PHOTO: Screengrab from Instagram/@realpaulashugart
MAKALIPAS ang mahigit dalawang dekada, tinapos na ni Paula Shugart ang kanyang tenure bilang presidente ng Miss Universe Organization (MUO).
Inanunsyo mismo ni Paula ang pagbaba niya sa pwesto sa gitna ng kanyang talumpati bago matapos ang national costume show ng Miss Universe pageant noong November 17.
“I have decided that this Saturday will be my last show,” sey niya sa kanyang speech.
Paglilinaw niya, “This decision has been made months in the making and is not in a response to recent events. I stayed because of my belief in El Salvador and my love for the Miss Universe brand.”
Ipinunto niya rin na ang Miss Universe ay hindi lamang tungkol sa isang kababaihan, kundi isa ring komunidad.
“I have always passionately believed that Miss Universe is not about any one woman,” sambit niya.
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Patuloy ni Paula, “It’s about community, our community, it’s about the passionate fans, the titleholders, the national directors who have remained dedicated to this brand through thick and thin and because of them the Miss Universe brand is strong and will remain resilient.”
Binalikan din ni Paula ang magulong panahon ng MUO bago niya ginampanan ang pagiging presidente ng organisasyon noong 1997, habang sinasabi kung gaano nagsumikap ang pageant na baguhin ang mga patakaran sa pag-asang maisulong ang pagiging inclusivity sa mga kababaihan.
“I am so proud of what we have accomplished. We taught women that true beauty is based [on] confidence and using your voice,” saad niya.
Pagbabahagi pa niya, “We expanded our global reach, and focused on telling the stories of all these incredible women. We worked hard to change the rules to be more inclusive.”
“Twelve years ago, we became the first major brand to open our doors to transgender women. And this year, we changed the rules to allow married women and mothers to compete. And for the first time in our history, we have two mothers competing on this stage,” dagdag niya.
Sa pagtatapos ng kanyang talumpati, umaasa si Paula na ang mga kababaihan ay hindi matatakot na gamitin ang kanilang boses sa kanilang hangarin na baguhin ang mundo.
Nilinaw rin niya na bagamat bumitiw na siya sa kanyang pwesto sa MUO ay hindi ibig sabihin nito na magreretiro na siya.
“Don’t think for one minute I’m retiring. I have an unbelievable story to tell and I look forward to telling it,” ani niya.
Sa isang Instagram post, lubos ang pasasalamat ng MUOP president sa lahat ng mga nakilala niya.
“Thank you to our fans, directors and the amazing titleholders I have been blessed to meet throughout the years,” caption niya.
Wika pa niya, “You are what makes Miss Universe great! I love you all! And to avoid speculation, I am definitely not retiring. I will see you all soon.”
As of this writing, wala pang detalye kung sino ang papalit kay Paula.
Ilan lamang sa mga Miss Universe titleholders sa kasagsagan ng kanyang tenure ay sina Pia Wurtzbach at Catriona Gray, Zozibini Tunzi at Demi-Leigh Tebow ng South Africa, Harnaaz Sandhu ng India, at reigning queen na si R’Bonney Gabriel na mula sa United States.
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