Herlene Budol on joining beauty pageants: ‘Oo ata’

Herlene Nicole “Hipon Girl” Budol clarified that she will still be joining beauty pageants.

In the "Not Gonna Lie" segment of a recent episode of "Dapat Alam Mo!" Herlene took part in a lie detector test, during which host Susan Enriquez asked if she will still join beauty pageants. 

“Sasali pa ba ko, oo o hindi?" The actress and beauty queen pondered about it, before answering, "Oo ata. Maybe. Pwede bang maybe?”

The lie detector revealed she was telling the truth.

Kuya Kim Atienza then brought up Herlene’s YouTube video wherein, she signed off from pageantry. “Hindi pala tunay na goodbye yun?” he asked.

“Hindi po, kasi po sinabi ko po yung I’m signing off kasi wala pa pong Miss Philippines Tourism na ipagdadayo ko po,” she Herlene explained.

“Kumbaga, wala pa pong franchise na nakukuha dun sa international para sa paglalabanan ko.”

Herlene added, “Lalaban pa rin pa naman ako sa international pero after po nun, baka magpahinga po ako at papagalingin ko lang po muna yung sarili ko. Mag-focus po muna ko sa kung ano yung meron po ako ngayon.”

In a YouTube video, Herlene tearfully said that she will no longer compete in beauty pageants.

Herlene was crowned Miss Philippines Tourism at the Miss Grand International pageant in July.

In a statement from ALV Pageant Circle and Miss Grand Philippines, they said, “we have not yet issued any official confirmation regarding Miss Grand Philippines Tourism 2023 Herlene Budol's participation in the Miss Tourism World pageant.”

"Our Miss Philippines Tourism title is a generic title with no contractual obligation to any international pageant,” they added.

Prior to Miss Grand Philippines, Herlene was named Binibining Pilipinas 2022 first runner-up, and garnered seven special awards.

Herlene was also set to compete in Miss Planet International in 2022, but withdrew “[due] to uncertainties by the organizers” and that the candidates were not treated well.

Aside from pageantry, Herlene is the star of the GMA series, “Magandang Dilag.”

— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News