resist any form of judgment. society and that their environment abuse. people believe that for a possible harm, women should be then get rid of it; or aware of this; merely let hence, it is themselves sink women‘s into its pit (status responsibility to first quo). and foremost take care of themselves.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Good day!

I am Ma. Regina Janina B. Alzaga, a graduating BA Political Science student from the University of the Philippines Manila. I am currently working on my research study as a requirement in our Political Science 198 (Special Problems in Political Science). My chosen area of study is on women empowerment and pageantry. The core of my thesis is primarily focused on how beauty queens perceive the concept of women empowerment and how such perception is formed by variables - using a constructive method of study.

Questions:

What is your aspiration in life?

Inspiration / Motivation 1. How did you become oriented into beauty pageants? Have you ever joined pageants before? 2. What became your inspiration to join beauty pageants? What pushed you to join Binibining Pilipinas?

Actual experience (before and during the pageant) 1. How did you feel when you qualified in Binibining Pilipinas? Can you describe how you prepared for the pageant? 2. What were your experiences in the pageant? How did you feel during the pageant?

On being a beauty queen 3. What, for you, is a beauty queen? / How is it to be a beauty queen? 4. If you were to add a certain criteria in becoming a beauty queen, what is it and why?

Post-pageant 5. How has Binibining Pilipinas changed you? 6. Is there any realization after joining Binibining Pilipinas? What is it, if any? 7. Is there any regret after the pageant? What is it, if any?

On empowerment 8. What do you think of the status of women in the society? 9. What, for you, is empowerment? 10. Do you think joining pageants empower you as a woman? 11. Can you say that victory over the crown is a form of empowerment of a woman?

Are you happy with yourself?

INTERVIEWS

Respondent 1:

1 First question po: What for you po is beauty- is beauty? Or how can you say po that one 2 is beautiful?

3 Wow.. haha.. para ta- ano ba ‗to nasa ano tayo ulit.. sa Q&A portion? Haha

4 Haha I‟m so honored naman po grabe

5 Grabe ang mga tanong na ito, di ako prepared. Sige. So what is beauty? Sa akin nga.. I‘ve a- I 6 think I‘ve answered that before. You know beauty.. it evolves eh.. Our definition of beauty. 7 What- what may be beautiful today, may not be beautiful tomorrow.

8 *****noise*******

9 Ayan okay na po hehe

10 Okay. Sige ulitin ko haha

11 Okay na po. Okay na po yun hehe

12 Okay na ba? Nakuha mo na yung gist? Okay?

13 Opo

14 So.. siguro ngayon.. a big part of what defines beauty.. syempre.. media. What we see on tv, 15 what we see on magazines, what we see on- on social media, they have a great- parang ang 16 laki ng impact niya on how we define beauty. Pero kasi.. ang mahirap dun is that, ngayong time 17 na to, at this moment, sila yung nagdedefine ng beauty.

18 Yung media..

19 Yes. And tayo naman syempre, diba.. parang we think yun talaga yung definition. Yeah.. So 20 kailangan parati nating- kaya nga diba parang yung iba, they always know there are a lot of 21 definitions of beauty.. ganyan ganyan.. kasi nga- dati nga ang beautiful during the classical 22 times, yung medyo malaman eh. If you see the paintings diba talagang- mas malaki, mas 23 maganda. Ibig sabihin.. ah.. yung mga women that are big, ah they- parang- parang- it signifies 24 that they come from a- a well-off family, diba kasi.. they are able to.. feed themselves. Parang 25 ganon. Pero ngayon.. ang beautiful is yung.. kung sino yung pinakapayat, siya yung maganda. 26 Parang ganon. So parang, ang hirap. Kaya parang ayoko- parang sabi ko nga, tayo ang 27 nagdedefine talaga. But ang tanong, sino yung pinakamalakas yung boses sa pagdefine 28 ngayong araw na ito. And I think, yun nga, it‘s- it‘s the media. Siya yung may malaking boses. 29 Siya yung may malaking impact on defining what is beautiful today.

