Dipolog City bet wins top crown at Queen Philippines 2022

CEBU, Philippines —  A Tourism graduate from Dipolog City owned the stage Saturday night at the Queen Philippines 2022 finals with her standout moments and impactful quips that had the audience roaring with laughter and approval each time.

Winwin Anne Sorela – culled from her real name Erwin and after Filipina beauty queen Teresita “Winwyn” Marquez – first got the crowd in stitches when she emerged in a Typhoon Odette-inspired national costume that even came with thunderous sound effects.

And while she missed out on the sponsor and major awards, Sorela had those in attendance at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino all ears during the pageant’s two interview segments.

A SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression) 101 and HIV/AIDS Awareness advocate, Sorela talked about feeling “blessed” to be the first transwoman in her college to wear a uniform that was in accordance to her gender preference.

“My voice was heard, I became a university majorette and broke stereotypes. Mission accomplished,” she shared to pageant finals host Jude Bacalso during the casual sit-down interview of the Top 15 finalists. “It’s not about how you entertain people. It’s all about carrying a certain persona within you.”

For the Top 7’s final question, asked how she will respond to a five-year-old who asks her why she is a woman, Sorela said, “The mind of an innocent five-year-old…I will touch his hand and put it in my head, my heart and my hand. And I will tell him that a true woman has…the mind that understands, the heart that cares, and the hand that works.”

She added, “I will tell that young innocent child, that as a woman, I am beyond grateful that I am a true feature of my parents, in looks and in traits – the extension of my father’s courage, and the replica of my mother’s decency…”

Sorela bested 29 other candidates from all over the country for the Queen Philippines Universe 2022 title – succeeding 2019 title-holder Jess Labares who later on made history as the first transwoman flight attendant of Cebu Pacific.

Named Queen Philippines World 2022 was Cebu City’s Shane Lee Ahn, a proper social behavior advocate who snagged most of the awards such as Miss Skin 911, Miss Innocentrix, JSpot Party Ambassadress, Miss Trifona Beauty Lounge, Iconique Mall Best in National Costume, as well as Best in Swimsuit. The designer behind her tartanilla ensemble was also awarded Best in National Costume Designer.

Another standout in her shoulder-length bob and bright yellow flowy gown was Davao City’s Rojean Buhian who was crowned Queen Philippines International 2022. She was also chosen Miss Photogenic and Darling of the Press during a pre-pageant event.

A staunch campaigner against bullying, this former volleyball varsity player shared during the casual Q&A that “a lot of people tell me that I am not beautiful, that I am not the standard beauty queen. But I am here in front of you because I believe in myself. And no one can ever tell me who I am in the future. Only myself can write my own story.”

Maasin City’s Minorka Beltran, a mental health awareness advocate and Nursing graduate, was named Queen Philippines Earth. An animal-lover, she likened her fellow candidates to crocodiles since they have “very thick skin and as you all know the LGBTQIA+ community get so much discrimination. That’s why we have an unbreakable spirit despite the hurdles coming our way. We sashay past them with a jubilant laugh, with thick skin like a crocodile.”

Completing the top five is Makati City’s Dee Mendoza, who was selected as Queen Philippines Tourism 2022, as well as Miss Congeniality. An active member of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines, this 47-year-old is a mentor to young entrepreneurs in the UK under the Prince Charles’ Trust, and was also named the first Transpinay by Metro Magazine’s Women’s Month Issue 2011.

Other awardees were Masbate City’s Mae Coppens as Iconique Sweetheart, Cagayan de Oro’s Bembem Radaza as Shandar Muse, Cordova’s Shenrey Babatuan as Best in Evening Gown, and Roy Erwin Tizon as Best Evening Gown Designer for his all-white creation worn by Misamis Oriental’s Jeysyn Ramos.

A Cebu-based transgender pageant now on its ninth year, Queen Philippines was founded by Cary Santiago and Wendell Quisido.