While Michele Theresa Gumabao may be a newbie in the world of beauty pageants, she has all the right ingredients and skills to stand out at the Bb Pilipinas coronation night happening at the Araneta Coliseum on March 18. Unless the powers that be of the organization decide to "save" her for next year, this Binibini could pull off a major upset and "snatch" a crown from one of the strong favorites.
Michele Gumabao is being trained by Aces & Queens, the same group of queenmakers that trained Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa. She's in the hands of experts who have actually transformed hopefuls into legit queens. If there's a name in the beauty pageant circuit that knows how to win pageants, it's Aces & Queens.
Have you seen her amazing physical transformation? Back when she was active in the volleyball circuit, Michele was all mass and muscle. The 5'9” opposite spiker was built for battle. But all that changed when she filed her application for a slot in the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant. Michele, who probably goes through the same rigorous workout as the queens who have come before her, has noticeably lost the mass and gained a more slender physique. Her face now looks smaller, her arms more toned, her legs more taut and longer. How did she achieve this swimsuit-ready figure? Discipline.
Michele has played in emotionally-charged, high-octane volleyball matches many times. Did you know that she was the Finals Most Valuable Player at the UAAP Season 75 championship match between her team, the DLSU Lady Spikers and their arch rival Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles in 2013? Michele has been in situations where her mental toughness and grit were put to the test. When the competition comes down to the wire, this girl knows what to do and how to edge out her opponents.
Who would have thought that the towering volleyball player can actually transform into a fierce and flawless runway model and beauty queen in a matter of months? The 25-year-old stunner now has a morena complexion, which actually gives her a more sensual aura. Add into the mix her natural charm and friendliness and you have a beauty queen that's easy on the eyes and is approachable.
Michele is genuinely passionate about her volleyball training camp, a project that she launched way back in 2012. Since then, Michele has made it her mission to share the love for the sport and the life-changing possibilities that it can bring to anyone who has the dream and the talent. Her volleyball camp, which is named after her, was not something that was created just for the sake of having an advocacy.
If ever she finds herself dealing with a difficult question (or worse, she faces a question she has no convincing answer to), Michele still got a lifeline: her gift of gab. Having been a courtside reporter, sports analyst, and a commentator for a number of volleyball matches in the past, Michele a natural talker and has no problem expressing her thoughts. And if she does find herself in a sticky situation, you can bet that this girl knows how to wiggle her way out of it without looking clueless. She can wing it like she means it.
It is no secret that Michele has no previous experience in beauty pageants. But her being a newbie may actually work to her advantage. For all we know, Michele could be oblivious to all the pressure around her. She doesn't have to deal with the pressure to win as much as the pageant front-runners Catriona Gray or Jehza Huelar or Sandra Lemonon. Never underestimate a rookie. In the company of pageant veterans, Michele can be the breath of fresh air that the judges are looking for this year.
Unless the organizers decide to “save” her for next year or she screws up big time during the coronation night (which is highly unlikely), there's a big chance that we'd see Michele Theresa Gumabao, Binibini 19, the one who has no previous experience in beauty pageants, as the last woman standing on March 18.