Personal na hinihiling ni 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz na bigyan siya ng challenging roles kapag may gagawin siyang drama series. Gusto raw kasi niyang malayo sa stereotypical roles na kadalasan ay ibinibigay sa kanya noon.

"I want to create my own character based on what role they give me. That's why when they give me roles in television, I always ask kung ano ba ang role ko," sabi ni Gloria nang makausap siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) sa presscon ng Beauty Queen last week.

"Kung tulad pa rin ng dati ang ipapagawa nila, I will give a suggestion para lang mabago nang konti. Usually kasi, they give me roles na sosyal, Ingglesera, paminsan-minsan mistress ako. I've done all those roles before kaya I want something different.

"Mas gusto ko kasi na para akong palengkera, yung mataray, at yung maiinis ang mga tao sa akin. Just like what I did in my last teleserye sa GMA-7, Diva. That's very different, di ba? Malayo sa totoong personality ko. But I create my own version of that role.

"I really want to do roles like that na kapag makita ako ng tao, they will react to my what I am doing on television. Either mainis sila sa akin or tarayan din nila ako.

"Matutuwa ako kasi it only means that I am an effective actress. Nabobola ko sila sa pagganap ko."

POWERFUL WOMAN. Sa bagong primetime series ng GMA-7 na Beauty Queen, ginagampanan ni Gloria ang papel ni Madame Yuri Sandoval, isang powerful woman at organizer ng Bb. Isla Pilipinas beauty pageant kunsaan sasali sina Iza Calzado, Maggie Wilson, at Katrina Halili.

"It's another role that I am sinking my teeth in," pagmamalaki ni Gloria.

"To play a powerful woman like Yuri Sandoval is such a big challenge again for me. She's mataray and very matapobre. I look down on some people kasi nga rich and powerful ako sa tingin ng maraming tao.

"But there's a back story to my character naman. I will still have a heart for some of the contestants. May certain background ang role ko that would make people understand why she is so mataray and so cynical. They will find that out in the series as it goes on.

"Another character of Yuri is she is such a pakialamerang mother of Marc [played by TJ Trinidad]. She wants to make decisions for him, kahit na sa babaeng mamahalin niya.

"I played a pakialamerang mother na before sa movie. Like what I did in Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. That was funny. Pero dito sa Beauty Queen, it's more on drama kasi nga it's Joel Lamangan directing.

"Si Direk Joel kasi, he wants iyakan and sampalan. But he can inject a touch of humor to it."

FROM BEAUTY QUEEN TO ACTRESS. Isang award-winning actress si Gloria. Nagpakita na siya ng kahusayan sa pag-arte sa mga pelikulang Batang Westside, Jose Rizal, Nasaan Ka Man, at Sagrada Familia.

Isang bagay ito na hindi naisip ni Gloria na makakamit niya nang pasukin niya ang showbiz noong 1974 via her debut film Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa.