Beauty queen Samantha Panlilio on public service: 'I hope I could really make a change'
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Samantha Panlilio appreciates how people have changed their views about beauty pageants.
The Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2021 said that joining beauty pageants now is different because, aside from flaunting physical beauty, candidates must also possess intelligence and a good heart to help others.
“Before it was all about beauty. Now, you gotta be a queen,” the 28-year-old beauty queen told GMANetwork.com and other entertainment media during an interview recently.
She continued, “Being a queen means you have to walk with grace, you have to walk with integrity, truth, and a good heart. I am glad that it has evolved because beauty queens are more than just a pretty face.
“Again, you have to bring something to the table and people forget that. When you join a beauty pageant, it's a job interview: are you fit for the job, do you have what it takes, can you give us something that we can use to our [organization] advantage? It's all about the change you can make.”
Public Service
Sam acknowledged that her experiences from joining the Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Grand International helped her in pursuing public service through PAK (Pangarap at Kalinga) Foundation.
“I think my eyes opened when I joined beauty pageants. There, you have to have advocacies, wala kang choice,” she smiled.
While her new endeavor seems very different from beauty pageants, Sam said, “Different worlds but kind of all interconnected.”
She further explained, “You know, what I found helpful was during my run in Binibining Pilipinas and even Miss Grand [International], I was able to pull my business network connections in order to help with my advocacies.
“I think it's the same for public service, I can use my connections. Like, our partner, Radisson Hotel, they're donating to PAK Foundation to help build classrooms.
“Again, I'm a firm believer that if you have a strong community who actually wanna help out each other then, you can do great things.
She also noted other factors that pushed her to continue her advocacy to strengthen the youth.
She mentioned, “It's great that my high school, in Las Piñas, in Southville, they required us to have CAS or Creative Act of Service. I was very much exposed to it. My father also helped out communities in Ternate [Cavite]. Even in Boracay, when we demolished the whole resort, we just donated the items to fire victims.
“I guess, I was growing up knowing that I have to give back to the community one way or another. After being exposed to pageantry, along with my business, I thought what better way to actually help people and make a significant change?”
Meanwhile, Sam is set to take on a bigger challenge in public service as she filed her certificate of candidacy earlier this week. Sam will be the second nominee of Agimat Partylist, which is led by former actor Bryan Revilla.
Check out other celebrities running in the 2025 elections here:
An 'heiress'
Aside from being a beauty queen, Samantha is also known as the eldest daughter of Jose Marcel “Jocel” Panlilio, who owns Boulevard Holdings Inc. and Puerto Azul Land Inc.
While she works as the chief operations officer of Boulevard Buildings Inc. Sam is also building her name. She is set to launch her beauty brand and owns a photography studio called PAK Studios.
The beauty queen is thankful that her father allowed her to do what she wants.
She related, “I'm all about legacy. I'm all about sustaining that legacy. I actually joined Binibining Pilipinas because of my legacy.
“My dad allowed me to explore different facets of myself that's why I joined beauty pageants. Siyempre, I was always destined to come back from the US after my four years there for college, to help my family's business.
“But then, I said, 'Dad, wait lang, ha, gusto ko munang umawra.' I want to discover of myself and, of course, make a name for myself. I don't wanna rely on just the last name, right?
“It's all about making your own mark now, especially in my generation. It's a competitive market.”
Is she comfortable being called an heiress?
Sam answered, “You know, I think being an heiress, I feel very blessed to be able to help the family business. But I think, what most people don't understand is that being an heiress, I've been working since maybe 10. I've been sitting in business meetings and dinners, you know. Our conversations would be about the business.
“At a young age, I really learn how to put my family's business first before my needs. So, being an heiress, I think, it has a good ring to it but it's also a huge responsibility.”
Right now, Sam just wants to continue doing what she does--in business, charity, and even public service--without compromising integrity.
She concluded, “I always try to with grace and integrity. I mean, you also have to do that in the pageant world, and the same with the corporate world. Just don't lie and do your best with good intentions. If have good intentions, you'll end up where you're meant to end up.”
Look back on the beauty pageant journey of Sam Panlilio in this gallery:
