ni Lolet Abania | July 15, 2022
Matapos ang diskwalipikasyon ni Miss Philippines Earth candidate na si Michele Angela Okol ng Surigao, dalawang pang beauty queen ang inalis sa pageant ng mga organizers nito dahil hindi naabot ang itinakdang height requirement.
Bukod kay Okol, ayon sa organizers, ang singer-model na si Cess Cruz ng Antipolo at model Renee Coleen Sta. Teresa ng Batangas dahil sa pagkabigo ng mga ito na makapasa sa kinakailangang taas ng isang kandidata.
Sinabi ni MPE organizer na si Lorraine Schuck, pinaninindigan nila ang naging desisyon sa tatlong kandidata sa kabila ng mga batikos na kanilang natatanggap.
Nakasaad aniya na ang height requirement ay dapat may minimum na 5’4” ang taas ng kandidata.
Isinagawa ang aktuwal na pagsukat ng height ng mga kandidata sa MPE, base rin sa Carousel Mansion sa Mandaluyong City, bago nila ianunsiyo ang top 20 na sasabak sa 22nd edition ng Miss Philippines Earth na broadcast live sa pageant’s Facebook at YouTube pages ngayong Biyernes, Hulyo 15 ng alas-8:00 ng gabi.
Naglabas naman ng kanilang pagkadismaya ang mga tinanggal na kandidata sa kani-kanyang social media post dahil anila, nasayang ang kanilang oras at panahon na iginugol para makasali sa pageant.
Sa Instagram post ni Angela, “My family, team, and I have worked hard to build up all the materials and requirements for this pageant since earlier this year. However, we seem to have forgotten about one factor -- my height.”
“I was told that my height does not fit their pageant’s standards and that their organization would get bashed if they let someone below 5’4” push through the top 20 hence, being grounds for disqualification,” sabi pa ni Angela.
“I discovered this morning that I am measured 5’3.5” when the minimum height requirement starts at 5’4”. I had always thought I stood 5’4” as this was indicated in my past commercials and projects,” post naman ni Cess. “I am still at a loss for words as this is my first national pageant, and I tried — did my best, and have come this far.”
“The time, costs, and efforts I’ve dedicated up to now, only to be told that I’m ineligible before the announcement of the Top 20 delegates tomorrow, is disheartening. I deeply apologize for not meeting everyone’s expectations, and I respect their final decision,” pahayag ng kandidata na taga-Antipolo.
Sa Instagram post din, sinabi naman ni Renee Coleen, “very ready to make you proud…
but has been cut short because I learned a while ago that I did not meet the height requirement.”
“Though I am extremely heartbroken, my heart is still full of gratitude for the love and support that you’ve shown me for the past months,” saad ng beauty queen ng Batangas.
“I hope that somehow I was able to instill my advocacy to you. It has been an honor to be your Miss Philippines Earth-Ibaan Batangas,” dagdag pa ni Renee Coleen.
Nilinaw naman ni Schuck na kahit na marami ang nananawagan na alisin na ang height requirement, hindi nila ito gagawin dahil aniya, matagal na itong ipinapatupad at higit na kailangan ito sa naturang pageant.
Pinasalamatan din niya ang mga tinanggal na kandidata habang tiniyak na mananatili ang mga larawan at videos ng mga ito sa Miss Philippines Earth websites at sa kanilang social media pages.