Alexie Brooks sees self as entrepreneur and mentor after pageantry

MANILA, Philippines, July 30 ------ Alexie Caimoso Brooks is one of the experienced candidates of the first-ever Reina Filipinas and aiming to be the Pinay delegate at either the Miss Grand International or MGI All Stars. Wearing the Iloilo City sash, she and fellow Reina Filipinas contestants recently visited a branch of Beauty Project as part of their pageant activities.

A little over a week from now, three Reina Filipinas will be crowned. With her previous local title and Miss Eco International win, Alexie is regarded as among the favorites. The STAR asked her thoughts at this point in the competition in a recent chat. “As of now, (I have the) same strategy as I usually do when I’m competing. You know, it’s calmer,” said she. “But I do the hard work. I put in the work as double time for the shoots, for the training, for everything, mentally.”

With her pageant achievements, Alexie is not resting on her laurels, and she has to be on her toes. “It’s more of pressure siya,” said she. “So, for me right now, as much as I’m calm, as much as I am collected but it’s still there that you can never be too comfortable… I’m working my best and at the same time, trying to be calm for me to absorb everything.” That includes the training needed in competing in any pageant.

Her being an athlete also comes in handy. Alexie shared that she competed in seven events, and each required a different strategy. In sprinting, one should have gigil or determination, in the competition, she said. High jumps need one to be calm. For long distances, one should be collected with grit. For Reina Filipinas, Alexie has to be calm and collected. With her shift from sports to pageantry, she is like a chameleon who can adapt to different fields and pageant systems.

Asked what her advice to fellow Reina Filipinas candidates was, instead of reminding herself about the dos and don’ts, Alexie answered, “So, whatever you’ve learned from that training ground that you have, you need to have a presence of mind once you’re up on the stage. But at the same time, you need to show people that you’re having fun. Parang, you let go. Then you trust the process.”

Aside from that, the candidate should find the balance between wanting to win and enjoying the competition. After her pageant stint, Alexie said she would love to focus more on her business, mentor women, coach athletes and pageant aspirants, travel more and spend more time with loved ones. She may also consider working with designer Jojo Bragais, the national director of Reina Filipinas, who wishes to help beauty candidates know their career paths after the pageant.

Source: philstar.com