Pinay beauty a runner-up in Teen Earth Girl UK pageant

By ANDREI MEDINA, GMA News

Published September 8, 2012 7:00pm

A young Filipino-British beauty — Jerizza Avancena — had two reasons to celebrate on September 1: her 17th birthday and becoming a runner-up in the Teen Earth Girl pageant in the United Kingdom. In an interview with GMA News Online, Avancena said she was surprised at becoming the runner-up during the competition at the Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare.

“I expected certain girls to be the winners and therefore, was not expecting to win runner-up or best online profile award! I couldn't stop smiling as I felt like I'd won something bigger than I actually had,” Avancena said.

“When we applied for the pageant we had to write about ourselves; our achievements, hobbies, ambition and an environmental message,” she said.

“A separate panel of judges chose the best online profile and I couldn't believe it when they said my name for this award!” she added.

Overall, there were only two winners selected from 12 finalists - Miss Teen Earth and Miss Teen Earth Runner-up. Amy Nuttall of Cardiff was named Miss Teen Earth.

Avancena who was born in the Philippines but migrated to the UK with her parents in 2001 at the age of five. She is currently living in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

According to her profile on the pageant website, Avancena won 2nd place at a seven-school basketball competition in 2010 aside from "many netball tournaments."

Not easy but several lessons learned Avancena said it was not easy joining the pageant but she learned a lot of life lessons.

To prepare for the pageant, she had to shape up.

“I started working harder at the gym and on my diet. It was very tough,” Avancena recounted.

However, she learned that "there was no need for me to be extremely concious about my body shape because there were girls there of all different shapes and sizes." "I learned that all that mattered was that you were comfortable and confident in your own skin,” she said.

She also said aside from doing her best, prayer had been a big factor in her win. “After the pageant, I realized that by doing my best and through praying, I was able to achieve more than I expected,” she said. “Through the other contestants, I also realized that friendship was a very significant factor of pageants because of the way we depended on each other for help and advice,” she added. According to her profile, Avancena believes that “by taking responsibility in our personal actions, we can overall achieve enormous differences that will affect every living thing in our home!”

The pageant

When asked what the hardest and most fun part of the pageant was she replied: “Smiling and modeling.”

“I think that some people don't realize that smiling for long periods of time gets quite painful. Thankfully, my family, friends along with a special friend were there making me smile and laugh all throughout the pageant!” she said.

“Overall the most fun I had was my time taking to the ramp and doing my poses, which I practiced in a dance studio the night before!” she added. Avancena also shared that during the pageant, she wore a shirt that “had an image of the earth being held by a curved hand." She explained that the shirt "represents the fact that the world is in our hands. It is our responsibility to raise awareness and make a change so that we can pass a nicer environment to the younger generations. If we do not do anything, they will not be able to relive what we have now.” What's next

As an aviation student at the Leeds Aviation Academy, Avancena will be returning this month to study flying.

“This is my main priority for the next several years until I accomplish my dreams,” she said.

However, she won’t be absent from pageants for long.

“I enjoy pageants so much and I love the adrenaline rush I get when I'm on stage! I would love to do more pageants as a hobby throughout my life,” she said.

“Next year, I plan to try for pageants which can lead to international ones if I am able to find sponsors. Pageants are an expensive hobby but the awards and happiness it brings to me is much more than sentimental!” she added.

On the Philippines and Shamcey Supsup

Avancena said she thinks the people in the Philippines are basically good-natured.

“I like the people of the Philippines. They are not only generous but also very cheerful,” she said.

She also looks up to Philippine 2011 Miss Universe bet, Shamcey Supsup.

“Opo, si Shamcey Supsup kasi po yung personality niya is very thoughtful and inspirational. She is also very beautiful,” she explained.

Avancena thanks her family – especially her parents – as well as their friends and supporters for cheering her on during the pageant period.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my mum and dad because they have invested so much into this and without them I would not have been able to do what I did. Thanks to Javier Echavez and Mark Acoba for flying over from Ireland to support me,” she said.

“Thank you to all who have supported me and gave me the inspiration to do my best - my friends here in Leeds, frinds and family in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and friends and family all around the world!” she added. - VVP, GMA News

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