Photo by CELSO CAPARAS
MANILA, Philippines - Maxine Medina, the Philippine bet to Miss Universe, clearly has her eyes on the prize.
The 26-year-old model and interior designer appeared confident of a back-to-back win for the country come Jan. 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena when reigning Miss U Pia Wurtzbach passes on the crown to her successor.
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is reportedly attending the pageant finals.
“I’m very honored that our President will be there because he will be witnessing a back-to-back (victory),” Maxine said at a presscon hosted by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) last Tuesday.
“Since our president will be there, the whole government will be supporting me and the Miss Universe,” she added in reaction to a question about Duterte’s strict directive that the government will not be spending for the private sector-driven third staging of Miss U in the country.
From the time she won in Bb. Pilipinas up to the present, which is less than three weeks away from the Big Day, Maxine said there has been no let-up in her training. “After I won (in Bb. Pilipinas), I’ve been texting everyone for help ‘coz this is something new for me. The world of pageants is a big thing not just for myself but also for the whole country. I really need to work hard at it,” she shared.
