Almost a Parul Shah Scandal

MANILA – Before she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2014, Parul Shah had to deal with a wardrobe malfunction on stage.

Recalling her experience in an interview on “Umagang Kay Ganda” on Tuesday, Shah said the string of her swimsuit was almost untied as she attempted to remove her shawl during the first round of the pageant.

“Since kami ‘yung first batch, kami ‘yung one to ten. I was [candidate] number 4. We were given two minutes to change into our swimsuit right after the production number,” she said.

“So noong tinali ko ‘yung shawl around my hips, when I pulled it off on stage, sumabit. Sumama pala ‘yung string din and I felt it slip off,” she added.

When asked how she was able to handle the situation, Shah said: “Before it did [slip off] hinawakan ko na, parang wala na lang nangyari. The show must go on.”

Thankfully, Shah did not encounter further problems during the evening gown and question and answer rounds of the pageant.

Meanwhile, Shah and four other Filipina beauties are preparing to compete in international pageants this year.

Kris Tiffany Janson, for one, admitted that she feels the pressure of representing the Philippines for the first time in the Miss Intercontinental pageant.

“It might come as a challenge kasi I have no one to ask about on how the pageant will go. But I’m really honored naman and I’m expecting the Binibini family to help me face this challenge,” Janson said.

Citing the success of their respective predecessors who won the Miss Supranational and Miss International pageants in 2013, Yvette Maria Santiago and Mary Anne Guidotti said they are determined to bring home the crown this year as well.

“Following Bea Santiago. Those are big shoes to fill talaga,” Guidotti said, referring to last year’s winner in Miss International. “And a lot of people say that I look like her… So I really have to step up my game. She already told me that she will help me and will be there for me, so I really, really appreciate that.”

“I think it’s an advantage kasi mas matututukan ako ni Miss Mutya (Datul, Miss Supranational 2013), mas makakakuha ako ng tips sa kanya. And who knows, it might be a back-to-back this year,” she said.

For her part, Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa said she is still on cloud nine after getting the crown on her third attempt.

“Noong tinawag po ‘yung number ko sabi ko, ‘ganito pala ‘yung pakiramdam.’ Kasi talagang pinagpe-pray ko na manalo,” Lastimosa said.

The Philippines has high expectations for this year’s beauty queens following the country’s string of victories in pageants in 2013.

Credits: ABS-CBN News