30 Yes po. So next question po: Ah, what can you say po about beauty contests, in general.. 31 or in- in pageantry po?

32 Okay. Before I joined Binibini, siyempre I had- I had a lot of misconceptions about beauty 33 pageants na parang- syempre di mo kasi alam eh. You don‘t know what‘s going on.. when 34 you‘re in the- in the pageant. Ang nakikita lang natin parati is the end product, which is, the 35 coronation night, or the.. ahm.. the ladies, or basta yung lahat nung puro show nalang. The 36 show. I mean, the final show. But we don‘t know what‘s happening before that. Yung nangyayari 37 backstage. So before, siguro, ang tingin ko sa beauty pageants parang: nako, yung mga girls na 38 yan puro- puro paganda lang ang alam, puro pasexy lang ang alam, yung mga ganon parang- 39 yun lang mga ginagawa nila, yung parang ganon, like- like- bine-belittle ko yung beauty 40 pageants.. before. Kasi feeling ko nga, parang wala naman siyang sense haha parang ganon, 41 parang puro lang siya kaartehan, ganyan ganyan. But you know when I joined Binibini, 42 sobrang.. it was like uhm complete turn around. Parang ah when you‘re- when you‘re part of 43 the- the pageant, you‘ll realize.. how hard it is to be a beauty queen, and the things that we have 44 to undergo to become one. And parang ang nangyari dun is, kumba- kumbaga sa school, ako, 45 parang, I was ahm.. developed into a thinking person na parang, yung ahm intellectually tsaka 46 sa discipline-wise parang, yun yung na-hone sa akin in school. But you know in- when I joined 47 ah- a beauty pageant, yung buong.. everything.. pagkatao ko, kailangan ko siyang i-improve. 48 Alam mo yun, para bang, it‘s not just mentally, it‘s not just physically, pati emotional, pati 49 everything. How you present yourself, how you know yourself, parang, parang, it‘s so, para sa- 50 para sa akin, it was a way of knowing who I am, and who I want to be. Parang ganun. And I 51 have so much respect for- for all these girls na sumasali kasi sobrang hirap niya. Hindi mo alam 52 kung gaano siya kahirap. Because you are- everything about you is criticized; everything about 53 you is judged; everything about you is being talked about. Parang ganun. And they- everybody 54 expects you to be perfect, when in fact hindi ka naman perfect. Alam mo yun. And, ahm, I think I 55 had a new sense of ano parang kahit papano parang ah ah I feel na because of that position 56 that you‘re given na people look up to you, you‘re able to inspire, parang the more you want to 57 improve yourself in every way na parang for you to be a good role model na parang gusto mo 58 lahat nalang gagawin mo ng tama. Parang ganun. Parang, nagiging perfectionist ka in a way 59 parang ah not just in school - kumbaga lahat, lahat ng aspeto ng buhay mo. Parang- parang you 60 are inspired to improve everything because you also want to be an inspiration 61 ********unclear******** diba watching you. Parang sa akin yun yung naging effect sa akin nung- 62 nung beauty pageant. Hindi lang siya intellectual part eh, everything about myself parang ah it- 63 it paved the way for me to ano- to look at all those things, hindi lang sa ibang bagay lang. 64 Parang ganun.

65 Yun po. Haha. Ah ano po. Ah tungkol naman po dun sa empowerment: paano niyo po ba 66 ina-identify yung sarili niyo po bilang isang ah babae, or bilang isang individual?

67 Ano.. Ano ba haha.. ang hirap naman niyan.

68 Oo, hirap naman ng tanong mo, women empowerment.. Isa lang.. ang usual naman na sinasabi 69 ko pagdating sa beauty pageant is that.. unang una, it‘s for women to be confident about 70 themselves. Parang mahirap kasi yung sta- yun nga may stereotype eh, nahihirapan kasi iniisip 71 ko ano ba talaga, are we empowering women or are we- parang parang mas lalo lang nating 72 pinapainsecure yung ibang women out there?

73 So parang- ah.. ah..

74 Ayun. Parang di- I‘m torn. I can‘t answer. Parang hay.. Parang.. ofcourse we want to in- o sige- 75 we want to inspire women that they can do many things diba they can do anything they want if 76 they put their mind to it, they‘re- they‘re hardworking, whatever, in one aspect of the pageant 77 diba may mga- you can see yung determination nung iba -- they had to undergo everything, just 78 to- to reach their dream of being a- a winner diba. So pwedeng isang aspect yon na parang we 79 inspire other women in every *** they‘re in. Hindi man siya beauty pageant, but if they put their 80 mind and their heart to it, they can achieve their dreams that they want for themselves. Parang 81 ganon. On the other side naman, on physi- on the physical part, di ko rin alam if makakatulong 82 ba ang beauty pageant to uplook the- other women‘s confidence on- of- of their physical 83 appearance. Kasi may stereotype eh. Kailangan matangkad ka; kailangan proportion ka; 84 kailangan sexy ka; kailangan maganda ka; maganda ang buhok mo; mahaba ang hair mo. Alam 85 mo yun? Yun yung peg eh. Yun yung peg ng isang beauty queen. So on the other hand, hindi 86 ko rin alam, nakakatulong ba kaming mag-empower or nakakatulong kami para -- mahiya ang 87 ibang babae na magpakita ng sarili nila dahil hindi sila beauty queen peg. Dahil yun yung peg 88 today.

