'Hipon Girl' Herlene Budol shares sad pageant story behind her funny nickname

Herlene Budol has been making viewers laugh since she introduced herself as "Hipon Girl" on Wowowin.

But did you know there's a sad story behind the origin of her funny nickname?

For those who don't know, hipon (shrimp) is often used to refer to a person with a great body but a less desirable face — derived from the common practice of throwing away the head when they eat shrimp.

In an episode of "Tunay na Buhay," Herlene said she was a certified "byukonera" who has been joining pageants since elementary school.

Herlene took pride in being "5'9 without heels" and "makapal ang mukha," but what she really banked on was her slim, curvy body.

"Hipon kasi po dati no'ng katawan ko po talaga, talagang parang gutumin po, 'yong katawan ko, talagang petite, ganyan."

Despite losing every pageant she ever joined, Herlene didn't let it crush her spirit.

"Ang saya nga pag natatalo eh. Ibig sabihin pwede ka ulit sumali," she said in a joking manner, adding it allows her to make new friends. "Kasi pag taon-taon, iba-iba, eh 'di panibagong tropa na naman sila!" Herlene reasons.

The name "Hipon Girl" stuck to her after winning Binibining Angono in 2017.

She felt so victorious after losing so many beauty contests, but not everyone was happy about her victory.

"Doon nga ho nag-umpisa 'yon...'Yong mga ibang hindi makapaniwalang nanalo ako kasi unexpected po talaga," she recalled.

"So hindi nila matanggap na 'yong alaga nila, natalo. [They said] 'Uy, bakit naman nanalo 'yan? Eh ganyan mas maganda si ganito. Chaka chaka niyan."

Herlene was also laughed at for doing "model" poses on the pageant stage.

"[Pang-model] po daw 'yon, sa mga photoshoot ganon. Ginawa ko 'yon, pinagtawanan ako," she said.

"Kahit buong pamilya ko pinagtawanan ako, [they'd say] 'Para kang tanga, Herlene. Bakit mo ginawa yon?' Tanga! Ikaw lang gumawa non."

For Herlene, the best advice she could give to aspiring beauty queens was to believe in themselves

"Kasi po, ako in-enjoy ko lang po bawat segundo po na nasa stage po ako. Makapal naman po mukha ko, 'yung [Q&A] lang po 'yung kinabahan ako. Pero sa kung paano po maglakad, basta feeling proud ka lang sa sarili mo," she said.

"Kahit walang proud sa'yo talaga. Dapat number one po, maging proud ka muna sa sarili mo." — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News