Bianca Manalo, MJ Lastimosa, Ariella Arida share take on 'rehearsed' pageant answers

Bianca Manalo, MJ Lastimosa, and Ariella Arida shared their opinions on pageant answers involving advocacies on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Thursday.

Recently, Gloria Diaz said that some beauty queens have rehearsed answers when they talk about their advocacies.

Asked for her comment on Gloria's statement, Ariella said there is truth in it, as some girls who join pageants already know the formula they have to follow in question-and-answer portions.

“That’s why I’m really pushing them and encouraging them to really know their core, to know themselves,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“At the end of the day, the best way for you to answer the Q&A is who you are, what you’re good at, not just because these are the questions you’ve heard before that’s why this is your answer."

Ariella thus advised pageant contestants to be themselves and know themselves.

Bianca shared the same sentiments, noting that speaking from the heart yields genuine answers.

“Because when you get to answer what’s from your heart, the result will be good. Your answers won’t be boxed, you won’t use flowery words. It’s obvious sometimes for the judges,” she said.

“The better answer is where you came from, when the experience is really from you,” she added.

MJ, for her part, said that not all hopefuls give templated answers, and that a lot still give candid answers.

“I was also like that when I was preparing before, I would watch beauty queens and see what works for the judges, what works for the audience, and I think you can apply that to yourself,” MJ said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“But I get that the candidates are not confident enough, which is why they have prepared answers they can use when, you know. We can't really avoid when we turn blank, right?”

Bianca, MJ, and Ariella are all part of the film “Red Crown,” which premieres in cinemas on October 28.

It also stars Sanya Lopez, Faith Da Silva, Shuvee Etrata, AZ Martinez, Ashley Ortega, Gazini Ganados, Herlene Budol, Michelle Dee, Ahtisa Manalo, and more.

—Nika Roque/CDC, GMA News