Unang pageant ni Bianca Ysabella Rei Olay Ylanan ang Miss Universe Philippines, kung saan siya ang kinatawan ng lalawigan ng Quirino.
Ilan sa mga makakatunggali ni Bianca sa nabanggit na patimpalak ay ang mga datihan nang title holders tulad nina Winwyn Marquez (2017 Reina Hispanoamericana) at Ahtisa Manalo (2018 Miss International 1st Runner-Up).
Ano ang masasabi ni Bianca na ang makakalaban niya ay mga beterana na sa beauty pageants?
Lahad niya sa panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), “I think as much as it has been intimidating at first, especially when I haven’t seen them… but as soon as I met them, they're so welcoming, they're so... they're nothing but such big sisters.
“They're like, ‘Whatever you need, whatever you like, do you need a mirror? Do you need a touch-up?’
“They're always there, and I think when I look at it from an outside perspective, not as a beauty queen with them, I'm in the competition for a reason, and I have a lot to prove.
“I think all of us have the same chance to win. It's one out of 69, and if that could be me, I'll pursue that role.”
bianca ylanan on new pageant rules
Marami nang bagong rules ang Miss Universe pageant, tulad ng pag-alis ng age at height requirement.
Pinapayagan na ring sumali ang mga kandidata na may anak, may asawa, at mga transgender women.
Ano ang masasabi ni Bianca tungkol sa mga pagbabagong ito?
Aniya, “I think that's what makes it more powerful as a woman.
"Because like I mentioned before, we're not just who we are now, like I'm not just a 25-year-old laboratory medical scientist.
“Being a woman is evolving into being a mother, to being a good partner, into having... like Miss Quirino before, she had three kids, and she still really did her role well.
Ang Miss Universe Quirino nung nakaraang taon ay ang mother of three at nurse na si Stephanie Faye Gerona.
“Our age and marital status do not stop us from pursuing our dreams, and you can see this with the 68 other delegates as well.”
bianca ylanan on showbiz plans
Bukas ba si Bianca na pumasok sa showbiz pagkatapos ng Miss Universe Philippines pageant?
“I've always been the kind of person who plans five years ahead, so when I went to university, it was okay, laboratory scientist, and then maybe medicine after.
“But now that I have this new world that opened up, I'm really open to anything."
Sa kabila nito, hindi masagot ni Bianca kung sino ang nais niyang maging leading man kung sakaling i-pursue niya ang pagkakaroon ng showbiz career.
Paliwanag niya, “If I were to go into showbiz and have my first male lead, I'm gonna be honest, I haven't really been looking at men the same way as now that I have a partner.
"Because they're all just like, okay, here's a man, cool.
“Like there's no one… no one's more guwapo, no one's nicer, no one's more lovable as my partner,” at tumawa si Bianca na may Australian boyfriend sa kasalukuyan.
“So I can't answer that question. Sorry.”
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bianca ylanan's take on past miss universe q&a
Maraming Filipina beauty queens ang umabot sa Q&A portion ng Miss Universe pageant nitong mga nakaraang taon.
Kaya naman sinubukan ng PEP.ph na tanungin si Bianca kung paano niya masasagot ang mga tanong na hinarap ng mga naunang beauty queen.
Sa 2018 Miss Universe pageant, naitanong kay Catriona Gray kung ano ang pipiliin nito, korona o pag-ibig.
Ano ang pipiliin ni Bianca, lalo pa nga at may karelasyon siya ngayon?
Aniya, “I think with what I mentioned before, you know, the crazy things we do for love, but right now, it would be the crown.
“Because I know that my partner is gonna be backing me up with whatever I do, and this is my goal now, this is what fulfills me now, so the crown.”
Isa sa mga idolong beauty queens ni Bianca ay si Venus Raj, na nanalong 2010 Miss Universe 4th Runner-Up.
Ang naging tanong sa kanya noon: "What is the one big mistake that you have made in your life and what did you do to make it right?"
Sagot naman ni Bianca ngayon, “One of the biggest mistakes I've made would probably be not believing in myself, especially when I got in Australia, it was COVID.
“I was like, ‘Can I do this? Am I ready for this?’
“But I was in that position because I am ready and I think the universe won't take us to a position or a spot if we're not ready for it.
“So I really just kind of… I didn't fake it, but I just made it happen for myself. So that's kind of just how I corrected it.
“I made sure that it's my moment, and I'm gonna claim it, and I'm gonna continue on that goal."
Simple lang ang naging tanong kay Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach noon: "Why should you be the next Miss Universe?"
Ano ang sagot ni Bianca dito?
“I'm not only up for the crown. Miss Universe, to me, is representing the Filipinos.
"Right now, yes, I'm representing Quirino. But to represent Filipinos is such a big responsibility.
"And I think I should be the next Miss Universe because, like Filipinos, I am multifaceted.
“I show our pag-kapwa not only from my experience in Australia but also from being in Quirino and Manila.
"And I think I can bring a really fresh perspective, not only to the Philippines, but to the universe."
bianca ylanan's covid experience
Twenty-five years old si Bianca mula sa Maddela, Quirino.
Nag-aral siya sa Dominican School at University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Junior and Senior High School under STEM strand.
Nakapasa si Bianca na mag-aral ng Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Medicine sa University of Tasmania sa Australia noong 2020.
Pero dalawang linggo lamang ang nakalilipas ay nagkaroon na ng COVID lockdown. Apat na taong hindi nakaalis sa Australia si Bianca.
Paano niya nalampasan ito?
“It was tough,” bulalas ni Bianca. “But honestly, I've been such an objective kind of person. Like, this is my goal, I'm gonna do it.
"And I think reminding myself every day why I'm there, which is to pursue Laboratory Medicine, to graduate and do more of health science, I kept thinking that.
“But also, the sacrifices that my family made for me just to be there and to keep making it happen for me to be there, that's really all the inspiration and motivation I need.
"Because at the end of the day, they're the people who I dedicate my life to as well.”
Isinara noon ang mga border sa buong mundo.
“That's why I wasn't sure if I were to come back home to the Philippines to be with family, makakabalik ba ako sa… lalo na sa Tasmania.
“So I'm in Tasmania, Australia, which is a state island, so hiwalay pa siya sa mainland. So nung nag-close sila ng borders, as in nothing's going in and out for like a good two years, so I was in a solace of nature, which was beautiful.”
Kabuuang kuwento pa ni Bianca, "I studied in Australia for my university, but when I decided to do that, it was January 2020. I flew to Australia and then, as in a week after, lockdown.
“So luckily, my mom actually got to fly with me pero nakauwi pa rin naman siya, thank God, safely.
"But I was stuck there for four and a half years. It's a good place to be stuck in, I'm not gonna lie.
"Pero I was alone, I didn't have any family. It was the time where I truly kind of tested my independence and just know myself.
"Because I've always been with family, maybe you know, just my mom, cousins everywhere. I've always been with people and family because that's how we Filipinos are.
"And then when I went to Australia, I was fully alone, didn't know anyone, didn't know what was happening because COVID was so new there.
“So it really challenged me and how I perceive myself in the world, so I think I got out of it well, I mean, like I'm here now.
“So yeah, it's been tough, but I'm lucky that I have the support that I have then.”
Nakausap namin si Bianca noong March 3, 2025, sa grand ballroom ng B Hotel sa Scout Rallos, Quezon City.