MISS QUEENIVERSE 2024: ASUNTA MAE OF DENMARK WINS CROWN

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Miss Queeniverse 2024, Asunta Mae
Photo Courtesy of Rigene Zapatos

On 18th May 2024, the coronation night for Miss Queeniverse 2024 was held at the Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. 

The coronation night was an organised project by Amsterdam-based GLAM Infinity where it epitomised the beauty; showcased the various talents and revealed the sharp-witted minds of 10 cordial candidates. 

The objective of the event was to celebrate and welcome the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/ questioning, intersex and asexual) community. Particularly, it led to an opportunity to make full-sounding noises in uplifting the ingenuity, cleverness, and intelligence of my dear fellow transgender women; that they are no longer hidden behind the scenes. 

It was positively hosted by August Baluyot Mateo and Raymond Jay-ar and also, adjudicated by respective members of the jury. There was a special appearance and participation from Miss Queeniverse 2023, Cassandra Havana, before the introductory production number of the contestants on stage. 

BEFORE THE CORONATION NIGHT 

Photo Courtesy of Miss Queeniverse

Photo Courtesy of Miss Queeniverse

The candidates had the opportunity to enjoy fun activities; receive give-away products and visit places such as: 

outdoor photo shoot; 

rehearsed their production number; 

endorsed goods and services from various sponsors;

and 

savoured Italian cuisine at Cucina Casalinga Restaurant.

CANDIDATES 

Photo Courtesy of Miss Queeniverse

There were 10 cheerful candidates who stupefied their undying supporters and lusciously tempted their admirers in a show-off competition on stage. 

The contestants vibrantly appeared on stage in 3 different attires where each round incentivised the audience to choose their favourite(s) during: 

elaborate creative costumes;

seductive swimsuits;

and 

classy gowns.

Video Courtesy of Cassy Nhoyskie Zen-abi

MINOR, MAJOR AND SPECIAL AWARDS 

There were 7 out of 10 candidates who were called one at a time on stage to receive the following awards: 

Miss Photogenic

candidate 1, Nancy Alena Diaz (The Netherlands)

Spirit of Candidate

candidate 3, Mitchelle Agusto (Germany)

People’s Choice Award

candidate 7, Khaylee Ysabella Powell (The Netherlands)

The New You Awardee

candidate 6, Ada Padilla (The Netherlands)

Miss Fab Skin

candidate 9, Hannakim Delena (Germany)

Miss Mega World

candidate 1, Nancy Alena Diaz (The Netherlands)

Miss Cream Silk

candidate 10, Asunta Mae (Denmark)

Best in Creative Costume

candidate 3, Mitchelle Agusto (Germany)

Best in Swimsuit

candidate 9, Hannakim Delena (Germany)

Best in Evening Gown

candidate 10, Asunta Mae (Denmark)

Best Personal Statement

candidate 8, Chloe Bronek (The Netherlands)

SEMI-FINALISTS 

The announcement of awards contributed to the overall scores for each contender and led to the determination of who would be included in the top 5. That is why, the tabulation of candidates' scores fairly decided the announcement of who made it through the initial round of the contest: 

candidate 4

Ram Villaflores (The Netherlands)

candidate 10

Asunta Mae (Denmark)

candidate 3

Mitchelle Agusto (Germany)

candidate 9

Hannakim Delena (Germany)

candidate 8

Chloe Bronek (The Netherlands)

 

This initial round was paired with the jittery Question and Answer portion with a twist. It is because the top 5 ladies were asked to convey their insightful interpretation of their chosen painting from local Filipino artists. Thus, the 3 contestants who delivered the strongest explanations reached the final round. 

TITLE HOLDER AND RUNNERS-UP 

The declaration of 3 finalists was followed by the ultimate Question and Answer portion in relation to the transgender community. 

After the finalists confidently answered the one common question, last year’s title holder Cassandra Havana made her farewell walk and speech.

           

Video Courtesy of Cassy Havana Serdan

The unanimously declared euphoric title holder with her affable runners-up of Miss Queeniverse 2024 are: 

From Left to Right
First Runner-up, Chloe Bronek
Miss Queeniverse 2024, Asunta Mae
Second Runner-up, Hannakim Delena
Photo Courtesy of Edson Swarovski Gonzales

THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN I MET

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

The word beautiful is not only used to describe a woman’s attractiveness or the flawlessness of her skin. It is also used to show appreciation of her charming personality or the heart-warming esprit de corps when amongst a group of people. 

(With my Sistahs)

For the past years I’ve been traveling around the United Kingdom, I met various people with different personalities. A number of them are now my friends whom I welcomed genuinely to be part of my life, like my dear Sistahs (Tina and Jence) but some remained as just acquaintances. This is one fact of life and I can say, ‘in life we will come across thousands of people, but only a handful of them will delight our spirit as a human being’.
 

In reality and in my opinion, it doesn’t take years to know who is a good friend. One you can feel comfortable with talking about whatever there is to be discussed. In other words, our innate feelings will always guide and lead us to discern a person’s motives.  

I knew them before through a particular online social networking service. I even had the chance to see them closely when I attended some after dark events. Although it was only recently that I had the chance to communicate with them like sisters and also, pose beside them like models. I was like their Personal Assistant or in tagalog, Personal Alalay... LOL!!!

Before I start conveying an image of who they are one by one, I just want to let you know that my descriptions of them are my own words and are free from their own words.

