Is Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up Maria Venus Raj pregnant?

There were rumors  among Filipino pageant fans that Miss Universe 2010 4th runner up Maria Venus Raj is pregnant. It started when photos of her together with other Filipina beauty queens surfaced on the net and some netizen took noticed of her seemingly bloated tummy. Looking at the pictures, I was almost convinced that the rumor might be true but I immediately thought that it can also be just a bad angle. I have noticed as well that the prints on her dress might do something to create the illusion that she is pregnant.

Fil-Am beauty queen gains dual citizenship

A prominent beauty queen and model from the Philippines who has been in the US for over seven years recently gained her citizenship at an official naturalization ceremony of the US Citizen and Immigration Services in Sacramento.

Only minutes after getting naturalized as an American citizen, an experience that included taking the oath and reciting the pledge of allegiance with over 800 people at the Memorial Auditorium, Filipina-American Michelle De Leon admitted that although she was a bit nervous from her performance, the 5-foot-10 model was overjoyed at the chance to finally call herself a dual citizen.

“It’s the best of both worlds, definitely,” De Leon said to FilAm Star at the March 18 naturalization ceremony. “You have the American citizenship, you have the American privileges, and at the same time I still have my roots, my Filipina home, and my citizenship there as well. It feels good to belong to two awesome countries.”

As a dual citizen, De Leon will now enjoy certain benefits after being sworn in by US Magistrate Judge, the Honorable Dale Drozd. Some of the privileges that De Leon looks forward to are being able to vote (which she said she will do in the next general election), jury duty service, the right to apply for family members to become citizens, and the added security protection De Leon would receive when she is traveling overseas.

“The United States always fights for their people,” said De Leon. “They always take care of you and I personally like to travel. There have been a few times when I was in a certain country and I was not so sure about my security. Just knowing that I have this certificate, I know I’ll be OK wherever I go.”

De Leon’s Filipina mother was at the ceremony, as was her 13-year-old brother, who even missed a day of school to witness the occasion. De Leon said that they were both very excited for her, and that much had happened for her to reach this point in her life.

“I’ve been here for almost eight years now,” said De Leon, who was born in her mother’s hometown of Balanga, Bataan and went to grade school and high school in Olongapo City.

“I’ve been through some obstacles, (like) losing my dad… But throughout the journey, I’ve been fortunate to do a lot of traveling because of my title…And then after that, I just figured it’s time to finally get my citizenship, and be a part of America.”

The 25-year-old De Leon, who won the title Top Model of the World 2006 after the original winner had to forfeit her crown, lives outside of Sacramento-in Elk Grove but has plans of moving to Los Angeles. She thinks she would have a much better chance at to improving her job situation there.

“I am doing mostly doing runway fashion shows,” said De Leon. “I’m coming in and out of LA for the past three months now. It’s been Fashion Week so it’s starting to get busy. I’m trying to relocate, actually to LA, because of a bigger market because usually I was in San Francisco working.”

As for her professional career, the 2008 year was incredible for De Leon, who thanks the World Beauty Organization (WBO) for the opportunity to travel to faraway places such as Egypt, which she called “an amazing country with warm people and weather.”

De Leon said she is thinking about returning to beauty pageant competition, but did say that although she is now a new US citizen, she would continue to represent her native country.

She told FilAm Star she’s been asked to compete in the 2009 Mutya ng Pilipinas, an established beauty contest based in the Philippines.

“I’m seriously considering it,” said De Leon. “If there aren’t any restrictions, I would love to take advantage of that opportunity because after that, if I win—or when I win, that will give me another opportunity to go to another international pageant and represent my country, the Philippines, again as an ambassador.”

It should be interesting to see what the future has in store for De Leon, who as fate would have it, was discovered by a top Filipina fashion designer at a fashion show in San Francisco.

In September of 2006, Renee Salud “found” De Leon, and Salud referred De Leon to those involved on the Philippine side at the Top Model of the World contest.

Less than a year after, De Leon placed first runner-up in the 2006 event. The winner, Brazil’s Natalia Guimaraes, was forced to resign from her title because of her participation in the Miss Universe 2007.

In fact, De Leon nearly won the 2006 Top Model of the Year contest, as Guimaraes edged her out by only .2 points. The competition, which took place in the village resort town of Kunming, China, featured pageant contestants from over 50 different countries.

Perhaps now, there is a greater sense of urgency for many United States residents to expedite their becoming legal citizens of the country. Even as the recession is affecting almost all sectors of society, optimism still abounds for many recent immigrants, particularly Filipino-Americans who have come to America in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

Binibining Pilipinas Tidbits

In the picture are the winners of the 1969 Binibining Pilipinas.

From left: Maricar Azaola, third runner-up; Nelia Sancho, first runner-up (and 1971 Queen of the Pacific); Binky Montinola (Bb. Pilipinas-International 1969); Gloria Diaz (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1969 and Miss Universe 1969); Denden Quirino, second runner-up; and Carmina Gutierrez, fourth runner-up

This is taken from the column of one of my favorite writers, Ricky Lo of The Philippine Star.

A new set of Bb. Pilipinas — Universe, World and International — will be chosen from a batch of 27 candidates (“One of the best batches,” said Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta, lady boss of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.) in the grand finals on March 7 at the Big Dome.

Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas (now working in Saudi) has compiled the following binibini “juicy bits” and anecdotes:

• 1964 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Myrna Panlilio and the country’s other top ramp models appeared in a travelogue fashion show, Sights & Sounds of Pacifica ’68, a Honolulu TV format aired every Sunday, filmed in Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Mexico City. Myrna was a finalist in the 1964 Filipina Maid of Cotton.

