Photos by Lito Caleon, Edmund Ong, Dennis Natividad & Joy Arguil
TWO beauty queens and an athlete are in focus this week as they attempt to clinch the coveted titles in their respective pageants soon.
Nancy Lee Leonard, 25, from Zamboanga City will vie for the Miss Tourism Queen International Pageant to be held in Wenzhou, China on September 26.
A BS Psychology graduate of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Nancy was ecstatic when she got the news that she was picked to represent the Philippines in the tourism-themed pageant by Queen of the Philippines Foundation Inc., a new pageant organization with Cabuyao City tourism consultant Annie Refrea and her daughter Miss Tourism Philippines 2015 Roanne Refrea at the helm.
Nancy leaves on September 12 for China, bringing with her a vast experience in beauty pageants she had previously joined. She was Miss Zamboanga 2011 and Miss Philippines Earth-Water 2013 (later Miss Air after erstwhile titlist Kim Suiza forfeited the crown to join Bb. Pilipinas 2014). Nancy also joined the 52nd Bb. Pilipinas last year and the 10th Century Tuna Super Bods this year.
Born in Angeles City to US Army man Curtis Lee Leonard (deceased) and Filipina Lydia Baling, Nancy was raised and schooled in Zamboanga City when her family moved there when she was 7.
Nancy is aiming for the country’s second Miss Tourism Queen International title after Justine Gabionza who won the title in 2006. She will compete with about 60 other delegates worldwide.
Meanwhile, Jeslyn David Santos, 24, a Broadcast Communications graduate of Bulacan State University, will vie for the 4th Miss United Continents Pageant to be held at Crystal Palace in Guayaquil, Ecuador on September 24. She left last Wednesday for the pageant that gathers beauty delegates from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania.
A native of Hagonoy, Bulacan, Jeslyn is a veteran of many pageants. She was a Bb. Pilipinas contestant in 2014 and 2016. She also competed for Miss World Peace in China last year where she made it as a top 10 finalist and won the Best in Evening Gown award.
John de la Vega, Philippine licensee to Miss United Continents, expressed confidence that Jeslyn will do well in Miss United Continents that will gather some 35 delegates worldwide this year.
And finally, Vince Issen Christopher Pagente Jarina, a 22-year-old, 6’2” varsity basketball player (for NCBL) of Trinity University of Asia where he is pursuing a degree in BS Business Management, will battle it out with 26 other hunks from all over the Philippines at Misters of Filipinas 2016.
Misters of Filipinas is Vince’s first pageant but confessed he has covered all the preparations needed for the competition. He has been regularly going to the gym for his fitness regimen and has been reading current local as well as international issues.
Vince was born in Bacolod City and coming from a broken family, he persevered and focused on his studies, involved himself in sports and got a scholarship that he hopes he can hold on to until his last term in college.
For Vince, Misters of Filipinas is more than just a competition. He hopes to inspire the youth and help aspiring young basketball players. “It is not about achieving popularity status but most importantly, it is about gaining good reputation and respect from others.”
The finals of Misters of Filipinas 2016 will be held at Resorts World Manila on September 18 at 7:00 pm.
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