 

I knew and heard many good things about MISS ISABELLE CORTEZ before meeting her in the flesh, for the first time, in one of The Wayout Club venues called 2AD. She was very approachable, engaging (especially our jokes) and more importantly, loved genuine people like herself. She smiles a lot and the next time we met, it was filled with laughter and silliness. So, we continued the friendship by exchanging messages and kept up to date with each other on Facebook. When beautiful people touched my life very profoundly because of their humble and loving personality, they stay forever in my heart. That is why, her sudden good bye left me in tears and I just couldn't believed that she is no longer with us. The warmth of her smile and the goodness of her heart were the sweetest attributes she showed to people she met like myself. Every time she slipped into my mind, it is her smile that made me feel that she is just around the corner. I will forever treasure my gleeful memories with your Miss Isabelle Cortez until my last day on Earth.

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When I was smoothly transitioning and still at the University in my hometown, I was able to watched her on the television. She was a star herself especially when she posed and conquered the stage in her swimwear and gowns. More importanly, when she introduced herself as a strong contender at the beauty pageants. So, when I met one of my beauty pageant icons of unfading beauty and towering height I was flabbergasted and full of joy, too. Yes, I met her in person and every time I bumped onto Miss Isabelle Cortez on a few occasions in the past, I also stumbled upon to Miss Asunta Mae. Truthfully, I don't know what it was about us three who got along so well every time we met. It seemed we were cousins/sisters. I think, it was the dancefloor as we loved wiggling our butts and shaking our smooth bodies like free birds. Ladies and gentleman, meet MISS ASUNTA MAE who is getting younger and more beautiful as years passed by.

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She's European with two passports and I'm a naturalised British with two passports, too. I could see similarities when it comes to our legal papers. Can you? But hey, our likeness doesn't just end up with those documentations. I first met her in the flesh when we both attended a beauty pageant entitled, Mr. & Miss Mango Tree 2013. That night, it was heaving with people but her milky glowing skin made her very conspicuous in my eyesight. She was holding her DSLR attached to the tripod while facing the stage when I suddenly approached and said, "hello and how are you, Sistah Nicola? That was the start of our friendship despite the fact we don't meet so much. MISS NICOLA is a smart and strong lady who supplements herself with a few languages and can ably defend herself if situations turn bad. I can also say that she is an honest friend who will always be there for you but won't tolerate any imperious arrogance in which I am the same, too! More importantly, she's a beautiful woman with a kind heart who speaks eloquently and wears no mask of pretense.

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A smile costs nothing and giving it to people won’t harm your integrity. This is how I and MISS SAHARAJEN DALE got to cross one's path when I attended two of Miss T.G. Diamond beauty pageants at Great Portland Street and Greenwood Theater in Central London. Sadly, we never had the chance to chat as we sat far from one another but those nights a friendship began. Nowadays, Facebook connected us together and because of her loving as well as companionable personality our exchanging of comments and messages have been delightfully peachy. 

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Her condescending look intimidated the best in me when we first encountered each other at The WayOut Club. She was wearing all black and gave me a pretty aloof greeting when our eyes met that night. Honestly speaking, I thought of her as a belligerent lady who will give someone a hard time. But I was very mistaken to think bad of MISS RENÉE CAPA! The second time we met in the flesh, I felt very guilty to have assumed bad of her personality. Genuinely speaking, she was very approachable and down to earth too when we were chatting to each other. More than that, she was quite a 'kikay' (a lady who likes fixing herself up and being cute) which emphasized the charming and bright sides in her.

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I stumbled upon her face first by chance on Facebook when one afternoon I was multitasking, writing and chatting to my sister on the web. It was just a quick visit onto her profile and my first impression of MISS JODIE ARABELLA DAIMBA because of her flawlessness was that she’s from Europe. Coincidentally, while I was waiting patiently outside a station on London Underground’s Northern Line I saw a woman who came out and responded to me with a warm smile on her face. I called it serendipity as we both had a common friend who had brought us to South West London. On the day we both saw each other outside the station I never thought of talking with her face to face and thought our genuine smiles were enough. Moreover, the main reason we both went to the same district and house was to give our full support to our common friend the night she paraded her beauty, elegance and wit on stage. 

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I went into a room and there she was untangling her hair rollers while facing the mirror and verbosely talking to us. Actually, I was just listening to their conversation while watching them carry-out their own make-up. The day I met in the flesh MISS CHOYINS TESCO CRUZ, she was like a fidget who showed me around the house wearing hot pants which exposed her elongated legs. What I liked about her too when we were in the house was that, she talked to us passionately and pleasingly which gave me the feeling she’s an adorable lady. Besides, her cheerfulness and thoughtfulness to her friends, makes her worth keeping as a friend. Approach her and she will never fail to engage with you with her soft womanly voice!

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I called and treated her as Inah (Mother) ever since we talked over the phone and have to admit, it is as though we have known each other for years already. What I hold in high regard most about MISS LAURA LOON is her buoyant and friendly personality, as not all women can be approachable. I am also impressed by her colourful lifestyle and the way she always gets dressed-up. In my opinion, it shows great confidence and also implies that she has a strong mind of her own. 

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We first met in the flesh in a bar at Crosswall and later at an event in Mango Tree Restaurant. I even had the chance to chat to her at those places before the noise got too ear splitting! Our chats showed that MISS ABBY TOLENTINO was an endearing and amiable woman because of her warm personality. She consistently delights people who met her in the flesh. 

Broadly speaking, when you are treating the people you just met as friends or as family members rather than as an advantage in life, you will surely never have a problem  when engaging with them as a genuine person! 

*ALTERED this year but first published in April 2013
*Photos courtesy of their Facebook accounts