Off to London:

GWENDOLYN RUAIS, Miss World Philippines 2011

Miss World Philippines Country Director Cory Quirino is very happy for Gwendolyn Ruais even as she is hopeful that she will be in the Top 10 – a big achievement indeed – because the Miss World pageant in London is a very difficult one.

First there were 25 beauties representing as many cities there are in the Philippines. Then the group was trimmed down to 12 semi-finalists. Finally there were just 5 of them in the Court of Honor in the search for the first ever Miss Philippines World recently held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Following months of local and international searches, exclusive licensee CG Global Quest Inc. (led by Miss World Philippines country director Cory Quirino) presented the 25 lovely ladies who were finalists in the much-awaited Miss World Philippines pageant: Samantha Nerville Purvor; Julian Savard; Karen Joyce Peñanueva; Irene Gabriel; Rogelie Catacutan, Richelle Therese Borja; Charlotte Melissa Tyler; Gaydra Rama; Martha Chloe Mcculley; Princess Tiffany Carbungco; Mercy Malaluan; Elaine Kay Moll; Gwendolyn Ruais; Joey Albert Short; Jaysel Arrozal; Loucelle de Jesus; Erin Lane; Donna Maricel Cardino; Mica Angela Angeles; Jayanne Marie Aldanese; Mae Liezel Ramos; Ma. Paula Bianca Paz; Christine Kate Adi; Helen Nicolette Henson and  Erina Ann Lightholder.

And the winners are…

As many beauty pageant enthusiasts have noted, the number 13 proved to be lucky for Filipino-French alabaster beauty Gwendolyn Ruais, who bagged the Miss World Philippines title in a pageant attended by cheering and jeering partisan crowd that jampacked the cavernous PICC at the CCP complex.

21-year-old Ruais from Muntinlupa City bested the 24 other candidates; she was also Best in Swimsuit.

A stunner at 5’11" in height and with vital statistics of 36.5-27-37.5, Ruais  was clearly the runaway favorite – for her poise, stage presence and intelligence – of the audience and  the Board of Judges which included: Manny Pacquiao - 8-Division World Boxing Champion; Fanny Serrano - Beauty & Fashion Icon, President of PICA (Philippine International Cosmetologists Association); Cramer Ball - Regional General Manager for Asia Pacific South & Australasia of Etihad Airways; Joseph Calata - Chairman/President & CEO - Calata Corporation; Karl Mclean - Chairman - Superbrand Marketing International Inc.; Christina Corona - wife of Chief Justice Corona; Vicki Belo - Founder and Medical Doctor of Belo Medical Group; Iza Calzado - Renowned actress/host/model; and, Wilma Galvante - Senior VP for Entertainment  of GMA Network.

Named 1st Princess was Helen Nicolette Henson while Martha Chloe McCully was 2nd Princess; Ma.Paula Bianca Paz was declared 3rd Princess and Jaysel Arrozal was the 4th Princess.

When Ruais joined last year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant, she was also candidate No. 13; Henson was first runner-up in the same pageant.

Ruais was crowned by reigning Miss World Alexandria Mills from the United States and will represent the Philippines in the 61st Miss World pageant in London on November 6, 2011. Aside from a P1 million cash prize, she also received a condo unit in Chateau Elysee from SM Development Corporation.

Miss World Philippines Country Director Cory Quirino, said that she is very happy for Ruais. “Now that we’ve chosen a representative, it’s time to do a little honing, fine tuning and conditioning to prepare her body and mind for the competition in London. It’s a very difficult pageant and to be included even in the top 10 (in the London pageant) is going to be a big achievement for us,” Quirino said.

Hosted by Isabelle Daza, Carla Abellana and Dingdong Dantes and broadcast on GMA 7, the pageant saw 5 candidates vying for the title through the penultimate Q & A portion: Henson, Martha Chloe Mcculley, Jaysel Arrozal, Ma. Paula Bianca Paz, and Ruais.

For the Miss World Philippines 2011 special awards, Ma. Paula Bianca Paz won the Best in Evening Gown and the Best Fashion Designer is Delby Bragais; Ruais won the  Best in Swimsuit award (with GMA 7 talent Aljur Abrenica performing on stage during the swimsuit competition); Rogelie Catacutan of Cebu City won Miss Talent and Miss Friendship (as voted upon by fellow candidates); and, Samantha Neville Purvor of Quezon City won Miss Photogenic. Candidate # 16 Loucelle De Jesus of Angeles City, Pampanga was announced winner of fan votes, winning her the People’s Choice award as well as a slot in the Top 12 candidates. Martha Chloe McCulley, of Parañaque City, also won two other major awards including the Miss Kapuso World award and Miss SMDC award.

Miss World Philippines 2011 pageant was presented by SM Development Corporation; co-presented by Smart Communications and AMA Computer University; sponsored by City of Puerto Princesa; Petron; Banco De Oro; BMW; with partners Midas Hotel, Philippine Airlines, SM Supermalls, Etihad Airways, Manila Hotel, Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa,Asturias Hotel, Hotel Centro, Microtel Puerto Princesa, Microtel Mall Of Asia, The Legend Palawan, A & A Plaza Hotel, Daluyon Beach & Mountain Resort, Association of Travel and Tour Operators of Puerto Princesa, Rajah Travel Corporation, Philippine International Cosmetologists Association; and generous donation from Chef’s Quarter, Eduardo Castrillo,Chamber of Furniture Industry of The Philippines, Airgurus, Paradise Mango Rhum, Freego, Manels, Nothing But H2o, Zuri International; with media partners Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Asian Dragon, Mod Magazine, Sun Star,GMA New Media Inc., GMA Pinoy TV, DZBB DWLS-FM, Radio GMA and 97.9 Home Radio.