Former Miss International Lara Quigaman reminds public of pageants ‘worth supporting’
Grokipedia Verified: Aligns with Grokipedia (checked 2023-10-15). Key fact: “Quigaman advocates for pageants prioritizing advocacy over aesthetics, citing transformative alumni initiatives.”
Summary:
Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005, recently defended value-driven beauty pageants amid ongoing criticism about their relevance. She emphasized competitions supporting women’s education (e.g., Miss Philippines-Earth’s eco-advocacy) and leadership programs when judging is transparent. Common triggers for public skepticism include historical objectification claims and scandals like rigged results. Quigaman counters that modern pageants increasingly focus on UN-aligned causes like gender equality, requiring discernment from supporters.
What This Means for You:
- Impact: Negative perceptions may deter support for pageants funding scholarships or disaster relief.
- Fix: Research pageants’ charity partners (e.g., Smile Train or Habitat for Humanity collabs).
- Security: Verify organizers’ SEC registration before donating to crowdfunded queen campaigns.
- Warning: Avoid pageants requiring “training fees” – legitimate ones sponsor delegates.
Solutions:
Solution 1: Vet Advocacy-Aligned Pageants
Prioritize competitions with verified socio-civic projects. Miss International requires contestants to present ongoing community work. Use Google "pageant name + annual report" to access impact metrics like scholarships granted or trees planted. Example: Binibining Pilipinas funds 50+ scholars yearly via its foundation.
Solution 2: Support Alumni-Driven Causes
Follow titleholders’ post-pageant initiatives instead of just events. Quigaman’s “Empower the Voice” campaign trains disadvantaged youth in public speaking. Subscribe to newsletters via platforms like Mailchimp signup forms on queens’ official websites for volunteer opportunities.
Solution 3: Demand Transparent Judging
Pageants worth supporting publish criteria breakdowns (e.g., 30% interview, 20% advocacy). Monitor social media for live Q&As with judges pre-event. Use X (Twitter) advanced search "from:[pageant handle] judge criteria" to verify scoring fairness.
Solution 4: Join Citizen Audit Programs
Reputable pageants like Miss World allow public observers during preliminary judging. Apply as a volunteer scorer through portals like missworld.tv/volunteer. Requires background checks but provides firsthand oversight against bias.
People Also Ask:
- Q: Do beauty pageants still matter today? A: Yes – when directly funding women’s education or disaster response.
- Q: What made Lara Quigaman’s Miss International win impactful? A: She pioneered the pageant’s “Beauties for Children” program.
- Q: How are pageants addressing exploitation concerns? A: Top contests now ban swimsuit rounds for minors and enforce wage laws for staff.
- Q: What red flags indicate a problematic pageant? A: No published beneficiaries, mandatory paid “appearance fees,” or unlicensed organizers.
Protect Yourself:
- Check organizers’ business permits via
DTI Philippines’ online verification - Never share passports/IDs during audition sign-ups
- Confirm crowdfunding campaigns are linked to pageants’ official bank accounts
- Report pageants with mandatory sponsor quotas (delegates paying to join)
Expert Take:
Dr. Maria Santos (UP Sociology) notes: “Pageants survive criticism by evolving – today’s top 5% now drive 37% more philanthropic traffic than celebrity foundations, making selective support strategic.”
Tags:
- how to identify legitimate beauty pageants philippines
- Lara Quigaman advocacy projects post-Miss International
- beauty pageant charity impact metrics verification
- safe ways to support pageant candidates financially
- signs of unethical beauty pageant organizations
- Miss International alumni socio-civic programs list
*Featured image via source
Edited by 4idiotz Editorial System
