Can Christi Lynn McGarry compete in Miss Intercontinental again?

It seems that almost year in and year out, the Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant never runs out of controversial issues.

Christi Lynn McGarry was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2015 Sunday night. However, it turned out that she had already competed for the Miss Intercontinental title in 2010 when the local franchise was not yet under the fold of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.

Alerted by InterAksyon, BPCI immediately acknowledged the potential conflict on Monday and furnished us this statement: “The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated is studying the issue about Christi Lynn McGarry who then competed for Miss Intercontinental 2010. We will update everyone should we arrive at anything final.”

McGarry, who listed Nabua, Camarines Sur as her hometown in this year’s Binibining Pilipinas, represented the Filipino Community of East Coast, USA back when she competed in the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2010.

As the winner of the Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia-Pacific title in that pageant, the 24-year-old stunner earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2010 Miss Intercontinental contest where she finished among the Top 15 semifinalists and also won the special award, Miss Asia Oceania Intercontinental.

A check with Miss Intercontinental’s official website states that delegates should be “at least 18 years old and under 27 (in the year they participate in the telecast).” Pageant rules are not posted in detail so it is not known if contestants who already participated in previous pageants are allowed to compete again.

If McGarry can’t compete anymore in Miss Intercontinental, would she forfeit her Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental crown?

Would this pave the way for 1st runner-up Hannah Ruth Sison, who was reportedly heartbroken after her three-year campaign for a Binibining Pilipinas crown fell short for the third and final time on Sunday? Pageant insiders feel that this is an unlikely scenario and point to McGarry switching titles with Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational Rogelie Catacutan as a more plausible solution.

For now, the issue remains unresolved as there is no scheduled date yet for Miss Intercontinental 2015. Last year, the pageant was won by Thailand’s Phataraporn Wang while Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2014 Kris Tiffany Janson won 2nd runner-up—the country’s best finish in the pageant’s 42-year history.

source: interaksyon.com

Bb. Pilipinas Now Open To Transgenders

MANILA, Philippines — The Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), which sends representatives to the Miss Universe beauty pageant every year, said Thursday it will respect the decision of the Miss Universe Organization to allow transgenders to compete starting next year.

“We respect the decision of the Miss Universe Organization to change its policy regarding transgender participation in the pageant. At the moment, however, we are still awaiting the guidelines of this policy decision from the Miss Universe Organization,’’ said Tessa Mangahas, Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager of Araneta Center, Inc.

This developed as officials of the Miss Earth beauty contest said transgenders are not allowed in the Miss Earth pageant, one of the contests rivaling the Miss Universe competition.

"We have religions here that are really conservative. We're talking about Muslims, Christians, Catholics. So I don't think it will happen in the near future," said Lorraine Schuck, chief executive officer of Carousel Productions, which handles the Miss Earth pageant.

"I don't think we're ready for that yet, especially the Philippines," said Peachy Veneracion, vice president of Carousel Productions, in an interview over ABS-CBN.

Last Tuesday, the Miss Universe contest changed its rules and allowed transgender women to compete in the pageant starting in 2013.

The new rule came after Jenna Talackova, 23, a contestant in this year’s Miss Canada Universe pageant, was disqualified because she was not a natural born female.

Billionaire Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe franchise, reinstated Talackova after she showed documents that identify her as a woman.

"We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously," said Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization.

The historic decision of the organization drew varied reactions from beauty queens here and abroad.

1999 Miss Universe first runner-up Miriam Quiambao criticized the decision, saying the pageant has lost its essence of being an event for women.

“In my humble opinion, the decision to include transgenders in the Miss Universe pageant sends a wrong message. Whatever happened to the essence of a woman? This may set a precedent that one day most participants in the pageant are transgenders. I’m not judging gays/transgenders. I love them anyway, but Miss Universe should be for natural born women only,’’ Quiambao posted via Tweeter.

2011 Bb. Pilipinas-International Diance Necio expressed concern that most of the contestants in local pageants in the future would be transgenders.

“It would definitely be more exciting to have transgenders compete in a prestigious pageant such as Miss Universe. And I'm sure if they would allow this in the Philippines, three-fourth of the candidates will be transgenders. That's why it should not be implemented. Naturally born women will lose their chance to compete in Miss Universe. Miss Universe Organization should make another pageant for transgenders and make it as prestigious as the said pageant,’’ said Necio, one of the semifinalists in the 2011 Miss International pageant held in China.

source: mb.com.ph