Marian Rivera is headed to Israel for Miss Universe 2021 to join the selection committee for this year’s pageant, the Filipina actress said Friday.

Rivera confirmed the news in a virtual media conference, saying she was handpicked by the Miss Universe Organization to judge the annual beauty contest.

“Siguro aaminin ko na, para sa akin, minsan lang siguro ito na mabigyan ang isang tao ng ganito kahalagang gagampanan mo sa isang Miss U, na kung saan ay napakahalagang okasyon na magsasama-sama ang lahat. Para sa akin, isang malaking karangalan ito,” Rivera said.

She will be flying to Israel Monday, December 6, and is expected to be present in crucial events at Miss Universe including the preliminary competition, closed-door interviews, and the coronation night.

“Siguro ’yung description na magja-judge ako, siguro ang pananaw ko du’n, nandu’n ako para i-appreciate ko at maging saksi sa mga kagandahan ng mga kababaihan sa buong mundo,” the actress said.

“At siguro, hindi lang ’yung kagandahan nila kung hindi ang katapangan din nila na maibalik ang humanity sa ating mundo sa kabila ng mga pinagdaanan natin. Alam mo ’yun, ’yung radical na pagbabago na ibinigay sa atin ng pandemya na 'to. So mas ’yun ang nilu-look forward ko, ang makilala at makita silang lahat.”

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She also addressed some netizens, who criticized her for being selected as a judge for arguably the most notable pageant among Filipinos.

“Kinuha nila ako para sa aking body of work bilang isang Filipina. At ang masasabi ko lang, kilala niyo naman ako. Hindi naman ako mapagpanggap, hindi ba? So, ie-express ko ang sarili ko na naaayon sa nararamdaman ko sa araw na ‘yan,” a smiling Rivera answered.

Rivera joined the elite group of Filipinos who have been part of the selection committee for the Miss Universe through the years such as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and broadway singer Lea Salonga.

Bea Luigi Gomez of the Philippines is already in Israel to vie for the fifth Miss Universe crown of the country after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Wurtzbach, (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).

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