Ang Filipino-Kiwi candidate mula sa Cavite na si Victoria Velasquez Vincent ang nakakuha ng top spot sa Interview Challenge ng Miss Universe Philippines 2021.
Si Victoria ay isang 25-year-old architect na born and raised sa New Zealand. Siya ay may double Master’s degree sa Architecture and Heritage Conservation mula University of Auckland.
Nag-relocate si Victoria sa Pilipinas ngayong taon, sa kasagsagan ng pandemic, para subukang abutin ang kanyang pangarap na maging isang beauty queen, at para na rin sa kanyang advocacy na makapag-design ng low-cost at sustainable housing para sa underprivileged communities.
Kagabi, August 28, 2021, inilabas ng Miss Universe Philippines Organization (MUPO) ang two-part video ng Q&A session ng top 50 candidates ng Miss Universe Philippines 2021 sa YouTube channel ng Empire Philippines.
Kasunod naman nito, inilabas ng MUPO ang Top 7 candidates para sa nasabing challenge.
VICTORIA'S INTERVIEW CHALLENGE
Sa kanyang Q&A, pakilala ni Victoria sa kanyang sarili, "I am an architect and a heritage conservationist.
"And aside from being a lover of all things visually creative, I’m also a lover of poetry and anything underrated.
"So whether it’d be food that people specifically don’t like or the places less traveled, you will always find me going against the grain.
"I am a Virgo and the epitome of a Virgo at that, which means I’m obsessed with being organized and solving problems, and nurturing the growth of those around me.
"Fun fact, you will never find anyone with a better memory than me, whether it’s your birthday, your phone number, or what I had for Christmas lunch in 2012, you best believe I will never forget it."
Ang unang tanong kay Victoria: "Would you rather be an Olympic gold medalist or Miss Universe?"
Sagot nito: "That’s a hard question because either way, you are bringing so much pride to your country.
"But for me, I would have to say I would rather be Miss Universe because the prestige that lasts with Miss Universe is so much stronger than what lasts with an Olympic athlete, in my opinion.
"And with Miss Universe, you only have to do it once and you bring so much pride to your country. Whereas with being an Olympic medalist, you have to keep improving.
"Every year, you have to be better and better. So for me, yeah, I think I’d go with Miss Universe."
Ang kanyang second question: "Global warming has caused dramatic climate changes worldwide, as a beauty queen, how will you help in protecting our environment?"
Sabi ni Victoria: "It starts with the changes you make in your own personal life and then, extending that and using the platform that we have in Miss Universe Philippines to encourage other people to do the same thing.
"So for example, for me, I have actually converted to being 90% vegan. Because I know animal agriculture contributes to so much of the issues that climate change causes.
"And so, even that minor change, I know I’m contributing to such a large issue and I know that I can use my platform to encourage other people to do the same."
Ang ikatlo at huling tanong naman ni Victoria: "How has the pandemic challenged you?"
Sagot ng kandidata: "Above all else, the pandemic has challenged me in a way that has made me both stronger and more independent.
"I spent the first year of the pandemic in New Zealand and had the privilege of having that safety and security.
"But I still chose to sacrifice all of those things and relocate to the Philippines in January.
"And if there's anything that that journey has taught me, it's that you might need to make some sacrifices along the way and you might need to give up on so many things and let go of so many things in your life but you should never let anything, not even a worldwide pandemic, get in the way of your dreams."
TOP 7 INTERVIEW CHALLENGE
Pumangalawa kay Victoria ang kandidata mula sa Parañaque City na si Maria Ingrid Teresita "Sam" Santamaria.
Nakuha naman ng TikTok content creator na si Rousanne Marie "Ayn" Bernos mula sa San Juan City ang ikatlong puwesto para sa interview challenge.
Kasama rin sa Top 7 ng interview challenge sina Isabelle de los Santos ng Makati City, Megan Digal ng Bukidnon, Beatrice Luigi Gomez ng Cebu City, at Simone Nadine Bornilla ng Marinduque.
Ang Director of Communications na si Voltaire Tayag ang nag-facilitate ng Q&A sa mga kandidata. Binigyan ang mga ito ng 45 seconds para sa introduction, and 30 seconds each naman para sa tatlo pang tanong.
Kasama sa panelist ang MUPO national director na si Shamcey Supsup-Lee; MUPO's design council head and fashion designer Albert Andrada; TV anchor and Resorts World Manila Corporate Communications Director Joee Guilas; events and fashion show director Jackie Aquino; SAGA Events founder Robby Carmona; and Legal Counsel of MUPH Atty. PY Caunan.
Kasama rin sa panelists ang ilan pang MUPO executives na sina Jonas Gaffud, Mario Garcia, Atty. Nad Bronce, Lia Andrea Ramos, at ang reigning Miss Universe Philippines titleholder na si Rabiya Mateo.
Bago ang interview challenge, sumabak na rin ang mga kandidata sa apat pang virtual challenges, kabilang ang runway challenge, headshot challenge, video introduction challenge, at casting video challenge.
Mula sa initial batch na Top 100 candidates noong July 2021, 50 na lamang ang natira matapos sumabak ng mga kandidata sa mga virtual challenges nitong mga nakaraang linggo.
Top 30 candidates lang ang mapapabilang sa in-person competition ng Miss Universe Philippines 2021 na gaganapin ngayong September.
Ang mga virtual challenges na nabanggit rin ang magiging basehan ng MUPO panelists upang piliin ang Top 27 na pasok sa kompetisyon. Ang tatlong kandidata naman na may pinakamataas na online votes sa MUPH app ay automatic na mapapabilang sa Top 30.
Sa grand coronation night na gaganapin sa September 25, ipapasa ni Rabiya Mateo ang titulo at korona bilang Miss Universe Philippines. Sa ngayon, wala pang announcement kung saan ito gaganapin.
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