Over the years, major beauty pageants have become the stage for a parade of gorgeous women wanting to change the world for the better.
On point, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach had said in an interview that beauty pageants have given women the platform "to speak up and raise awareness on certain issues."
And yet again, as women have come a long way through the years and become engineers, doctors, teachers, CEOs, why can't they aspire to become beauty queens, too?
Significantly, these women achievers in costumes, swimsuits, and evening gowns are showing that physical beauty alone will not make one a beauty queen.
And some had joined a pageant to prove that they don't just care about looking good and perfecting their walk.
Get inspired by these empowered Pinay beauty queens who are the definition of beauty and brains.
ANNA THERESA LICAROS
Anna Theresa Licaros wowed the universe when she won Miss Photogenic in Miss Universe 2007.
But even before her Miss Universe stint, Anna impressed her teachers and schoolmates at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, when she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.61.
After completing her degree in Broadcast Communication, she went on to pursue Law. She graduated salutatorian at the University of Philippines College of Law.
In 2009, Anna’s name was among the 1,451 examinees who passed the Bar out of 5,903 examinees that year.
PATCH MAGTANONG
Bea Patricia Magtanong, more popularly known as Patch, represented the Philippines at Miss International 2019. This pretty face is not only admired for her Filipina beauty, but is also recognized for her academic excellence.
The 27-year-old beauty queen took up Law at the University of Philippines. She had previously graduated from the same university with a degree in Business Economics.
In 2019, Patch was among the 1,800 new lawyers who passed the bar exam. Just days before she took her oath as a lawyer, she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International.
Patch represented the country in the pageant in Japan and landed in the top 8.
KARLA BAUTISTA-SIAO
Karla Bautista-Siao revealed that it took her 26 years to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer, as she first wanted to fulfill her mother’s dream of becoming a beauty queen.
The Cebuana beauty titlist joined Binibining Pilipinas 2004 and represented the Philippines in the pageant’s international round.
She landed in the Top 5 and was crowned as Miss World 2004 Queen of Asia and Oceana.
In 2019, along with fellow beauty queen Patch Magtanong, Karla successfully passed the bar exam.
Patch and Karla were among the 1,800 examinees who passed the Bar out of 8,158 examinees that year.
Currently, Karla juggles work and motherhood. She has three kids.
CASIE BANKS
Prior to joining beauty pageants, Miss World Philippines 2019 - 2nd Princess Casie Banks also worked as a model.
The model-turned-beauty queen graduated with a degree in Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas, and is currently attending law school at De La Salle University—proving she is more than meets the eye.
EVA PATALINJUG
Eva Patalinjug has several titles under her belt, such as Miss Grand Philippines 2018, Mutya ng Pilipinas 2014, Miss Mandaue 2013 second runner up, Miss CVRAA 2008, and Miss Palarong Pambansa 2008.
Aside from being a beauty queen, she is also a law student, mother of one, and an entrepreneur.
She was previously the national director of another beauty pageant called Magandang Filipinas. However, due to personal and professional differences, the beauty queen decided to resign from the role.
She is now serving as the national director of Hiyas ng Pilipinas, a beauty pageant based in Cebu.
Jerelleen Rodriguez
Jerelleen Rodriguez was known for her beauty and brains even when she was still studying at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration and Accountancy.
She won various beauty pageants such as Binibining Pilipinas 2018, Miss World Nasugbu Batangas, and Miss United Continents Filipinas 2018.
Although Jerelleen failed to secure a spot when she represented the Philippines at the Miss United Continents 2019, the beauty queen seems to still be eyeing a crown as she was recently spotted at the screening of Miss World Philippines 2020/21.
The UP professor and accountant is currently pursuing Law at the University of the Philippines College of Law.