It's not too late to join the Miss Universe anymore.
The pageant recently removed the age limit on top of other changes such as allowing mothers and pregnant women to join.
We get the insights of pageant expert Adam Genato.
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The pageant recently removed the age limit on top of other changes such as allowing mothers and pregnant women to join.
We get the insights of pageant expert Adam Genato.
Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/
Follow our social media pages:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines
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NewsTranscript
00:00 It's not too late to join the Miss Universe anymore.
00:03 The pageant recently removed the age limit on top of other changes,
00:08 such as allowing mothers and pregnant women to join.
00:11 We get the insights of pageant expert, Adam Henato.
00:15 Adam, good evening and welcome to the program.
00:18 Good evening, Miss Pat Schu. Thank you for having me on your show tonight.
00:23 Alright, so it was recently announced that the Miss Universe pageant
00:26 is removing the age limit for contestants.
00:29 What went through your head when you heard this?
00:32 What was your first reaction?
00:34 I was shocked because initially I saw this coming already
00:41 because the Miss Universe organization had already hinted about this
00:46 as early as May this year when they visited
00:50 and graced the Miss Universe finals.
00:52 So when we saw the new ruling came out yesterday,
00:57 I was shocked that I thought they would only cap it at a certain age,
01:00 like until 35 to 40 years old.
01:02 But they totally eliminated the whole age limit restriction.
01:08 But, you know, assessing everything right now,
01:13 for me, it's a positive change for the organization.
01:16 I think it only goes for their vision to become more inclusive
01:19 in celebrating women in general.
01:23 Because before, it's up to 28 years old and you have to be single
01:29 and never been pregnant as well.
01:33 So this is just one of the many changes, right?
01:35 Married and pregnant women as well as mothers are now allowed to join too.
01:39 So how does this change the game?
01:43 I think it will have a positive impact on all the girls joining
01:51 because let's face it, ma'am, back in the day,
01:55 especially during the 50s, 60s, 70s,
01:57 we didn't mind girls joining with a height of 5'6".
02:03 But as we progress towards the latter decades,
02:06 we tend to look down on girls with such height.
02:10 And especially with girls who do not conform with appropriate body sizes.
02:16 But now with this recent ruling,
02:18 that Miss Universe organization is removing all restrictions,
02:23 all limitations in joining Miss Universe,
02:26 there's no more marital status, age, height requirement.
02:31 So it only goes to show that women will be more attracted to join
02:37 the pageant itself in the next few years.
02:40 Why do I say so?
02:41 Because in having older women or different kinds of women
02:46 from all walks of life to join this pageant,
02:50 we are telling young girls that they can look up to these older women
02:56 when they share their stories,
02:58 that with age, they can accomplish anything.
03:01 So having said that, if I were the 10-year-old version of...
03:07 If my 10-year-old version of me is seeing this,
03:10 I know I am a guy,
03:12 I would be quite inspired to follow all these young women,
03:17 all these older women doing so many things,
03:20 accomplishing so many things, making a huge impact for their society.
03:24 Same thing for all these young women.
03:26 They will be more inspired to join Miss Universe.
03:30 They will be more attracted to join Miss Universe
03:32 because everyone can now become someone who can really do something.
03:41 Who can really do something and fulfill their dream
03:44 while at the same time making an impact in their society.
03:47 So more representation.
03:48 That's how I am seeing it right now.
03:50 More representation, more inclusivity and diversity.
03:54 These changes happened under the helm of Miss Universe owner,
03:57 as we know, Anne Jakrajutatip.
04:01 Are these changes a wise business move though?
04:03 Yes.
04:04 Do you think it will turn some audiences off?
04:10 Well, I guess it's just normal for the members of the pageant community
04:19 to feel that this is quite too much.
04:22 Because let's face it, Miss Universe organization
04:24 has been imposing all these new rulings one after the other.
04:28 So for the pageant community,
04:30 I think it's too tough to decipher about all these changes being made.
04:36 But I believe that change is inevitable.
04:41 But for now, I still would like to look at the bigger picture
04:45 as to where all these new rulings will take the Miss Universe brand
04:51 in the near future.
04:52 But if you ask me again,
04:54 I really see this as a step towards the right direction.
04:57 Do you feel like other pageants…
04:59 As it will attract more girls to join the pageant in the near future.
05:02 Do you feel like other pageants like Miss World, Miss Earth,
05:05 would follow suit?
05:08 I couldn't say.
05:12 Because each pageant brand has its own beliefs and standards
05:18 as to what it is looking for in a winner right now.
05:21 But I believe with Miss Universe,
05:23 they are really going with a change of times.
05:25 Especially before, we are imposing,
05:29 we are so fixated on one certain type of beauty,
05:32 one standard of beauty,
05:35 that we are imposing toxic beauty standards on all these women joining.
05:39 But especially now, as we move on to the new millennium,
05:44 we're now in the year 2023,
05:48 pageants are now being looked down.
05:51 It's not as popular as it used to be back in the day.
05:55 So all the more that I understand the changes
05:58 that are being made by the Miss Universe organization
06:01 to keep its popularity intact in the next few years.
06:07 Well, you know, Michelle D is gunning for the country's 5th Miss Universe crown.
06:12 Amid all of these changes, the shake-ups in the organization,
06:17 what do you think of her chances?
06:21 I really feel she has what it takes to be our 5th Miss Universe title holder.
06:29 For now, I'll put her in my top 5,
06:32 because let's face it, she's up against so many beautiful and well-accomplished women
06:38 in her batch right now.
06:40 But you know what?
06:42 I really think what makes Michelle stand out among the rest
06:47 is her commitment to her lifelong advocacy,
06:51 which is spreading autism awareness
06:53 because of her two siblings being afflicted with it.
06:56 And at the same time, if we're talking about transformation and leadership,
06:59 which has become the hallmark of what Miss Universe is looking for in a winner right now,
07:05 she has also transformed herself into one.
07:08 Because let's face it, before we only know her as the daughter of a famous beauty queen or celebrity,
07:14 Miss Melanie Barquez.
07:15 But in the few years that she has made a name for herself,
07:20 she has not only made a name for herself in terms of being a celebrity,
07:24 but also by becoming a founder of her own financial company.
07:29 So that really blows me away because there's more to Michelle D that meets DI.
07:35 So I really can't wait about the things, the "pasabogs" and the "paandars"
07:42 that she will be doing for Miss Universe.
07:45 Because if we're just going to talk about her authenticity,
07:48 she's really up there in my list.
07:51 Well, we are looking forward to seeing her performance during the pageant.
07:54 And thank you for joining us, pageant expert Adam Henato.