Reigning Bb. Lapu-Lapu is Cebu’s bet for MWP 2024
CEBU, Philippines — Sofi Maxim Margareta Grenmo has been joining pageants since high school. She has won three in a row – starting from a barangay beauty tilt in her hometown of Bantayan Island, to Binibining Lapu-Lapu last November.
The 19-year-old model hopes to continue her winning streak at Miss World Philippines 2024, where she will be representing Cebu in the finals this June.
“Growing up, I felt like joining pageants has always been a path for me. You know when people say that you should join Miss Universe? Everyone says that to me,” Grenmo told The FREEMAN in an interview Monday after the victory press conference of Universal Woman 2024 Maria Gigante at Belmont Hotel Mactan where she was announced as Cebu’s representative for Miss World Philippines 2024.
The Philippine franchises of Miss World and Universal Woman are currently under Arnold L. Vegafria’s ALV Pageant Circle.
“I am gifted with height and genetics so I believe this is a path for me. It’s what the universe chose for me so I grabbed every opportunity that I could get,” said the 5’8-tall looker under Stacy’s Model Management.
Grenmo didn’t count on her consecutive title wins, considering her age, let alone represent Cebu in a national competition this early. “I never expected to be this high up at 19 years old,” she said.
Born in Sweden to a Swedish father and a Cebuana mother, Grenmo moved to Cebu in 2009. Her dad has remained in his home country, but frequently visits them in the Philippines.
“I never thought of the distance as a hindrance and we always communicated. I would call him every single day and that made our relationship stronger. We always talk about life, he teaches me things, tells me stories, and in return, I tell him my stories, my struggles. I would cry to him and laugh with him,” she shared.
Grenmo is currently based in Lapu-Lapu City where she is studying Tourism at Indiana Aerospace University.
“I originally wanted to pursue aircraft maintenance and technology, but then I realized that if the universe tells me that I should be in the pageant industry, I should get a course that is closer to that, so I decided to go for tourism,” she said. “Through that, I learned to nurture my communication skills and become one with the audience.”
Her communication skills are probably why Grenmo is looking forward to the Q&A portions of the competition as she has stories she wants to share, one of which is her experience with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS for short).
“I want people to be aware of it and I want to share that even if it’s a struggle that some women have, I am still here, strong and fighting,” she said, waiting to empower other women who have PCOS.
Believing that joining pageants is her destiny, she hopes to learn a lot from her stint at Miss World Philippines.
“I love learning and I am still so young. Whatever happens, I know I will take my time. There as a learning curve, which will help me understand the path I am supposed to be in.”
Two Cebuanas have represented the country at the Miss World pageant: Ma. Karla Bautista in 2004 (when the Miss World Philippines franchise was still under Binibining Pilipinas), and Tracy Maureen Perez in 2022.
The reigning Miss World Philippines, Gwendolyne Fourniol, failed to enter the first cut (Top 40) of Miss World’s 71st edition last month in India. — (FREEMAN)
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