‘Unique’ Filipino heritage is Winwyn’s edge in Reina Hispanoamericana 2017

Teresita Ssen "Winwyn" Marquez will not only be fighting for a crown, but also for diversity in the upcoming Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 pageant in Bolivia.

The Kapuso actress and now beauty queen is the first Filipino and only Asian to compete in the prestigious beauty competition.

But instead of letting that pressure her, she sees it as her "edge."

"I'm Asian. I think that's my edge. We have a really unique heritage; we're basically also Spanish, since our words are assimilated, our cultures are very similar. We're very unique," she said during her send-off in Annabel's restaurant on Wednesday.

"Yung edge ko siguro is, we have this unique heritage, I look Asian but my blood also is Spanish. Diversity, 'yan ang ipaglalaban natin," she added.

With less than a month before the competition, Winwyn is training hard, focusing on her walk and also on picking up some words and phrases as she does not speak Spanish.

"I did a little bit of Spanish course, but it's minimal lang talaga. I just want to learn some words, na kahit papano naiintindihan ko kung anong sinasabi nila. Even key words pag nagsasalita sila," she said.

However, she doesn't believe that the language barrier will be much of an issue.

"A lot of people are telling me that baka daw ma-bully or baka daw they're gonna speak in Spanish tapos babanggitin nila Pilipinas. Ang nasa isip ko kasi, what I don't know won't hurt me, so even if they speak in Spanish and kung ako man ang pinaguusapan nila, I can't understand them so hindi ako maaapektuhan," she said.

"I can still ask, I'm not shy to ask them, because they also speak English. They spoke to me already they said it's okay to not speak in Spanish so wala namang problema dun," she added.

Winwyn said that while she hopes that "Teresita will Winwyn," she just wants to be satisfied after the competition.

"I want to learn from [other contestants]. Gusto ko ma-satisfy ako after ng competition. Win or lose, I made friends," she said.

"I'll use Teresita there, but I hope ma-Winwyn tayo in our first ever Reina Hispanoamericana," she added. — BM, GMA News