Rhys Buccat, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- After getting bashed on social media for her weight, this young Filipina beauty contestant has vowed to prove herself and eventually bring the Miss Universe crown to her home province of Eastern Samar.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/lifestyle/malyn.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc"><em>Photo grabbed from Bergamo&#x27;s Facebook account</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Meet Malyn Bocar Bergamo, a Miss Universe aspirant who believes she is &quot;confidently beautiful inside and out.&quot;</p><p>Last Sunday, a photo of Bergamo in swimsuit from a bogus Facebook account of Pia Wurtzbach went viral, drawing comments ranging from body-shaming to praises and encouragement.</p><p>The Facebook post brought much surprise and inspiration to Bergamo, who did not make the cut at the prestigious beauty pageant.</p><div><strong>Joining for experience </strong></div><p>According to the 23-year-old psychology graduate, she only joined the contest out of sheer curiosity and desire to prove one thing -- that size does not define one&#x27;s beauty.</p><p>&quot;Nag-join ako doon na walang intention na makuha. Talagang curious lang ako, gusto kong malaman kung anong nangyayari sa screening, at gusto kong ipakita na kahit ganito na plus woman tayo e kaya rin naman nating makipagsabayan,&quot; she told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview Tuesday.</p><p>Although she already joined several pageants before, Bergamo said she was intimidated when she saw her fellow aspirants who were &quot;incredibly slim.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Noong nakita ko po &#x27;yong mga fellow candidates ko during the screening, I was about to give up na,&quot; she said.</p><p>She was 147 pounds when she joined the contest.</p><div><strong>Social media bashing</strong></div><p>According to Bergamo, she did not give much attention to the negative feedback she got on social media, noting that her background in Psychology helps her understand why people tend to judge beauty based on weight.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/entertainment/02/24/022416_plus2.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc"><em>Photo grabbed from Bergamo&#x27;s Facebook account</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>&quot;Alam ko where they are coming from. I take it as constructive criticism. Pero gusto ko pong sabihin na &#x27;yong pagiging mataba ay hindi naman isang disability,&quot; she said.</p><p>Despite the bashing, she continues to believe in herself, especially her talents.</p><p>&quot;I can sing. I can dance. I can answer all those questions. At may tell me about yourself din po ako,&quot; she said. &quot;Hindi naman po lampas-lampas ang pagka-confident ko. Basta masaya lang po ako.&quot;</p><div><strong>Standard of beauty</strong></div><p>Although she understands that Binibining Pilipinas poses certain standards for beauty, Bergamo believes that obsession with beauty can also be detrimental to one&#x27;s health.</p><p>&quot;Siguro &#x27;yong beauty pageant kasi ngayong generation natin, iyon talaga ang pinapakitang image ng women sa society. Hindi naman ako against doon sa mga nagpapapayat kasi I know that they really work hard for it. As long as they are eating healthy at hindi dini-deprive ang sarili, okay lang,&quot; she said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/entertainment/02/24/022416_plus3.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc"><em>Photo grabbed from Bergamo&#x27;s Facebook account</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Bergamo also added that beauty can&#x27;t be judge based on one&#x27;s face or body.</p><p>&quot;Ang beauty, hindi physical. Ang beauty ay kapag nararamdaman mo na masaya ka at nakikita mo na masaya &#x27;yong ibang tao at nagagandahan sa &#x27;yo,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ko sinasabing kailangan natin ng appreciation ng iba, pero parang dahil ipinaparamdam sa akin especially ng mom ko, ng pamilya ko at nga mga kaibigan ko that I&#x27;m beautiful.&quot;</p><div><strong>To bring home the crown</strong></div><p>After all the negative comments she got, Bergamo still dreams of wearing the Miss Universe crown one day. She wants to do it not just for herself, but for people who believe in her.</p><p>&quot;Gusto ko po sana to make history for our place. Galing po ako sa Eastern Samar. I want to make a name for our province. Wala pa po kasing nakakapag-represent ng town namin sa any national pageant,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Eastern Samar is one of the poorest provinces of the Philippines. So, gusto kong i-uplift at maging inspirasyon ako ng mga kababayan ko. Mayroon ako para mag-represent sa kanila.&quot;</p>

"Ang beauty, hindi physical. Ang beauty ay kapag nararamdaman mo na masaya ka at nakikita mo na masaya 'yong ibang tao at nagagandahan sa 'yo."

'Inspiring' plus-size beauty stirs debate on social media

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'Inspiring' plus-size beauty stirs debate on social media

Rhys Buccat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 24, 2016 03:54 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 24, 2016 07:41 PM PHT

Read More:

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pia wurtzbach

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