ShareThisMANILA – The Philippines’ beauty queen, Ms. Shamcey Supsup, wowed the world as she won the 3rd runner-up title in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
To many Filipinos, Supsup did very well out of 89 contestants and gave big honor to the country in the pageant which was beamed worldwide.
Malacanang, Congress leaders and other Filipinos immediately praised Supsup for her “humility, intellect, and grace” during the pageant, noting that she “embodied the spirit of the true Filipina.”
“In our eyes, that is the true victory today—that the world stood witness to and found an appreciation for the ideals, values, and beauty that has long characterized our nation,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.
“May this triumph serve as a way for other nations to come to appreciate not just the beauty of our people, but that of our country. On behalf of the Filipino people, we are proud of you [Shamcey]; and we see even greater things ahead for you,” Lacierda added.
Supsup, 25, a magna cum laude graduate from the University of the Philippines and topnotcher in the licensure exams for architecture, was a strong contender for the crown from the start topping the fan votes and with good showing at the gown and swim suit portions of the pageant.
She will be one of the court of eventual winner, Miss Angola’s Leila Lopes, together with Miss Ukraine Olesya Stefanko, first runner-up; Brazil’s Priscila Machado, 2nd runner-up; and China’s Luo Zilin, 4th runner-up.
Tony Award winner Lea Salonga asked Lopes the final question that presumably helped the Angolan beauty win the pageant.
She asked Lopes: “If you could change one of your personal characteristics, which one would it be and why?”
Lopes replied: “Thank God, I’m very well satisfied with the way God created me and I would not change a thing. I consider myself a woman with inner beauty. I have my principles. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I plan to follow this through the rest of my life.”
Supsup was immediately hailed by Malacanang, Congress leaders and other groups for her good showing in the pageant which was won twice by Filipino beauty queens Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran. Last year, the Philippine bet, Venus Raj, placed fourth runner-up in the edition of the pageant held in Las Vegas.
A small contingent of Filipinos in Brazil led by Philippine Ambassador Eva G. Betita showed their support to Supsup.
The question posed to her was whether she would not change her religion just to marry the person she loves.
“If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person that I love is God who created me and I have my faith and my principles and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God too,” Supsup said.
Supsup hails from the same town as international boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao.