Queenie Fullante: ‘My personality makes me a winner!’

Miss Dauis Queenie Melody Fullante has won the title of Miss Bohol: The Quintessential Boholana 2014, in a glittering ceremony on Saturday night.

Queenie, 21 (Pisces, March 10, 1993), beat out 17 other fellow beauty queens to claim the title. She received P50,000 cash prize, trophy, sash, bouquet of flowers and other special prizes.

Her night started to take a turn for the fabulously possible when she was named one of Top 5 shortly after the show got underway.

Queenie (center) and her court

Other runner-ups, judged on interviews, evening gowns and swimsuits were: Mary Rose Butalid of Panglao as first runner-up; Geraldine Topsnik of Tagbilaran City as second runner-up; Jaya Lozano from Tubigon as third runner-up and Imaculada Cleofe Leopardas of Barbra Pearls Cosmetics as fourth runner-up.

Many people compared Queenie as Venus Raj deadringer. She even had encounters with people who mistake her for Venus but she is not riding on the wave of being Venus Raj’s look-alike during the pageant.

“I think to have Venus Raj’s aura is just a factor for me to be noticed onstage,” said Queenie. “What I consider my edge for winning the crown is my commitment to serve Bohol with all my heart, which was exuded by the sincerity I have shown while performing on stage.”

Before winning the title, Queenie was first runner-up in Miss Dauis 2011, Ms. UB-College of Business and Accountancy 2012 and Ms. UB Personality 2012.

Queenie is a half-Bengali half-Filipina who works as an NGO worker that provides shelter to disaster hit areas.  She grew up under the care of her aunt while her mother is working in Manila. She finished Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at University of Bohol. She hopes to be a merchant to be able to travel and meet people from all walks of life.

She describes herself as just an average person but for the next 365 days, she’ll be anything but as she is now Miss Bohol: The Quintessential Boholana 2014.

Queenie Melody Fullante on winning the crown: ‘It defines the purity of my intention for what is in the crown.’

Let’s go straight to the crucial Q&A.

When did you realize that you are Miss Bohol? During the coronation night or the morning after? It was such a pleasure to be crowned Miss Bohol on July 19, 2014. Such was, if I may say a public recognition of the many beautiful gifts and talents God has given me. Thus, this crown is a symbol of the God-given beauty and talents that I have and at the same time of the responsibilities to take good care, uphold and use all these to inspire all the Boholanos to appreciate what they have received from God and use them well.

What are your winning traits? My personality makes me a winner. Basing from the feedbacks I garnered from Miss Bohol pageant, I exude a strong personality. It sums up my physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristic as an individual. My being comfortable with my skin, with my skills and with everything that I have, is reflected in my personality and that’s what makes me come out and be of service to my community with enough confidence.

Do you have secrets sustaining your poise, your grace under pressure, especially during the crucial points in any contest? I’ll take Miss Anna Maris Igpit’s words that practice makes permanent. Indeed, it’s true enough. In the early part of our Miss Bohol journey, I don’t have that poise. I don’t know how to handle pressure with such grace. But with my team’s help, I was able to achieve that poise and grace under pressure through constant practice until such time that my system got used to it. Aside from practice, is focus. Don’t compare your performance with the other candidates, focus on yourself. Focus on the points that you need to improve and work on it one at a time. Above all, pray, pray, and pray. Praying is my greatest secret and the most effective among others.

What is your best asset and why? My best asset is my winning trait. It’s my personality. I am not the prettiest nor the smartest in our batch but I have a well-honed personality. It defines the purity of my intention for what is in the crown. It reflects the commitment I have to the advocacies of Miss Bohol. And it’s what makes me who I really am.

Would you rather be smart but not too beautiful, or beautiful but not too smart? God has given me everything. We are all equipped by God, it’s just a matter of how we use it. Therefore, life is not a matter of choosing whether one has to be beautiful or smart but instead it is how one appreciates these gifts and use them well to make life even more beautiful.

What do you think is the biggest decision that you’ve made in your life?  College is a crucial stage for students because it is here where we are starting our journey to the real world. And a lot of my big decisions were made during my college years. The biggest is taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy when in reality I just want to take up Tourism or Psychology. I took up Accountancy because I was thinking of the job opportunities that await. And because it’s not really my passion, I had a struggle during my college years. Nevertheless, I have no regrets for taking up BSA. I believe it was my fate to take that path, because it is the place where I really developed holistically. I was intellectually challenged, I met my true friends (the Eksangels), and I have unwrapped my skills and unleashed my potentials.

How relevant are beauty contests today? Beauty contests reveal what constitutes true beauty. It is one of the avenues for women to share their thoughts and open up their stand on matters in the society, where they can be heard and their opinions could be considered. It is where we can foray our advocacies for the enrichment of our society.

Do you think that women today are on equal footing with men? Woman was created from a man’s ribs. Not from his head to be above him or from his foot to be stepped upon, but from his side to complement each other. Men and women from the very beginning has always been equal and will always be.

