Miss World Philippines 2018 Katarina Rodriguez and Binibining Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon gave their two cents regarding the issue involving three Miss Earth candidates who claimed they were harassed by one of the pageant sponsors.
It can be recalled that the representatives of Canada, England, and Guam all took to Instagram to share their experiences with one of the sponsors of the pageant who asked sexual favors from them. Miss Guam even revealed the identity of the said sponsor as a man named Amado Cruz.
After the beauty queens’ revelation, Rodriguez and de Leon spoke up about what really happens in beauty pageants when the cameras are not around.
De Leon, who represented the Philippines during the Miss International pageant last year, took to Twitter to say that sexual harassment does exist in the world of pageantry and that it should not be tolerated.
“Sexual harassment in pageantry is real. Just like how it is in any field of work. It is never okay to blame the victim,” de Leon wrote.
“It doesn’t matter what she is doing, where she is, what state she is in, and it especially doesn’t matter what she is wearing. No is no,” she added.
Sexual harassment in pageantry is real. Just like how it is in any field of work.
IT IS NEVER OKAY TO BLAME THE VICTIM.
It doesn’t matter what she is doing, where she is, what state she is in, and it especially doesn’t matter what she is wearing. No is no.
— MARIEL DE LEON (@marieldeleonofc) November 8, 2018
Meanwhile, in an interview with PEP.ph, Rodriguez, who is currently in Sanya, Chine to represent the Philippines in the Miss World pageant, commended the Miss Earth candidates who spoke up about their unfortunate experiences.
“I think it’s not just beauty queens, but I suppose yes, because beauty pageants are such a big thing.
“I’d like to say na sana na lang that whoever speaks up. I completely commend them for speaking up, kasi medyo mahirap iyan,” she said.
Rodriguez also connected the incident to the experiences of Filipino-Italian model-beauty queen Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. Gutierrez, who also happens to be Rodriguez’s friend, won the Miss Italy crown in 2010 and said that she experienced sexual harassment from American film producer Harvey Weinstein.
“I’m a good friend of Ambra Gutierrez. She inspires me a lot. She is one of the victims of Harvey Weinstein. She’s half-Filipina, half-Italian. I listened to her podcast and followed her story.
“She experienced it first-hand, multiple times, even as Miss Italy, kasi she did Miss Italy. But her story is so true and I hope the girls who do come out, they’re strong girls, who are wanting to speak up.” she said.
She added, “Sana it’s true. You only ever want to speak the truth, right? So, that’s the first thing, I have to say.
“And the second thing—believing what they’re saying is true—it’s scary… it’s a scary thing to go through. I would not wanna go through that.”
Rodriguez also left a message to those who sexually harass vulnerable people.
“For those who do take advantage, sana na lang they think about their actions. They think about what they’re doing and they respect women… not just women, but respect people.
“Everyone should respect male or female, whatever gender. You should just give respect to whoever you’re encountering.”
In a report aired on TV Patrol on November 9, Cruz has already denied the sexual harassment claims against him.
He said that he only wanted to help the pageant by promoting tourism in the Philippines and added that one part of his sponsorship was the dinner held at the Manila Yacht Club.
Cruz also said that he doesn’t understand why the candidates put malice in what he did for the pageant. However, he is now declared as “forever banned” in the Miss Earth pageant.