89 In a way po ba naapektuhan kayo sa ganung stereotyping po?

90 Yeah, yeah. Coz when it was my time, sabi ko talaga, I‘m never gonna change anything about 91 myself- maybe a little bit – but not to the point na it is not me anymore. Okay lang sa akin mag- 92 change kunwari uhm- ako kasi very vocal ako, very honest ako, and sometimes it hurts other 93 people, and it backfires on me. So, natutunan kong magsalita kung kailan kailangan, or maging 94 opinionated kung kailan lang kailangan. Yung mga ganon. I had to restrain myself in some- ah 95 at some point. Pero, ang mahirap nga is that, may stereotype sila na, oh kailangan yung ahm- 96 yung beauty queen daw.. ahm.. parating naka-heels, parating ganito.. Eh ang sakit na ng paa 97 ko eh? Bakit ako maghiheels? Alam mo yun? *laughs* You know, ay di ko- di ko naman- kung 98 di naman ako ‗yun, bakit ko ipipilit? Yun yung mahirap, kasi people have stereotype na, for 99 example, what I answered in the Miss Universe pageant. Sabi nila, you know in a beauty 100 pageant, you always have to be neutral. You don‘t have- you don‘t pick fight. You always 101 answer what were ah- parang what were ahm be acceptable to both of the viewers. Eh hindi 102 ako ganun eh. I mean, sagot ko yun eh. Tinatanong mo ‗ko, eto yung sagot ko. Ayokong sagutin 103 kung ano yung gusto ninyong marinig. Alam mo yun? Parang ganon. So meron silang mga 104 ganon. Tinuturuan kami niyan. Lalo na if we were asked a question na ahm medyo sensational, 105 medyo ahh you don‘t wanna pick fight kasi baka- baka syempre may magalit na isang part, may 106 magalit na kabilang ano ganyan. Pero sa akin kasi, ayun, ayokong- ayokong ahh ga--- feeling 107 ko kasi, it‘s a question for me eh, it‘s- it‘s my opinion? So sinasabi nila because of that, I lost the 108 crown which is sa akin, okay lang naman. Parang ganon. *laughs* So, may mga stereotype ‗no I 109 don‘t know if yun nga, sabi ko din, the reason why I joined the first time na I- I‘m not naman a 110 pageant person (Ahh), kasi maybe it‘s- sabi nga ng mommy ko maybe it‘s ano, it‘s because you- 111 I want to change how people look at Binibini (Ahh) na hindi naman lahat ng- ng babae, katulad 112 ko. I- I mean, lahat ng- ng beauty queens eh ganito lang, puro sunod-sunod lang. Or.. (*laughs* 113 nice po) Diba.. (opo) Tsaka tatanungin nila Architect ka na, bakit sasali ka pa diyan, di mo na 114 kailangan. Sabi ko, eh malay mo.. diba parang- parang ngayon tignan mo, naging- naging plus

115 points na ang academic achievements (opo opo) when you join a beauty pageant. Parang 116 ganun. So kahit papano, kahit little lang, you are able to impact na- tsaka marami na ring 117 sumasali na- na matatalino. Dati feeling ko walang gustong sumali kasi nga feeling nila parang 118 masyadong below their ano diba.. *laughs* parang hindi yan para sa akin pero since sumali 119 ako, ang dami nang sumasaling doctor, may mga sumasali na‘ng engineers, lawyers, diba so 120 parang- parang nagbago yung trend. So ibig sabihin nagchechange din pala ang stereotypes ng 121 beauty queens. So, one-step-at-a-time. I don‘t know la- lang kung darating ba sa time in beauty 122 pageants na height will not matter ba anymore; weight will not matter ba anymore; color will not 123 matter ba anymore; ha alam mo yun, di ko alam, but for now, may standards. At hindi kami ang 124 gumawa non. Gawa na yun nung organization na we had to follow.. (and ng media na rin po) 125 *laughs* Diba.. so.. so sana, in the future, diba malay mo oh, mag-iba na- mag-iba na ang 126 standards. Pati age, malay mo pwede na rin ang mga 30 sumali? *laughs* We‘ll never know.

