Beauty queen Jeanne Isabelle "Belle" Bilasano is filled with excitement and pride as she prepares to represent the Philippines in Face of Beauty International 2024.
Scheduled to take place in Taiwan from September 8-21, 2024, this prestigious global pageant will feature contestants from over 60 countries vying for the coveted crown.
Belle, crowned Face of Beauty Philippines 2024 on July 19, 2024, is ready to bring her advocacy and grace to the international stage, hoping to secure the first-ever win for the Philippines in this competition.
The Bicolana speech pathologist was given a send-off party by her close friends, family, and fellow queens on September 6, 2024, at the Pandan Asian Café in Quezon City.
JEANNE ISABELLE BILASANO: PREPARING FOR THE GLOBAL STAGE
As the Face of Beauty International competition has started to unfold, Belle is well on her way to face the world with hopes of making the Philippines proud.
Reflecting on her preparation for this journey, Belle said, “I do not have a specific area where I think I need to really work on because I need to be completely ready.
"So, well, for the most part, I think I need more work on being physically prepared."
Belle has also placed great emphasis on building emotional resilience and confidence in herself sinceshe's competing abroad—away from her usual support system.
She told the press, "I really have to be emotionally and mentally prepared, it’s no longer the national level.
"I can’t just call my mom and have my mom be there with me. I’m literally traveling to another country.
"So I have to be emotionally ready for what’s ahead. And I think it’s a very important part of the whole journey that I need to be focused on."
Given the short amount of time between her local coronation in July and the international competition that is now ongoing, Belle worked double-time to ensure her readiness for the hurdle.
Belle also gave a glimpse of her national costume, crafted from local materials and featuring the classic Filipina silhouette with a modern twist, incorporating elements of a native flower found in the Philippines.
Belle expressed her pride in showcasing the design on the international stage as a celebration of Filipino culture.
JEANNE ISABELLE BILASANO: BEYOND BEAUTY
For Belle, true beauty goes beyond the physical.
She said, "I think my anchor in my preparation is to present or have a campaign that beauty isn’t what you see on the outside
"It’s how you can impact the community and make someone’s life beautiful as well."
Belle reiterated how pageantry, in her eyes, has evolved from a superficial contest to a platform for pushing advocacies.
She said, "I think lately we have been struggling to really re-establish what pageantry is all about, but I think it’s important that we also go back to what it is for—it’s a celebration of beauty."
Belle further highlighted, “And I think when we celebrate that kind of beauty, we are able to focus on our causes and the advocacies that we represent and we fight for.
"And right now, that’s still a good way or a platform for everybody to get to know more about issues and how we can solve or contribute in our communities as well.”
She emphasized that being impactful and having a strong sense of purpose are among the most important qualities any pageant winner can possess.
JEANNE ISABELLE BILASANO on FACING THE PRESSURE
Belle is the first Filipino candidate to compete in the Face of Beauty International under the ALV Pageant Circle.
Admittedly, she commented, “There’s a certain level of pressure to anybody who gets to be the first, right?”
But rather than be cowed by it, she felt challenged, "I treat that pressure as kind of a push to do better because I would be the one to set the standard.
"And that means I have to put a standard that’s high enough to get the crown—the first crown.”
Belle draws strength from the support of her fellow queens, particularly Miss Philippines Tourism 2024 Bianca Tapia, who attended her send-off party.
Bianca, for her part, conveyed her admiration for Belle’s fighting spirit.
She said, “I know that she could be fully well-equipped on the way to [Taiwan] because she has the purest heart and she has the best fighting spirit.
"So, Belle, I’ll always be here for you, I love you so much.”
Belle also spoke about her journey of self-improvement, highlighting how much she has grown since her first foray into pageantry.
She said, "Before joining national pageants, I was always told that my weakness is pasarela—I couldn’t walk in heels, I couldn’t, you know, perform on stage.
"I’m very lucky to have worked with the crown initiative because I have to train with the best mentors and that’s significantly one of the most improved areas of my presentation or my campaign."
But more than the technical aspects, Belle said her growth as a person has truly prepared her for this moment.
She has learned to handle both success and failure with grace and to keep moving forward no matter the obstacles.
"I’ve also matured in a sense that I also understand how the industry works…
"I found my core to stay true to myself that despite how difficult the industry can get, I will always count on myself to, you know, be at my best," Belle confidently shared.
As Belle embarks on her journey, she remains focused on her goal of bringing home the first Face of Beauty International crown for the Philippines.
The competition’s highlights will include the Global Swimsuit Competition on September 11, the Global Talent Competition on September 12, and the Global National Costume Competition on September 15, all leading up to the Global Grand Finale on September 19 at Lin Palace, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Belle’s parting words at her send-off party summed up her mindset: “It’s going to be quite a long journey…because as we vie for the first-ever Face of Beauty International crown, I know that this crown is not just for me but it’s for everybody.”
READ MORE: