Entertainment

Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell: No ‘home court advantage’ in win

Chuck Smith - The Philippine Star

December 1, 2014 | 10:44am

MANILA, Philippines - Jamie Herrell is the latest addition to the recent list of Filipinas who emerged victorious in international beauty pageants as she was crowned Miss Earth 2014 last Saturday.

But did Herrell win the beauty contest because the coronation night was held in the country? The 20-year-old Cebuana said she would rather ignore detractors questioning her victory in Miss Earth.

READ: Philippines’ bet crowned Miss Earth 2014

“You know, sometimes you can’t change the minds of people who think that way. I just have to keep quiet about that,” she said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s showbiz talk show “The Buzz” on Sunday.

Herrell further said: “But this is actually the home of Miss Earth. It’s a Filipino pageant, it started here. For all of its worth, for 14 years, it’s only been held outside. And we’ve only won once.”

“So for me, it’s not really a home court advantage because it really depends on how hard you work for it and if it’s meant for you.”

She also said: “During the pageant, there were really a lot of strong girls, all beautiful. So the fact that I was crowned? I was so overwhelmed, and then I was so happy.”

Miss Earth, which began in 2001, is an international beauty pageant organized by Carousel Productions, an organization based in the Philippines.

The pageant’s coronation night is held yearly in the Philippines. However, in 2010, it was held in Vietnam

The only other Filipina to win the Miss Earth pageant is Karla Henry in 2008.

Asked what she thinks her advantage was in the competition, Herrell said: “Honestly, I don’t really know what it is. All I do is I just enjoy on stage. And I’m just enjoying the whole ride and the whole journey.”

“People always ask me (what my advantage is), and I’m like, ‘I think my advantage is not knowing my qualities, not knowing what it is’,” she added.

An acting student in Cebu, Herrell said she would want to pursue theater acting in the future.

“I would love to become an actress, but for me it’s more of passion. I don’t mind if it’s Off-Off Broadway or just a little stage,” she said. “If it’s on TV, it’s alright. But, for me, as long as I can do acting, it’s okay."

Other international beauty pageants will be held this December: Kris Janson competes in Miss Intercontinental and Yvethe Santiago competes in Miss Supranational on Dec. 5, while Valerie Weigmann competes in Miss World on December 14.