127 Okay po.

128 So yun.

129 Ayan. Ayun. Okay. Halos nasagot na rin po pala lahat. Thank you po. Pero balikan ko na 130 rin po „no..

131 Oo?

132 Sabi niyo po kanina hindi po kayo ah pageant person, so hindi pa- hindi pa po kayo 133 nakasali ng mga- hindi po kayo pala-sali dati, ganon, ng mga pageant..

134 No.. no no no, never. Siguro the first ever pageant na pwede kong sabihin, I was in grade 4- ah 135 grade 4 ba- grade 5, which is hindi ko naman alam kung page- kung pwede mo ba iconsider na 136 pageant yun sa school, yung mga Miss Intramurals, ganyan.. Oh ayan sumali ako don.. Tapos, 137 nung highschool naman, di mo naman pwede sigurong isali yung Lakambini ng Aklatan, na ano 138 yon.. on how many ah how many na ano money na na tawag don parang ano siya eh parang 139 money-based? Parang di siya pageant, parang para siyang ah anong tawag dun, parang fund- 140 raising, kung sino yung mga girls, kung sino yung pinakamalaking na-raise na funds, siya yung 141 manana- mananalo. So yun lang yon, yun lang yung dalawa ever na sinalihan ko, na hindi 142 naman siya pwedeng sabihing pageant dahil hindi naman ako nag-swimsuit, di naman ako nag- 143 alam mo yon parang sobrang joke time siya sa school. Pero college, never. Tas after college, 144 never. So first time ko. And first time I- I joined, Binibini agad.. yung sinalihan ko.

145 Ayun po. Sige po. Ay, siguro po last question nalang po..

146 Sige.

147 Ah, can you compare po victory over the crown as equal po na empowering?

148 Ano ano pakiulit

149 Ah, can you compare po the victory over the crown as equal to ah empowerment?

150 Empowerment as a woman..

151 Yung.. yung pagkapanalo po sa korona, parang mai-equal po ba siya sa ah empowerment 152 po ng isang babae?

153 Well.. medyo iba ang sagot ko diyan.. *laughs*

154 Sige po.

155 Kasi sa akin, winning is just a plus; winning is just ah.. ah palamuti lang. I feel like, the fact that 156 you joined, and the fact that you had the confidence to join, and the fact that you were able to 157 journey through all- all- from top, from the down, from all the criticisms, from everything, you‘re 158 already a- a ano a woman who has empowered. Kasi it‘s a lot different, parang kumbaga, yung- 159 if ang maganda nga eh, sa mga girls na even though they don‘t win, mas- mas- I- I- I admire 160 them more if they didn‘t win, but still they were able to uphold whatever principles they have or 161 beliefs they have na hindi sila gumawa ng anything para lang makuha yung crown. May mga 162 ganun kasi eh no, some- some girls they‘d do anything, even though hindi na yun sila, even 163 though- kumbaga binababa na nila yung sarili nila just to get the crown. So, pano maging 164 women empowerment yun? So parang- yun diba. So sa akin, even you win, or you didn‘t win, 165 as long as you stay true to who you are, or you stay true to yo- your beliefs and your principles 166 and your foundation, at you don‘t let anybody ruin that just for the sake of getting a piece of 167 metal on your head.. then you are a woman empowered. That for me is the real reason of 168 women empowerment. Not- not just the.. you know, wearing the sash, tapos saying hello and 169 get a queen, whatever. That‘s just the ano eh, palamuti nalang yun eh parang ano nalang icing 170 on the cake nalang ‗yan.

Key Informant:

