Single moms are welcome in this beauty pageant

Now on its fourth year, the Miss Global is unique in the sense that it is the only beauty pageant that welcomes single moms as candidates.

“We follow the rule that’s why the local search for the representative to the Miss Global pageant also accepts single moms,” said Pauline Sofia Laping, CEO/national director of Miss Global Philippines (MGP).

She did not reveal who among the 40 aspirants in the 2016 Miss Global pageant is (or are) single moms, with the Philippines’ Camille Jensen Hirro competing for the title held by Australia’s Jessica Peart (she beat last year’s 50 hopefuls). It’s the second time for the Philippines to host the Miss Global pageant, set for Saturday, Sept. 24, at the PICC Plenary Hall to be hosted by Derrick Monasterio and 2005 Miss Universe Natalie Glebova (of Canada). Invited to sit as judges are Sen. Manny Pacquiao and 2014 Miss America Nina Davuluri. GMA will air the pageant on Oct. 9 on SNBO (Sunday Night Box Office).

“It’s going to be another tough competition,” said MGP chairman and founder Rizza Lao Laping. “The candidates from 40 countries are all beautiful. It’s getting more and more competitive every year.”

The local search accepts candidates aged 18 to 28 and the global counterpart, 18 to 35.

“More and more single moms are encouraged to join,” added Pauline. “Okay lang, as long as they are never married and still possess a nice figure, so as to conform to the title ‘Miss.’ It’s our way of empowering single moms and giving them a chance to expand their horizon.”

Best role model is Perlyn Ocampo, the single mom who finished first runner-up last year.

“With her figure, Perlyn doesn’t look like she has given birth,” Pauline pointed out. “In the contest, single moms are treated just like the other contestants who never had a child. They are never discriminated against.”

“It’s liberating,” admitted the half-Australian/half-Filipina FEU Marketing cum laude graduate from Pampanga. “The Miss Global pageant gives single moms hope for further self-improvement and restoring their self-worth.”

The big question is: Will a single mom bag this Miss Global title this year?

Incidentally, you cannot tell who is a single mom among them as they parade onstage.

“That’s the beauty of our contest,” said Pauline.  —With a report from Celso de Guzman Caparas

No Cosmo Bachelor Bash

Two years ago, James Reid took a bad fall during the Cosmo Bachelor Bash at the World Trade Center but he gamely got back onstage and continued his walk with the wild audience giving him a standing (literally!) ovation.

This year, James (who is the cover boy of the Cosmo 69 Bachelors and Celebrity Centerfolds of 2016 insert magazine, his second time to grace it) won’t be doing an encore because there won’t be any Cosmo Bachelor Bash, first time in 10 years that the show is being scrapped with no reason given.

“We are deeply grateful for the love and support you have given Cosmo for the last 19 years,” according to the Cosmo magazine’s official statement. “We have always cherished and enjoyed your participation in all our events and have learned so much from all of you. This year, much to our regret, there will be no Cosmo Bachelor Bash, but please be assured that more fun and fearless events from Cosmo are coming your way.”

Meanwhile, have a close look at the “all-new, all-fresh 69” hot males in the insert feature that comes free with the Cosmo mag’s September issue, among them

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