Nelson Morales

Former Miss International Lara Quigaman reminds public of pageants 'worth supporting'

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil" style="width:400px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764158455804The other day, I went to buy a bottle of wine for a celebration, and guess what The cashier aske.jpg" style="width:400px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman. Quigaman/Instagram"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman. Quigaman/Instagram </span></span></span></div><p>Lara Quigaman continues to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/11/former-miss-international-lara-quigaman-tells-myrna-esguerra-bring-our-crown-back-1903">show her support for Myrna Esguerra</a> as she represents the Philippines in the Miss International pageant. </p><p>The Miss International 2005 titleholder cited Esguerra&#x27;s humble beginnings, and how that did not stop her from achieving her dreams.</p><p>According to Quigaman, the young beauty queen reminds her of her own journey to the crown. </p><p>&quot;Myrna&#x27;s story is such an inspiration — one of 17 siblings, there were times they barely had anything to eat. She put herself through school, worked for every opportunity, and never stopped pushing forward. Nothing was handed to her; she earned every step,&quot; she said. </p><p>&quot;Twenty years ago, I walked onto the Miss International stage with no money, no connections, no PR team — just hard work, faith, and the belief that when a pageant is fair, everyone truly has a chance,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRgmaQUkadS/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A20757772.60000001%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="857" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Quigaman said she was able to win the Miss International crown with the &quot;quiet support&quot; of her friends, family, and Binibining Pilipinas, which selected her as the country&#x27;s delegate to the pageant.</p><p>She also commended the Miss International organization for letting women &quot;compete on equal ground.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Merit and character were enough. No politics, no noise... just a crown that had to be earned,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Let&#x27;s turn our eyes toward pageants and organizations we can truly stand behind — the ones worth supporting and celebrating for their integrity and real empowerment,&quot; she added. </p><p>While she did not mention specific pageants, some netizens believe Quigaman was alluding to Miss Universe, which is currently plagued by controversy.</p><p>Judges and contestants have stepped down and voiced their sentiments amid allegations that the results of the pageant have been pre-determined in favor of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/26/miss-universe-2025-fatima-bosch-reacts-to-hate-comments-i-will-not-back-down-1414">Mexico&#x27;s Fatima Bosch</a>.</p><p>Miss Universe Organization president Raul Rocha has denied such claims, but has expressed his intention to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/26/miss-universe-president-raul-rocha-looking-to-sell-pageant-amid-controversies-1240">sell his stake in the pageant</a>.</p>

<p>Lara Quigaman continues to show her support for Myrna Esguerra as she represents the Philippines in the Miss International pageant.</p>

Lara Quigaman continues to show her support for Myrna Esguerra as she represents the Philippines in the Miss International pageant.