171 Sige. Dun sa history ng- mas gusto kong magpalalim kung saan siya nagmula.. yung beauty 172 contests, beauty pageants.. para mas uhm kung sa umpisa.. kung bakit hanggang ngayon, ang 173 dami pa ring followers ng beauty pageants, ang daming sumusubaybay, nanonood, 174 tumatangkilik ng beauty pageants (at sumasali..) oo sumasali, yon.. Samin kasi sa GABRIELA, 175 parang.. kung anong stand mo sa isang beauty pageant, ganyan.. so historical context niya na 176 binahagi siya samin ng mga dati naming organizer. Nung capitalist period kasi, nung nandun na 177 siya sa crisis, diba dati ang mga babae naka-malalagong damit, yung makakapal na tela, 178 mahahaba, whatsoever.. nagkaroon ng crisis ng tela tapos kailangan nang mag-venture ng iba‘t 179 ibang ano eh.. iba‘t ibang.. forms para mabenta yun mga produkto. Nauso- o naimbento na 180 yung mga beauty products na walang market para bilhin ito. Kaya dun nagsimula si beauty 181 pageant. Kumbaga pinakita niya na ito yung standard ng beauty, at meron kaming mga.. ahm .. 182 produkto na makakatulong sa‘yo para magkaroon ka ng isang gandang beauty queen. Kaya na- 183 nauso si Miss Universe, noong 90‘s- 1980‘s- ay tama ba.. 80‘s palang. Kumbaga nandun na 184 yung.. bumubukas ulit sa panibagong economy yung US.. para ano.. para iclaim ulit yung lahat 185 ng market na posible, dun sa kanyang mga produktong bagong imbento, bagong tuklas, no.. 186 definitely kailangan niyang mag-create ng market, no.. at yung market nay un make-create niya 187 kapag may tatangkilik na nung produkto.. through beauty pageants. Kaya ayun. Kaya malinaw, 188 historically-wise palang, yung konsepto ng beauty pageants talaga ay pagbebenta na ng 189 katawan ng babae, ng mukha ng babae. Commodification. And at the same time, two-way yun. 190 Iubinibenta mo yung kababaihan, tapos yung produkto.. na tatangkilikin ng masa, tatangkilikin 191 ng mga consumer mo, no, parang maging effective yung products mo. Yun. Kaya mula run, 192 nagsinula na yung standards ng beauty eh, no, na nagmumula.. kung ikaw ay si Miss Universe, 193 kung ganito ang itsura mo. Ayun na. Parang dun siya nag.. ah.. dun siya bound. Kaya kumbaga 194 mula noon hanggang ngayon, napaka-unfair nung standard na binabanggit. Kumbaga eh unfair 195 siya dahil hindi naman lahat ng tao ay may pare-parehong itsura. Lalo na sa isang tropical 196 country katulad ng Pilipinas - na hindi mestiza, matangos ang ilong, at matatangkad yung 197 natural built ng mga Filipina.. kumbaga, iba.. iba yung.. yung normal na ganda ng bawat 198 Pilipina.

199 Yung dominant na kultura all over the.. world, ay ano talaga eh.. kumbaga.. Western culture 200 yung dominant. Tapos, makikita mo rin sa history ng mga nananalo ng beauty pageants, mga 201 Western standards yung nananalo. Bibihira yung black- talagang real black- diba na nananalo. 202 Kumbaga kung may black na nanalo, yung may halo, yung matatangos parin ang ilong.

203 Eh pano po yung iba na.. sinasabi nila.. katulad si **interviewee** sinabi niya na.. like, 204 yung Miss Earth daw, hindi naman daw talagang sa looks, as in may 40% na.. Tapos siya 205 hindi naman siya tisay, pero nanalo siya.. yung mga ganon

206 But still,diba, nandun yung standard ng looks at itsura mo. Nasa criteria pa rin siya eh. The fact 207 na meron kang criteria of judging, is judged rin yung pagkatao mo, and kailangan mong i-fulfill 208 yung ano eh.. yung criteria na yun para manalo ka. Diba. Tapos ang- diba- ang nangyayari 209 nalang para mag-excel ka sa ibang tao, ifufulfill mo yung strength mo para yun yung mag-shine 210 sa‘yo all over the pageant. Tapos parang, ayun.. for a night, yun yung judgement sa buong

