Angelique Manto is taking steps towards making a longtime dream a reality: to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant.
The aspiring beauty queen is starting that journey by joining the Miss Universe Philippines pageant.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on March 17, 2023, Angelique expressed her excitement as she prepares for the upcoming pageant.
"It’s been a whirlwind of [an experience] if I may say," Angelique said of her experience joining her first national pageant.
"[I'm] very excited to be carrying Pampanga.
"It’s been very hectic, but it’s also part of the journey. And I’m so, so excited for you to see what we’ve been working on.
"So, the days are just winding down, so excited talaga."
She added, "This is my first national pageant, it's been like five years since I last joined the pageant.
"This is something new for me, but something I’m very excited about, too."
Although it took her some time to make that first major step toward fulfilling her dream, Angelique was inspired by the other empowered women who achieved their Miss Universe dream.
"The reigning Miss Universe, R'Bonney Gabriel, is someone I look up to in terms of what she has to offer, in her passion, her heart.
"Of course, in the Philippines, I’m very much in awe with Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray, those are really my icons in pageantry."
PAGEANT FANS
After submitting her application for Miss Universe Philippines 2023, Angelique has been inundated with support from pageant enthusiasts.
Angelique herself expressed surprise at the overwhelming response and told PEP.ph, "It’s something that I did not expect at all.
"I feel like they’ve known me as a content creator or as a host [and this is] me reliving my roots in pageantry.
"So I’m really thankful sa mga nakakaalala nung roots ko noong Mutya ng Kapampangan.
"But overall, I'm overwhelmed with the amount of support I’ve received. I hope to make you all proud."
Angelique recognizes the toxicity on social media that is prevalent among fans, and that this can be especially intense during the pageant season.
As a digital creator, she is no stranger to receiving negative criticism online.
Asked how she handles bashers, she said, "I know that they might be very emotional with the things they say just because they love pageantry too much.
"So I try to compartmentalize things. If I feel like they’re very constructive with what they’re saying, I take their words for it.
"I improve and sometimes, you also feel like it’s just coming from a place that you don’t want to deal with.
"So, I try to shut them down and pay no attention to that."
The importance of mental health and creating safe spaces online have been central to Angelique's advocacy, in part because of the prevalence of toxic behavior among pageant fans.
Angelique said, "Something that I wanted to bring to the table, that I have been carrying for years and years, is [an advocacy for] mental health.
"I’ve been working with Mental Health PH since 2020 and I feel like it’s about time that we reopen the conversations about it because we’ve been pushing it back.
"And I think it deserves a rightful seat at the table this time around."
She added, "It’s something that I planned to push through—making the Internet a safe space for everyone, especially for beauty pageant candidates or beauty queens like I am."
SUPPORT SYSTEM
Aside from her fans' support, Angelique is also thankful for her team's assistance in her pursuit of the Miss Universe Philippines crown.
While Angelique acknowledges the advantages of training with a pageant camp, she is confident in her own group of creatives assisting her in the competition.
The 26-year-old model/content creator explained, "I feel like it's a great help to have camp [who's] helping every step of the way.
"[But I do have] a great set to have people with undivided attention towards me who would understand the wavelength that I have...
"And the vision that I have for myself, the way I wanna represent my province and myself and story included."
She continued, "Going independent is the best way for me as a candidate for Miss Universe Philippines just because I’m a very micro-managing person.
"I want to have attention to every single detail that I create and push for. So, [competing] independently was the best way to go for me."
Angelique also expressed her love for her boyfriend, fellow content creator/influencer David Guison, for being so supportive of her dream.
"I couldn’t ask for a better partner because he’s been supportive of me.
"And ever since Day 0, I always say that bago pa ako mag-join, he’s the one who’s been pushing me to go to Miss Universe Philippines.
"Siya yung nag ma-manifest so I’ve been really, really grateful for him."
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