One of the best things about being a beauty queen is that even when you have passed the crown, you still remain beautiful.
It is not surprising then that many former beauty queens landed a job as models, hosts and actors.
Here are some of them:
1. Pilar Pilapil.
1967 Bb. Pilipinas, Pilar Pilapil’s filmography spans three decades and she has received a Gawad Urian Best Best Actress Award for the 1986 film Napakasakit Kuya Eddie. She also appeared in TV shows Marimar as Dolores Aldama and cast as Lady Elle in Lobo.
2. Gloria Diaz
Gloria Diaz became the first Miss Universe from the Philippines. She won the title in 1969. Diaz’ first film was “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa” in 1974. She has been acting since then. Her box-office mettle and acting prowess earned her the Best Supporting Actress trophy from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) for her role as a spinster adoptive mother in “Nasaan Ka Man.”
Gloria has so far appeared in more than 60 movies and TV shows.
3. Alice Dixson.
She joined Bb. Pilipinas 1986 as Jessie Alice Celones Dixson and was named Bb. Pilipinas-International; she also won special awards as Miss Photogenic and Miss Talent. She became a household name for her role as Faye, the fairy wife of Vic Sotto in the top-rating ’80s sitcom Okay Ka Fairy Ko. Her popularity increased further when she was tapped to play the mermaid Dyesebel in the 1990 film opposite Richard Gomez.
4. Charlene Gonzalez
Charlene Gonzalez was the country’s representative in the Miss Universe pageant in 1994, which was held in Manila. She was best known for her witty answer to the question, “How many islands does the Philippines have?” to which she replied, “At high tide or low tide?”
Charlene won the Best National Costume award and was one of the top six finalists. She started out in the ‘90s sitcom Oki Doki Doc where she was paired with the matinee idol, Aga Muhlach, now her husband. Charlene also played the lead role in Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko (1994). But her biggest break came when she was tapped to host ABC-5’s Eezy Dancing and ABS-CBN’s Keep On Dancing.
5 Precious Lara Quigaman
Bb. Pilipinas-International Precious Lara Quigaman won the in the Miss International beauty pageant held in Tokyo, Japan in 2005. Precious first appeared on the GMA-7 shows Encantadia and Bubble Gang. She also appeared in the sitcom That’s My Doc where she is paired with Aga Muhlach. She also appeared in the indie film Umaaraw, umuulan (2006), where she played Ryan Agoncillo’s woman of his dreams.
6. Bianca Manalo
Bianca Manalo won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title in 2009 and although she did not win the Miss Universe crown, her show biz career prospered a year after her Binibining Pilipinas stint. She immediately landed a starring role in a television series, which was followed by other TV projects and movie roles in “The Adventures of Pureza” and “Kung Fu Divas,” where she was able to show her quirky side.
7. Venus Raj
Venus Raj, a beauty queen from Camarines Sur, entertained the international audience with her “major, major” remark during the Q&A portion of 2010 Miss Universe, in which she placed fourth runner-up. After the pageant, Raj started out hosting and later tried her luck in acting. She starred in comedy programs, teledramas, horror films, and other projects.
8. Alma Concepcion
Alma Concepcion was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-International in 1994. After her stint as the country’s representative to the international pageant, she appeared in several movies such as Massacre Files, Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig, Halik and Kamay ni Eva.
