But she suffered a setback when she was involved in the 20th Metro Manila Film Festival scandal. She was able to bounce back after the trophy-switching fiasco and regained her prominence in showbiz.
Her grand wedding with Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas was big news. However, the four-year marriage ended and became controversial when Ruffa and Yilmaz exchanged harsh accusations in public. To date, they have remained civil towards each other, mainly for the sake of their two growing daughters, Lorin and Venice.
Ruffa was originally a GMA-7 talent, like her twin brothers Richard and Raymond. However, she transferred to the Kapamilya network where she eventually replaced Kris Aquino as co-host in the talk show The Buzz.
She was also handpicked to host Philippines' Next Top Model, the local version of the reality series America's Next Top Mode.
Ruffa was last seen on the big screen for the MMFF entry Desperadas (2007). She is currently shooting her next movie, Monster Mom, which also stars her formidable mother, Annabelle Rama.
Melanie Marquez. The multi-talented Melanie Marquez is passing on her knowledge to the next generation of beauty pageant contestants. She is best known for winning the Miss International beauty pageant in Tokyo, Japan, in 1979.
Being a former model, Melanie has earned for herself a reputation for grooming some of the most beautiful women in pageant history. These include trained Ruffa Gutierrez, Miss World 1993 2nd Princess; Charlene Gonzales, Miss Universe 1994 finalist; and Miriam Quiambao, Miss Universe 1999 1st Runner-up. She is also known for establishing her own school for aspiring models, beauty pageant contestants, and actresses.
Aside from taking part in around 25 movies and TV shows, Melanie has also tried her hand at producing films, namely, Inay (1992) and Angel on Fire (1995). As a celebrity endorser, Melanie is the face of a popular skin whitening product. She was last seen on television in the show Love Spell: Line to Heaven in 2007.
Melanie is living proof that beauty queens stand out for their well-rounded personality, not just their face value.
Pilar Pilapil. In her glory days, Bb. Pilipinas 1967 Pilar Pilapil was linked to the late Fernando Poe Jr. and Dolphy. Although they were both much older than Pilar, she felt a deep connection with the two men in her life. However, their romance did not blossom for various reasons and Pilar chose the late former vice president of the land, Salvador "Doy" Laurel as her partner. They were blessed with a daughter whom they named Pia.
Pilar's filmography spans three decades and she has received a Gawad Urian Best Best Actress Award for the 1986 film Napakasakit Kuya Eddie. As a freelancer, she is able to work in the two leading networks. She appeared in Marimar as Dolores Aldama and is now cast as Lady Elle in Lobo.
During the January 23 press conference of Lobo, she still exuded the elegance and poise of a beauty queen. When asked what made her accept the role of a fashion icon in ABS-CBN's upcoming soap opera, Pilar said, "Showbiz is very dear to me...and also because I believe in this project."
She added another feather to her cap when she released her tell-all book titled The Woman Without a Face. Pilar became a celebrated author when she shared her colorful life story in her book launched in March 2006.
Miriam Quiambao. Miriam Quiambao endeared herself to the public when she bounced back after a fall (literally!). During the pre-pageant night of the Miss Universe Pageant, the 1999 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe title holder fell flat on her bottom onstage but quickly regained her composure.
In fact, her quick recovery was used to her advantage since she ended up being first runner-up in that same year's Miss Universe Pageant. The incident cinched for her an endorsement for a donut brand that asked her to shoot a commercial wherein she fell on the floor and donuts went flying all over the place.
Miriam is best remembered for hosting Extra! Extra! (which was reformatted as Extra Challenge) with co-host Paolo Bediones. She was also a host of the lifestyle segment of the morning show Unang Hirit.
