Miss Earth PH candidates weigh in on cosmetic procedures

With less than three weeks to go before the Miss Philippines Earth pageant finals, all 29 candidates from all over the country, as well as the United States and Italy, have been busy getting ready. Some have been eating healthier and working out regularly, while others have been undergoing targeted treatments provided by partner clinics.

Jeyzel Ann Reyes from Rome, Italy is one of the former. “I don’t have any intense physical work out to prepare for this pageant. I do my usual routine of going to the gym three times a week, eating right and drinking plenty of water everyday,” she said, adding that she hasn’t had any cosmetic procedures done.

“I know I’m not physically perfect, but I’ve learned to embrace my flaws,” she told Entertainment in an email interview.

It’s a sentiment shared by candidate Victoria Johnson representing the Filipino community in Brandon, Florida in the United States. She said she’s been preparing herself physically by working out at home, but that she’s also been ensuring that she’s “mentally, emotionally and spiritually” ready.

“I am not against anyone who has gotten any cosmetic treatments done, but personally, I choose to stay natural,” Victoria said.

Ira Patricia Malaluan of Batangas City is no stranger to local pageants as she was a Binibining Pilipinas 2022 candidate. She was chosen “Darling of the Press” in the prepageant round for this year’s Miss Earth, followed by Jeyzel Ann of Italy and Gwen Marie Perion of Opol in Misamis Oriental.

Ira who was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) said preparing for the pageant was challenging. “I struggled a bit with my health condition…but because of the help of science and discipline, I was able to prepare physically.”

‘Complementary’

Ira said that one of the effects of PCOS is acne and dark spots which she manages with her “favorites”—whitening drips and acne treatments. “[Together with] a well-balanced diet, I’m able to get that glowing aura for the pageant,” she said.

Ansha Lichelle Jones of Zamboanga City is the youngest candidate at 19, but said that she has a comprehensive approach—consisting of a workout regimen and balanced diet—to get physically ready. When it comes to cosmetic enhancements, she approaches them with an open mind and a clear perspective.

“While I acknowledge their potential to enhance one’s appearance, I don’t view them as the sole means to stand out amongst other contestants. Instead, I consider such treatments as a personal choice, undertaken primarily for self-confidence and empowerment. For me, feeling beautiful and confident stems from within, and any external enhancements are simply complementary,” Ansha said.

That being said, she admitted to having undergone Mesolipo for her stomach area. “This decision was motivated by both the demands of pageantry, where physical fitness is emphasized, and my personal desire to achieve a certain aesthetic. Mesolipo offered an effective solution for targeting stubborn fat deposits and tightening the area, aligning with my goal of presenting my best self onstage.”

One of the eldest candidates this year at 26 is Sam Samara of Makati who works out regularly and makes sure to drink enough water to stay hydrated. She also gets some help with Botox and Exilis “for skin tightening since I used to be big and [have since] lost weight.”

Partner clinics

Royal Aesthetics and The Raynald Center are two of the pageant’s clinic partners. “At our clinic, contestants have undergone various treatments, including skincare procedures…and body contouring options. They receive individualized treatment based on their specific needs and goals ensuring that not all contestants receive the same procedure,” Arlene Cris Damot of Royal Aesthetics said.

Since there are only a few weeks left before the pageant finals scheduled on May 11 in Bukidnon, cosmetic surgeon Raynald Torres of The Raynald Center at Uptown Parade in Taguig said that services for the candidates might be limited to facials—“treatments that won’t cause any bruising or require any major downtime.”

For those candidates who are not averse to getting a bit of outside help to look their best in time for pageant night, there are options to choose from. They just need to be true to themselves like Sam Samara of Makati who said, “I’ve never done cosmetic treatments to stand out. I did it for myself—to boost my self-confidence and feel good about myself.”