PHOTO: Instagram/@supsupshamcey
HINDI na ikinagulat ng Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) National Director na si Shamcey Supsup-Lee ang bagong protocol ng Miss Universe Organization kung saan inalis na ang “age limit” sa mga nagnanais sumali sa prestigious international beauty pageant.
Sa interview ng INQUIRER.net, sinabi ni Shamcey na nakita na niyang mangyayari ito dahil na rin kay reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel.
“I believe it was eventually going to change because, first of all, R’Bonney has been very vocal about the age limit,” sey niya sa kasagsagan ng press event ng MUPH sa Quezon City kamakailan lang.
Paglalahad pa niya, “She’s, I think, one of the oldest reigning Miss Universe. She’s 29 years old, and the limit was up to 28 only.”
Kung maaalala, sinagot ni R’Bonney sa question-and-answer round ng international pageant na nais niyang taasan pa ang allowable age ng kompetisyon.
“I believe age does not define us. It’s not tomorrow, it’s not yesterday, but it’s now. The time is now that you can go after what you want,” tugon ng reigning queen.
Nabanggit din ni Shamcey na kaya rin niya inaasahan ang bagong qualifiation ng MUO ay dahil itinaas na ng Miss Supranational pageant ang age limit nito sa 32 noong 2022.
Baka Bet Mo: Shamcey Supsup-Lee ipinaliwanag ang ‘controversy’ sa Top 10 ng 2023 Miss Universe Philippines pageant
Ngunit ang ikinagulat niya raw ay wala nang limitasyon sa age cap.
“Okay, so maybe they don’t want to mention a number. Because if they say 35, what about a 36-year-old who is still capable? Perhaps they want it to be open to all,” sey ng national director.
Ayon din kay Shamcey, sinusuportahan ng MUPH organization ang bagong direksyon na ito.
“It’s not like there’s no rules anymore. But it just says that we don’t discriminate,” sambit ni Shamcey.
Dagdag niya, “I think we should look at it on a positive note. I don’t think it will dilute the competition. I think it will make the competition tougher.”
“And when it’s tougher, then the most deserving will win. Because they will really pass through the needle’s eye,” paliwanag pa niya.
Ani pa ng national director, “With all the new development, new rules that we’ve seen, it’s more of ‘we are open, come join.’ And if you’re qualified and you feel like you’re deserving, regardless of your height and also your age, if you’re married or you have children, if we feel like you are the best representation of your place, of your country, then you can achieve your dream.”
Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa mga qualifications para makasali sa Miss Universe.
Noong 2018, nauna na nilang ipinatupad ang pagpayag sa mga transgender woman na sumali sa patimpalak.
Si Angela Ponce mula sa Spain ang kauna-unahang transgender woman na sumali sa Miss Universe.
Noong 2023 naman ay tumanggap na rin ito ng mga kandidata na may asawa, diborsiyada, at buntis simula nang mabili ito ng Thai billionaire at trans woman na si Anne Jakrajutatip.
Samantala, magaganap ang 72nd Miss Universe pageant sa El Salvador sa darating na November 18.
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