Newly launched pageant supports autism awareness

MANILA, Philippines — A new pageant has been launched, placing self-development and advocacy at the forefront.

After an unpleasant experience in a previous pageant, two former contestants decided to establish their own competition, called Empress of the Universe.

“Because we previously joined a pageant, and we had a really not-so-nice experience,” shared co-founder Clarisse San Felipe during the pageant’s launch. “And so, we would like to make a change in the pageant world. Both of us (Nenuco ‘Dr. Tomo’ Nomoto), actually, when we joined that pageant, wanted to have a platform for our own advocacy. So, when we left that group, we established our own.”

Empress of the Universe supports the Autism World of Love & Acceptance (AWLA) and the International Board of Holistic and Integrative Medicine (IBHIM) as its advocacy partners. In line with its mission, the organization’s upcoming projects include a medical and holistic mission next month, followed by a charity gala featuring a fashion show with a purpose next year.

“We want our queens to become voices of hope, inclusion, wellness and positive change,” stated Nomoto, whose eldest child is on the autism spectrum. The personal connection has made autism awareness a long-standing advocacy close to her heart.

“That is one of our motivations to create (an) advocacy-driven pageant na talagang focusing on advocacies. Hindi po siya focusing on how much you spend on your pageant. This is focused on meaningful impact, the advocacies. We’re gonna use this platform para mas magkaroon ng awareness not only to us but (also) to our candidates and winners,” added she.

As of now, the organizers are still screening candidates, with the sashing ceremony targeted for May and the pageant scheduled for June 2027, San Felipe shared.

Asked whether transgender candidates would be accepted, San Felipe said, “For now, our pageant is open for the meantime because we might evolve; we don’t know how far we could go. But yeah, we are open to any changes in the future. But for now, since we are just starting, we will be focusing more on women and yung may mga anak and married or divorced.”

The qualifications also include a minimum height of 5’2” and an age range of 33 to 50 years old.

What sets Empress of the Universe apart from other pageants is its strong emphasis on advocacy, along with the complimentary skincare services, clinic treatments and pasarela training offered to its candidates.

“They would automatically have free skincare, free clinic treatment and also pasarela training. Kasi problema before, magbabayad ka ng pasarela. Ngayon, we have free pasarela and free personality development. So, throughout the duration of the pageant, may self-development ka na. Magiging confident ka na. You already feel like a winner,” Nomoto declared.

The organizers are also looking for beauty queens who already have advocacies of their own. “Because this is already a movement. This is not just an ordinary pageant na, ‘Oh, magpa-pageant ka, after nun wala na.’ In Empress of the Universe, after the pageant, continuous pa rin yung movement natin,” she continued, adding they are still discussing whether they are going to have a registration fee or not for candidates.

However, San Felipe assured prospective candidates that the pageant would offer a fulfilling and rewarding experience. “As I mentioned earlier, we also joined pageant na din, and based on our experience, it’s all about the candidates giving and giving everything that they have. But for this pageant, what we could offer is that it would be a give and take for both the organizers and the candidates.”

She added that the organizers are also in talks with their counterparts in Australia and Canada to explore the possibility of holding an international pageant, where the local winner could compete.

“Our promise to all our candidates who will join is that you will have different kinds of opportunities, especially for self and character development, as well as core memories that you will cherish. Mararamdaman mo talaga na hindi mo kailangang maglabas ng maraming pera. You will experience everything, mag-e-enjoy ka sa pageant na ito, and you will realize na meron pa palang ganitong klaseng pageant na nag-e-exist,” Nomoto beamed.

For San Felipe, inclusivity is also a key priority, regardless of a candidate’s financial capacity. “We would like to make sure na hindi kayo sasali sa pageant for beauty. Sasali kayo sa pageant because you will be part of a community,” she said.