Ariella Arida pushes for body-positive message in Binibining Pilipinas

During the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines in January, Canada bet Siera Bearchell opened the floor for debate on representation of a different body type in pageants.

Fellow beauty queen Ariella Arida believes it's time for the Binibining Pilipinas pageant to follow suit.

"I guess it's time, not only in Miss Universe, but also in Binibining Pilipinas. I think they've been doing it naman since then," Arida told GMA News Online during the press presentation of the candidates for this year's pageant.

"They have (this) stereotype daw of beauty queens na parang almost perfect — perfect body, perfect face," she added.

"Parang it attributes to all the physical na nakikita nila, but then in reality talaga, basically 'yong beauty pageant, it promotes self-confidence."

Ariella, who competed finished third runner-up in Miss Universe 2013, said the Binibining Pilipinas pageant should serve as an inspiration to women. "Be confident to whoever you are, kung ano pa 'yong body type mo o body frame mo," she said.

Pageants have long been criticized for promoting just a single ideal of beauty, but fans have pointed to small changes in some competitions. During the Miss Universe tilt, plus-size model Ashley Graham played a prominent role in the program, and lauded Siera's body-positive message.

Miss Teen USA, meanwhile, opted to swap out the swimsuit portion with "active wear" to promote being healthy instead of sexy last year.

Also last year, the first "plus-size" beauty queen Mirella Paz walked the stage in the Miss Peru pageant. She was applauded by Miss Universer 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, declaring her an inspiration and "the one who made a statement." —JST, GMA News