What is your stand on PDAF scam? The people are already annoyed and so stressed of the many enumerable issues on corruption of government officials at all levels, national and local. Very disgusting, discouraging, exhausting and etc. but, there is always hope and a future so bright that awaits us. Recovery of our dying moral values is what we need to focus now. This may be difficult for those who have been in the system for quite a long time but so much hope is given to the younger generations.

Who’s your role model?  Tyra Lynne Banks. I look up to her not just because we have the same skin complexion but because I admire her ideals. Along her way to stardom she met rejection and discrimination. However, she conquered her dreams and became a pioneer in her undertakings. Most of all, she is active in social and charitable causes. She has a foundation aimed at developing teenage girl’s independence and self-esteem. For me, she shows not what a role model is but HOW a role model should be.

Any other woman whom you admire? St. Theresa of Calcutta. I admire how she used her fragile self to alleviate the sufferings of many. She inspires me to use my title in giving my selfless service without reservations to my fellow Boholanoswho are in dire need of care.

Queenie Melody Fullante describes herself as just an average person but for the next 365 days, she’ll be anything but as she is now Miss Bohol: The Quintessential Boholana 2014.

 

 

 

Do you have a boyfriend? Not applicable. I never had one since birth. (Laughs)

What qualities do you want in a man? These seven (7) qualities that I found in the net capsulizes my ideal man.  (1)The Romantic Guy. He believes in classic romance. He is constantly bringing me flowers and chocolate and lighting candles during dinner. He calls me often to let me know he is thinking about me and looks into my eyes and tells me how he feels; (2) The Confident Guy. He is totally secure and sure of himself. He is assertive in public and gives off an aura of power and control (within reason of course, as the "cocky guy" is not on this list). In a relationship, he doesn't get jealous of other men; he doesn't feel threatened by my male friends or coworkers; (3) The Artistic Guy. The artistic guy is spontaneous and lives for the moment. Often, he will use his creativity to woo me, such as with a song he has written about me or a painting he has made for me; (4) The Foreign Guy. Note that you don't have to actually be foreign to fit into this category. If you are well-traveled or speak many languages, you might be able to pull off the charm as well as any sweet-talking foreigner. He might have a cute accent or a unique way of seeing the world. His social customs and everyday behavior can be a little quirky, but he always manages to come off as uniquely charming; (5) The Free Spirit Guy (aka the Bad Boy). The free spirit guy goes where the wind takes him — and the wind usually takes him on some kind of wacky adventure. He might ride a motorcycle, or he might skip work to take me on a last-minute road trip, but this guy doesn't worry too much about the consequences; he just sees where his own devices take him; (6) The Intelligent/Witty Guy. He instigates conversations that are intellectually stimulating and listens to what I have to say in response. He makes me laugh with his clever sense of humor and has an uncanny ability to make politics interesting. He can shoot the breeze with me for hours and it will never get boring; and (7) The Considerate Guy. He holds open my car door and pulls out my chair. He foots the bill for dinner and makes sure to offer me dessert. He always asks me out with reasonable notice and picks me up at my door. He is generally sensitive to how I am feeling and when I am ready to go home.

What advocacy experience do you have? Maybe you have an important message to share ... and Miss Bohol would be the venue or forum to start your advocacies. One of my advocacies is strengthening the Boholano Christian Values in the context of family. And as a member of the Diocesan Community of Evangelizers, I have been very active in the formation of Christian values in our parish. The identity of a Boholano is always anchored in the family. It is therefore but necessary to strengthen the Boholano culture and family values should we want Bohol to become even more beautiful and livable. 

How would you lure tourists to Bohol after the killer quake? The killer quake had shaken our land and had fallen some of our beautiful structures, but did not in any way destroy our people. Bohol can always attract tourists with the kind of people it has. We never failed to treat our visitors with due hospitality. Despite the different instances that we are in, we are still able to smile and make others feel comfortable in their stay in Bohol. It is here where tourists can find comfort and fun, especially now that we are rising from last year’s devastation and is becoming an even better Bohol.

Young people today are liberated and adventurous, willing to try everything. What's your stand on pre-marital sex? Pleasure is always coupled with responsibility. Sex for the mere experience of it or for pleasure is a big NO. It must always be within the context of marriage. Only in marriage is the fullness of sex experienced.

If you were to change something in yourself, what would it be? I am very much comfortable with myself that I don’t have to think of any qualities that I have that needed to be changed. In fact, I have been crowned Miss Bohol for what I am and what I have. Everything in me is a blessing and my challenge is to use these blessings to inspire others and embrace themselves.

What is your favorite quote? “Do your best and God will do the rest”. This has been my mantra in all my endeavors and it really works. By saying this, I am enlightened and empowered to give out my best no matter what the result maybe because I am confident that God is always there to back me up.

Describe yourself in three (3) words: Quintessential. Magnanimous. Fabulous.

What is the essence of Miss Bohol? Miss Bohol is a prestigious pageant where we, young women are able to express our opinions on matters not just concerning ourselves but the society as a whole. It is an avenue for us to showcase our God-given Boholana beauties and skills. It enables us to influence positively the community through the ideals that we show off. And it molds our personalities helping us to become better individuals.

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