Overseas beauties add glitter to Mutya search

The Mutya ng Pilipinas prides itself as the longest-running beauty contest in the country, with overseas beauties adding glamour and glitter annually. Together with the other homegrown Mutya contenders, as part of the search’s tourism drive the “imported” bets are busy with pre-pageant activities that include visits to the luxurious Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa in Puerto Princesa, Iloilo City and Boracay, leading to the grand coronation night on Aug. 4 at Resorts World Manila (televised nationwide by ABS-CBN).  

To inspire the Mutya hopefuls, reigning Miss Asia Pacific International Tessa Helena Le Conge arrived a few days ago from her native The Netherlands to promote the Miss Asia Pacific International 2017 around the country. She will be back to crown her successor in November.

True to its tradition, the Mutya “beauty hunt” still goes on in various Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern regions. The final Manila screening will be held at the West Avenue Suites (on West Ave., Quezon City) next Tuesday,  July 3, from 1 to 5 p.m. Regional screenings were held in Davao on June 21 at Regency Inn; and Cebu on June 25 at LIV Super Club, Mandaue City. Another screening is set for Sunday, July 1, in Batangas.

Meanwhile, here’s a first glimpse of Mutya bets from overseas:

• Mutya ng Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz, 21. She’s a model from Maui, a beautiful blend of Filipino, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese blood. “My great uncles were former Mayors in Abra,” she shared. She bagged the People’s Choice Award at Miss Super Talent of the World 2015 and also participated at Miss Virginia Teen USA contest in 2013. 
• Mutya ng Scandinavia Bertmari Yr Bergmannsdottir, 21. She comes from Iceland and holds a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM). “I received a scholarship from the Cesar Ritz Colleges in Switzerland to complete my HRM; it’s effective July this year. But I had to beg off in favor of competing in the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant.”
• Mutya ng Melbourne Abigail Grigsby, 18. A model at MASmodel, Ltd. Co., she was also one of the top contenders for the Top Model of the World Philippines in 2016.
• Mutya ng California Suzanne Perez, 20. A pre-school teacher and a model at the prestigious Models & Talent Agency, she’s also the ambassador for UNA, an organization for the youth. “I come from a family of politicians, mayors and senators,” she said.  She was Miss Popularity/Miss People’s Choice second runner-up at Miss Philippines USA 2015 and the reigning Miss Fullerton USA 2016. She looks up to her Filipino mom as role model, best friend and “forever love,” adding, “Thank you for raising me to be independent, strong, confident in who I am. I appreciate everything you have done and given us.”
• Mutya ng Japan Jessa Wada, 22. She won Best in Swimsuit, Miss Photogenic and People’s Choice at the Mutya ng Japan 2017 search. She was also Reyna ng Bulacan in 2014. “I love enhancing other people’s beauty using my self-taught make-up skills,” she said.

Other delegates from overseas Filipino communities in Asia, Australia, various locations in the USA, the EU and Scandinavia are consistent participants in the pageant, which has three major titles at stake: Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities.

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