211 pagkatao mo. Kung nanalo ka, edi.. you‘re so brains and the beauty; tapos pag di ka nanalo, edi 212 better luck next time, diba. Kasi diba halimbawa ang mga nananalo ngayon, merong pangatlong 213 beses na niyang sumali sa beauty pageant. May mga ganung level na.. kumbaga hinahighlight 214 kung pano ka nag-strive harder sa isang pageant mo. Kaya ayun. Kung dun sa standard ng 215 beauty, definitely nasa Western standard siya. At kung paano rin naman mino-mold na yung 216 Pilipinas ngayon sa mga ????? beauty pageants eh. Diba parang going back, natural ang 217 beauty ng mga Pilipina pero ngayonm nauuso na yung iba‘t ibang beauty products, mga- ano 218 ba ‗to- mga reto- retoke, surgeries.. ‗no, na hindi mo na naaano yung.. yung beauty talaga. 219 Ayan. Tas ayun, yung mga kababaihan, siyempre, tingin ko kaya sila napupush sa ganitong 220 system, sa ganitong mga contest, kasi gusto nilang i-prove yung.. sa mundo kung ano yung 221 worth nila sa buhay. Kasi diba.. halimbawa yung ibang mga beaty queens, kumbaga kaya sila 222 nag-strive to be beauty queens, nabu-bully sila when they‘re grade school, hindi sila apple of 223 the eye nung pamilya.. pero pag nanalo sila biglang boom iba na kaagad yung career. 224 Kumbaga, yung ganitong form, ang nakikita nilang pag-angat nila dun sa.. pag-angat nila dun 225 sa kung ano yung.. ah, ganda nung isang tao. Kaya parang sa kanila, form yun as empowering. 226 Pero siyempre kapag nandun ka na sa loob nung system, makikita mo na yung iba‘t ibang 227 forms of violence against women. Kasi diba you‘re being forced na magsuot ng damit, or kung 228 damit pa bang maitatawag yung mga bagay na yun. Yung mga make-ups niyo, yung buhok 229 niyo.. ngayhong gabi kulot ka mamaya isstraight tas ikukulot, iss *laughs* Kumbaga yung ganda 230 mo na hindi ka confident eh, yung gandang hinuhubog na ng cosmetics na produkto ng mga 231 kapitalita‘t imperyalismo. Tapos, kailangan mong i-showcase yung sarili mo para bilhin ka; 232 magkaroon ka ng popular votes, boto ng mga sponsors, boto ng mga judges.. diba para, yun.. 233 parang.. para i-showcase yung beauty na gusto ng mga beauty pageants. Kaya sa ganung form 234 nila tinitignan na empowered sila as women, kahit na behind that- ng mga make-up ay hindi 235 naman talaga empowering. Tas ako, sa tingin ko, hindi talaga empowering ang beauty 236 pageants.. at all. Kasi nakukulong yung babae dun sa kailangan niyang habulin na ganda, 237 kailangan niyang habulin na katawan, diyusko ang hirap kaya hindi ka kumakain diba *laugh* 238 lahat ng mga beauty queens pag tinanong mo anong kinakain nila, wala at all.. parang tinapay, 239 tubig.. diba, parang mae-empower ka ba nun pag may sakit ka na‘t ano, kung ano-ano nalang 240 yung iniinom mo para lang ma-maintain yung posture at yung body size na- na sexy. Diba 241 standard ngayon yung mga.. Ayun. Tapos ako, kung sa bahagi natin sa GABRIELA, pinu-push 242 talaga natin- hindi tayo sarado, ‗no, siyempre hindi tayo antagonized dun sa mga beauty queen 243 na, ha.. beauty queen ka..ano ka, isa ka sa mga nakakapagpatigil kung bakit hindi pantay ang 244 pagtingin sa kababaihan.. Kumbaga ino-open mo lagi yung sid- lahat ng means and ways mo 245 para maging- na pumaloob sila, ‗no, dun sa movement ng kababaihan na totoong 246 nakakapagpalaya, ‗no, hindi dun sa forms ng individual na ganda.. individual na kung anek- 247 anek, kundi talaga dun sa collective action eh na yung economic ahh- economic imbalance 248 nung society eh, kumbaga dun siya nagmumula eh, kung bakit nagstart.. kasi diba merong mga 249 mahihirap sumasali sa beauty pageants as source of pag-angat sa buhay.. mga ganung level 250 ng drama nila. Kumbaga meron kang.. ahh.. unequal distribution ng wealth eh. Sa ganung 251 paga-address mo, pwede nang step-by-step nating makita kung paano mas uunlad yung 252 kababaihan.. ng kababaihan, hindi ng babae per se, kasi napaka-individualist nung, hindi 253 naman lahat ng babae pwedeng sumali sa beauty contest at magkaroon ng maginhawang 254 buhay. Unlike kung ibinigay mo sakanila yung need nila para ma-enhance, empower,

255 emancipate mo yung kababaihan.. yun yung syempre yung hindi ginagawa kasi historically- 256 wise, commodification yung gustong ipromote.. para may bibili ng produkto. Kaya victims kahit 257 yung mga babaeng nasa loob mismo ng mga pageants. Ayun. Tapos, mara- kumbaga yung 258 highlights sa beauty pageants, commodification, commercialization.. pero behind that pwede 259 mong tignan na may violence against women inside the pageants eh.. diba.. indecent 260 proposals, rumarampa ka nang dalawang saplot na maliliit na may iba‘t ibang nakatingin sa‘yo.. 261 diba.. just to showcase your beauty. Kaya ayun.. yun po yung pagtingin ko.