• 1964 semi-finalist Edna Keyes was introduced in Lalaine, Mahal Kita (1964, topbilled by Lalaine Bennet, 1963 Miss Philippines and 1963 Miss Universe third runner-up). Edna was also Miss Luzon, first runner-up to 1964 Miss Philippines–International Gemma Cruz.

• 1965 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Louise Vail Aurelio, an American mestiza, was a track-and-field athlete from Iloilo. She appeared with 1964 Miss International Gemma Cruz in Sunduan which was featured in the Sampaguita movie Romansa sa World’s Fair (1965, topbilled by Susan Roces and Romeo Vasquez).

• 1965 second runner-up Sehba Mulok (real name: Georgie Reisland), a Muslim princess by birth from Kiamba, Cotabato, appeared in People’s Pictures movies using Soraya as her screen name. Her film credits include Captain Barbell Kontra Captain Bakal and Hong Kong 999 (both in 1965).

• Other Muslim princesses who have joined the pageant include Emraida Kiram (1966 candidate and later Miss RP-World 1966), Yasmin Kiram (1968 semi-finalist and later 1970 Miss Caltex finalist) and Ava Quibranza (1979 Bb. Pilipinas-Maja).

• 1967 Bb. Pilipinas–Universe Pilar Pilapil was crowned by Claudine Auger, 1958 Miss World first runner-up who became a Bond Girl. Neil Sedaka was the special guest during the pageant.

• 1968 third runner-up Tina Artillaga entered showbiz eight years after the contest, first in Hoy Mister, Ako Ang Misis Mo (1976) starring Joseph Estrada and Elizabeth Oropesa, and then in Mga Sekretaryang Walang Silya (1976).

• 1968 Miss Philippines-International second runner-up Fortune Aleta is presently the honorary Consul of Monaco to the Philippines. She’s a cum laude Optometry graduate from CEU. Fortune was also 1968 Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up (to Jane de Joya).

• Nineteen days before she was crowned 1969 Bb. Pilipinas–Universe, Gloria Diaz was one of the seven finalists in the 1969 Quest for a Model search won by Maricar Azaola who became Gloria’s third runner-up in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant. It was 1963 Miss Caltex Elsa Payumo who tapped Gloria to join the Bb. Pilipinas contest.

• 1970 Bb. Pilipinas-International and 1970 Miss International Aurora Pijuan was one of the members of the 12 Young VIP Council of Rustan’s in 1968 (along with Camay Girl-actress Maritess Revilla and 1969 Queen of the Pacific runner-up Emma Ruth Yulo).

• 1970 first runner-up Imelda Pagaspas was in the cast of the longest-running afternoon soap, Flordeluna (1979-1983), starring Janice de Belen.

• 1972 second runner-up and Miss Photogenic Polly Penson was paired with Dolphy in Bornebol, Special Agent (1974). She was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas in 1974 and placed second runner-up in the Miss Asia pageant that year.

• 1975 Bb. Young Pilipinas Jean Saburit made her acting debut in an episode of Habang May Buhay on Channel 13 after her reign. Leroy Salvador was impressed and included Jean in the cast of Tang Tarang Tang for three seasons. Her first movie was Kapten Batuten (1977), first starring role was in Kaladkarin (1980) and first title role was in Babae Sa Ulog (1981). Jean won the Miss Yukata (Best in Summer Kimono) Award in the 1976 Miss Young International.

• 1976 first runner-up and Best in Swimsuit Celita de Castro portrayed the young Vilma Valera in Rosa Negra (1962, topbilled by Lolita Rodriguez). Celita was crowned Miss Hawaii-USA in 1977 and was one of the semi-finalists in the Miss USA 1977 (for Miss Universe) pageant. She also appeared in Eddie Romero’s Banta ng Kahapon (1977) and had a supporting guest role in Charlie’s Angels (starring Jaclyn Smith, Farah Fawcett and Cheryl Ladd) Season 2/Episode 3 Pretty Angels in a Row which was aired on Sept. 28, 1977. Celita was also 1974 Miss Oahu Filipina and 1975 Miss Hawaii Filipina.

•1976 semi-finalist Azenith Briones did a few movies between 1977 and 1979 including Omeng Satanasia (with Dolphy, her first movie), Patayin Si Mediavillo (with FPJ), Mission: Terrorize Panay (with Ramon Revilla), Magapatuka Na Lang Ako Sa Ahas (with Chiquito) and Sabotage II (with Tony Ferrer), among others. She was also 1975 Miss Tourism (Mutya) second runner-up.

•1977 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Anna Lorraine Kier starred in top-rating sitcom Duplex as the love interest of Al Tantay, played the nurse of Dindo Fernando in Flordeluna and did hosting chores in Business Talk. Anna was also 1976 Miss Teenage Philippines.

• 1977 Miss Maja Pilipinas and Artist Choice Award winner Bambi Arambulo got her break in showbiz three years after her reign when she was introduced in Temptation Island (1980) in which she shared top billing with fellow beauty queens Azenith Briones, Jennifer Cortez, Dina Bonnevie. She also appeared in Ang Agila at ang Falcon (1981, with FPJ and Tony Ferrer) and Alfredo Sebastian (1981, with Ramon Revilla Sr.) Bambi was also 1976 Filipina Maid of Cotton.

•1978 Bb. Pilipinas–Universe Jennifer Cortez was persuaded by award-winning cinematographer Romy Vitug to join the Bb. pageant while she was shooting her first movie, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978, directed by Celso Ad. Castillo). Her other movies include Tatak Angustia, Daniel Bartolo, Tatlong Hari and Temptation Island, all in the early ‘80s.