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| From left to right: Patricia Montecarlo, Jing Lumaban, Michelle Montecarlo, Andrea Justine Aliman and Christina Dandan. |
For the first time in Philippine pageant history, the international headquarter of Miss International Queen in Thailand has granted franchise to hold a national pageant that will represent the country in the annual Miss International Queen pageant in Pattaya, Thailand.
Establish in 2004, the Miss International Queen (MIQ) pageant is the largest beauty pageant for transwomen around the world.
The franchise has been granted to Michelle Montecarlo, a pageant's alumna. She competed in Miss International Queen 2012 alongside Kevin Balot. She is now the Miss International Queen Philippines (MIQPH) CEO and National Director.
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| Michelle Montecarlo, MIQPH CEO and National Director. |
A press launch was held Saturday, August 28 at AQUILA Crystal Palace Tagaytay Events Place to formally introduced the plans of the first ever staging of Miss International Queen Philippines pageant.
The event was also attended by other members of MIQPH Executive Committee: Jing Lumaban (Honoray Advisor and Producer), Andrea Justine Aliman (Talent Development and Image Branding Chair) and Roderic Dela Cruz (Creative Director).
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| Jing Lumaban, MIQPH Honoray Advisor and Producer. |
Also present were Miss International Queen alumni Maria Christina Dandan (2004) and Patricia Montecarlo (2006).
MIQPH has the exclusive license to send Philippines representative to the said international pageant exclusive for transwomen.
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| Andrea Justine Aliman MIQPH Talent Development and Image Branding Chair |
In past years, the contestants were directly contacting the organizers of MIQ to join the pageant.
Aside from organizing national pageant, the organization has the purpose of promoting local tourism by publicizing important tourist attractions.
"Our aim here in MIQ and MIQPH as well is not like puro advocacy. Hindi lang puro din pag-aaral. So we want to take part in equating 'yung mga hinanaing natin with the equivalent actions that we have to undertake," National Director Michelle Montecarlo said as she shared the purpose of the organization.
MIQPH is a duly registered company in the Philippines. They are recently registered in the Securities Exchange Commission.
"This is the reason why we are making this a nationwide pageant kasi gusto natin eh promote ang buong sangkapuluan ng Pilipinas. We want to show the world and everyone that Philippine archipelago has many tourist spots to share," she added.
As of yesterday, August 28, the contest has already received 224 applications.
The applicants will be narrowed down to twenty-five (25) official candidates and will compete in the first ever MIQPH pageant.
The pre-pageant will happened on November 18, 2021. The coronation night will be on November 28, 2021
The Miss International Queen Philippines 2021 will receive Php300,000 cash and will be wearing the official crown from God Diamonds Chawalit.
There will be two runners-up that will receive Php100,000 (first runner-up) and Php50,000 (runner-up) cash in prize.
Due to ECQ and MECQ restrictions, MIQPH is extending the deadline of submission of application to August 31 at 3:00PM.
To join, kindly download and fill-out the application form here.
BE PART OF THE HISTORY.