Source: ABS-CBNnews.com
Candidate No. 9 Joy Antonette Diaz takes her turn on stage during the Binibining Pilipinas press presentation last February 19. Photo by Mark Demayo for ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA – Forty-five years after Gloria Diaz’ Miss Universe win, another Diaz beauty is hoping to bring home the same crown to the Philippines.
Joy Antonette Diaz, whose grandfather is a cousin of Gloria, is candidate No. 9 in this year’s Binibining Pilipinas, the national pageant that has been sending the country’s representatives to Miss Universe since 1964.
While she has yet to speak personally with Gloria, the 22-year-old beauty queen hopeful said her entire family has been supportive of her bid to follow in the screen veteran’s footsteps.
But Joy, who is representing Dagupan in the 51st Binibining Pilipinas, is also careful not be identified only with the accomplishments of the famous Diaz.
“They’re very supportive of me, of course,” she told ABS-CBN News’ Mario Dumaual, referring to the Diaz clan. “But whoever I’m related to or not, this was my dream, obviously. It doesn’t matter.”
“They said for me to shine on my own, to show the world who I am and what I can offer them despite whatever last name I may have, [I have to show them that] it’s me,” she said.
Not out to be ‘prettiest’
Joy Antonette Diaz in Jag and her national costume. Photos courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas
A political science graduate from the University of California, Joy is an aspiring lawyer who identifies helping the less fortunate as her passion.
Asked why she should win Binibining Pilipinas and eventually represent the Philippines in Miss Universe, Joy was quick to answer that she “didn’t join this pageant because I wanted to be the prettiest girl in the world.”
“I really wanted to use the title of whatever crown that I win to make a difference in this world, to really reach out to those who aren’t as [fortuante],” she said.
Joy added: “Especially growing up in the States, I want to reach out to people, I want to help other people. I want to dedicate my life to humanitarian work. This is kind of like the outlet of doing that, I think.”
Aside from handing out the Miss Universe-Philippines title, Binibing Pilipinas crowns the country’s representatives to Miss International, Miss Supranational, and Miss Tourism Queen International.
Joy’s batch of candidates follows a highly successful year for Binibining Pilipinas, whose top four winners finished with titles or as a finalist in their respective international pageants.
Notably, Bea Santiago and Mutya Datul won Miss International and Miss Suprnational, respectively. Ariella Arida, whose last three predecessors placed in the top five of Miss Universe, finished 3rd runner-up in last year’s competition.
With less than a month away before the Binibining Pilipinas coronation night — it will be held on March 30 with live telecast on ABS-CBN — Joy enjoys being an “early favorite” among the 40 candidates.
“I think it’s really humbling, actually,” she said. “I think we all came into this pageant just trying to offer the best that we can be. They always tell us to not be competitive amongst the girls, but to still give your best. So to be a favorite, [I feel] honored.”
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RELATED STORY:
NorCal beauty to compete at the 51st Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant on March 30
By Ferdie Villar
FORTY lovely Binibining Pilipinas 2014 candidates were presented to the media recently at the Luzon Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila recently, and among the standouts is the pride of the Fil-Am community of Stockton, CA—Joy Antonette Diaz. “Jonette” to her family and friends, is candidate #9 in the final and official roster of candidates.
A gradual of AB Political Science at the University of California-Irvine, she joined and won the Miss Philippines USA Tourism title. For this competition, she tasked noted trainer John De La Vega to further hone her pageant skills.
John “Joel” Diaz, Joy’s father (whose roots were from Paoay, Ilocos Norte and Dagupan, Pangasinan who later live in Quezon City before migrating here in the US), in an exclusive interview last weekend by Bay Area-based pageant producer Bradford Adkins, confirmed that Joy is a niece of the Philippine’s first Miss Universe winner, Gloria Diaz. Joel also mentioned further that Maritoni Diaz (related to the De Venecia political clan), his wife and their two other older children – JM and Joanne, together with the whole Diaz clan from the US, will fly this weekend to Manila to support Joy’s quest for that most prestigious beauty title.
Judging the pageant this year is no less than the reigning Miss Universe, Maria Gabriela Isler of Venezuela. In addition, Russian pop star Emin is performing and the president of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula Shugart will also attend the event.
A benefit fashion show featuring the Bb. Pilipinas candidates was presented last March 6, while the traditional Parade of Beauties is send on March 22.
Coronation is set for March 30 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, telecasted by ABS-CBN.
Will Joy win one of the prestigious crowns at stake (Universe, International, Supranational and Tourism)? We’ll find out at the coronation night! For now, we bid Joy good luck!
Published in Celebrity World
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