Pia Wurtzbach's mentor slams Bb. Pilipinas for disqualifying model over sexy shoot

Binibining Pilipinas candidate Kim Ross Delos Santos has been disqualified by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) from the beauty pageant for posing for a fashion test shoot prior to joining the competition, according to her pageant mentor Jonas Gaffud.

The disqualification was confirmed on Wednesday morning by the lawyers of BPCI. Gaffud, the president and manager of Mercator Artist and Model Management, said that it is unfortunate that the decision was made on the annual International Women's Day.

“It's sad that today, the International Women's Day, our candidate was disqualified because of her work as model. A Filipina model photographed by the same photographer who worked with BPCI in the past, in an expressive work of art alongside with a respected male international supermodel,” he said in a Facebook post.

“These works of art are not deemed pornographic. It saddens me that while we celebrate love and equality, the very organization that should uplift women denies them the chance to demonstrate empowerment,” Gaffud added.

The pageant connoisseur, who mentored newly-crowned Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, said that the disqualification of Delos Santos is hypocritical, denying the candidate a chance without any solid basis.

“This issue of disqualification of a worthy candidate is not just about pageants. It's about hypocrisy. Kim Ross is a model who, like Pia, is the breadwinner of her family. She was convinced to join Binbining Pilipinas to perhaps improve their lives,” he said.

“The lawyers of BPCI did not even check what the photo was about. It did not come out in any publication and was supposed to be a high-end fashion shoot by The Doc Marlon, who makes artwork not pornography. Denying Kim her entry means they just shut her dream of becoming a beauty queen without due process, without any lawyer with her,” he also claimed.

Gaffud also noted that a candidate last year was not disqualified from Binibining Pilipinas even after posing for a popular men's magazine.

GMA News Online is still getting in touch with the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. for a statement.

Meanwhile, Araneta Center Inc., which hosts the pageant, told GMA News Online that there is no statement yet.

"We are not issuing any statement as of the moment. Should there be any, we will let you know,"  said corporate communications and public relations officer Roxanne Talosig in an email.

In 2013, model-singer Theresa Fenger was also disqualified from the beauty pageant because she posed for an issue of a local men's magazine in 2010. —JST, GMA News