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