Former beauty queen franchises Miss World PH Quezon City pageant and promotes sustainability
Jen Jarina, franchise director of Miss World Quezon City, is out to redefine the pageant landscape in the capital. With her background in beauty pageants and a career in male-dominated construction industry, Jarina brings a unique perspective and a fresh vision to the competition. Her passion for empowering women and her commitment to creativity and sustainability are set to transform the pageant into a launchpad for future national and international success. She is working with Dada Cruz and Wheyee Lozada as Ad & PR and Marketing Coordinators.
Miss World PH Quezon City franchise director Jen Jarina
From early pageantry to Miss World QC
Jarina’s journey in the world of pageantry began early. Reflecting on her formative years, she recalled, “I was a beauty queen way back in 2022, Mrs. Universe – West Asia Pacific 2022.” Her experience in pageants, which started as early as elementary school, instilled in her the values of self-reliance, confidence, and discipline—qualities she now seeks to instill in her candidates. Although her professional pursuits include a career in construction and engineering, pageantry remains her true passion, a field where she believes every contestant should be empowered to shine.
Taking on the role of Franchise Director for Miss World Quezon City under Mr. Arnold Vegafria, Jarina embraces this opportunity as a stepping stone for her candidates to excel not only locally but also on the global stage. “We are preparing our candidates for national and international competitions,” she states confidently, reflecting her vision for the future of the pageant.
Innovative Concepts and Sustainable Creativity
A standout feature of Jarina’s approach is her innovative emphasis on sustainability. Drawing inspiration from the national Miss World Philippines, she has introduced a unique concept for the inaugural Quezon City pageant that focuses on ecology and creative reuse. “I get the franchise and then our concept right now is all about ecology or recycling materials that they will use as a gown, as their dress,” she explains. In the National Costume segment, candidates are encouraged to transform recycled materials into elegant gowns—challenging them to display not only their beauty and talent but also their creativity and resourcefulness.
Jarina elaborates on the judging criteria for this segment, emphasizing that it goes beyond traditional pageant metrics. “What we want here is how creative you are. For example, making things out of trash, recycling all the materials to create a gown—whether you choose to work with a designer or design it yourself—we are looking for something unique and creative.” This focus on innovation is designed to foster a spirit of self-reliance and ingenuity, qualities that are essential in today’s competitive environment.
Photos from the national costume segment:
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Rigorous Selection and Exciting Activities
The road to the crown is built on a rigorous selection process. Initially, there were fifty candidates, but due to academic conflicts and unforeseen circumstances like illness, the number was streamlined to ten finalists. Despite these challenges, Jarina remains optimistic. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter as long as they have the right attitude, discipline, and passion,” she explains. The pageant is open to young women aged seventeen to twenty-five, ensuring that the competition is both vibrant and dynamic.
The culmination of this journey will be the coronation night on April 5 at the Novotel Hotel—a grand finale that promises to be a celebration of talent, creativity, and resilience. Leading up to this event, the pageant will feature a series of activities designed to showcase the candidates and build their profiles. They will have guest appearances on TV shows such as Will to Win and Showtime at Bulaga, in addition to sponsor visits that provide further exposure and networking opportunities.
Vision for Empowerment
Despite not having a beauty-related business herself, Jarina’s deep-rooted involvement in pageantry has allowed her to forge a unique path. “I’m into a male-dominated industry—construction and engineering—which is very different,” she notes. Yet, her passion for pageantry has always been evident. Her experience as a former beauty queen fuels her desire to support the next generation of leaders. “Number one is empowerment, self-reliance, of course, confidence, and self-discipline. That’s it,” she asserts, emphasizing that the pageant is about much more than physical beauty.
Jarina also speaks to inclusivity within the competition. When asked about the future inclusion of trans women, she responded that they are welcome and might even have their own category, reflecting a commitment to diversity and acceptance.
Supporting a Future of International Success
At the heart of Jarina’s vision is the belief that Miss World Quezon City should serve as a stepping stone for broader success. With generous prizes on offer—P100,000 for the main title along with additional P50,000 and P25,000 cash prizes for princesses and a host of sponsorship benefits—the pageant is designed to nurture talent and reward excellence. “We will support our winner all the way, until international competitions, because we’re aiming for the international crown,” she affirms.
Under Jen Jarina’s leadership, Miss World Quezon City is set to become a platform that not only celebrates beauty and creativity but also champions sustainability, empowerment, and diversity. Her approach and dedication promise to inspire both the participants and the broader community, paving the way for a future where every candidate has the opportunity to shine on the world stage. When asked if she has spotted potential titleholders among the candidates, Jarina immediately nodded and confidently declared, “Panlaban namin sila, pang-national, pang-international, kaya. Kaya!”
