When did beauty pageants start? Kuya Kim answers

Filipinos are indeed true pageant fans.

Just last night, we crowned our new Miss Universe Philippines queen, Chelsea Manalo, at a grand coronation event attended by supportive pageant fans.

But do you know when beauty pageants started?

According to Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Thursday, P.T. Barnum first staged the first international beauty contest in America in June 1855, where the public served as judges. One of the earliest beauty pageants in the world, too, was the Belle of the Anna-ball, which began in Hungary in 1825.

Beauty pageants were first introduced to Filipinos by the Americans in 1908 through the Manila Carnival Queen competition.

“Ang layunin nito ay ipakilala ang bayan Pilipinas para pumasok ang mga dayuhan. Doon nagsimula ‘yung paghahanap ng tinatawag nating Carnival Queen,” Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea said.

“Naging purveyor of marketing and showcasing the country itong beauty contest na tinatawag,” the anthropologist added.

In Oriental Mindoro, a 23-year-old named Rechel Hoco has already participated in more than 150 pageants.

“Ang pinaka fave kong award ay ‘yung Ms. Oriental Mindoro. Sobrang daming nagpa-pageant doon, ang pinaka-dream nila is makasali sa Ms. Oriental Mindoro,” she said.

But in 2022, Rechel took a pause from joining since she started working in the United Arab Emirates. She's now planning her comeback in the pageant scene.

“For almost two years na-stop ako sa pageants. Every time na nakakarinig ako ng beat parang ang sarap i-walk kapag magpa-pageants. Nakakamiss nga,” she said.

— Carby Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News