Emma Tiglao, Joy Barcoma, other beauty queens let go of preloved items

April 9 ------ Beauty queens are in demand in the country, gracing public events left and right, and they have acquired a significant amount of clothes, with many of the pieces they never get to wear again.

Reigning Miss Grand International Emma Tiglao is one of the titlists in the same predicament. Discovering that a lot of her fellow beauty queens are also drowning in clothes they no longer need, she thought of a plan to help them dispose of the items. And she even got to do it for a greater cause.

She knocked on the doors of other titleholders for her “Purpose in Every Purchase” beauty queens’ closet sale at the Jojo Bragais Studio in Quezon City to cap Women’s Month, with the proceeds going to the nongovernmental organization Likhaan Center for Women’s Health Inc.

Those who joined Tiglao in selling their pre-loved garments were reigning Miss Philippines Earth Joy Barcoma, 2025 Miss World Asia Krishnah Gravidez, 2025 Miss International runner-up Myrna Esquerra, 2025 Miss Cosmo runner-up Chelsea Fernandez, reigning Face of Beauty International Nikki Buenafe Cheveh, Miss Elite Philippines Sophia Bianca Santos, and Binibining Pilipinas runner-up Dalia Varde Khattab.

All of the queens shared with Inquirer Entertainment that letting go of the pieces was tough because of the sentimental value that the clothes hold, most of which they have worn in their public engagements. “I used them in my morning show and as a news anchor. And I learned that when you sell them, you have to talk to them, ‘thank you for serving your purpose,’ so that the good spirit will stay,” Tiglao said.

Gravidez was emotional when she shared how she treasures every piece in her haul of four suitcases because the clothes hold memories from her stints on national stages, and even in the global arena. Cheveh shared a piece of wisdom she picked up, and said she looked at all her stuff to see which ones still serve her a purpose. “If it doesn’t serve you, you can let it go because it might serve someone else,” she said.

For Esguerra, the bazaar was also very convenient. “I changed up my style, so I needed to let go of the ‘cutesy’ or revealing clothes. I no longer wear them, and all of them were stored in the province,” she shared. Santos was grateful for Tiglao, a fellow Kapampangan beauty queen, because she was finally able to dispose of the clothes that fit into two suitcases. “I really loved them, so I hope the new owners will take care of them,” she said.

Khattab had a confession and said many of the pieces were from shopping on impulse, and some of the items she did not get to try on before buying. “So these don’t fit me because I’m impulsive with my buying sometimes. But I hope some of these special, special pieces are gonna be well-loved very soon. Because I’m very picky and I feel like these are such special pieces,” she said.

Fernandez also made a confession that she did not want to let go of her clothes because of their sentimental value. But what convinced her was knowing that selling them would help raise funds for women’s health and the welfare of the underprivileged. For her part, Barcoma dove into the Miss Philippines Earth pageant’s thrust. “By supporting causes like this, we promote the circular economy, sustainability, and at the same time save money,” she said. “For a portion of money, you get your money’s worth, and at the same time, you get a piece of everybody’s story, and also continue the legacy of the queens that we have here, and at the same time share with you our advocacy of protecting Mother Nature,” she continued.

And because of the success of their closet sale, Tiglao and her fellow beauty queens are thinking of holding another bazaar in the future, with even more titleholders taking part.

Source: inquirer.net