Jodel P. Mesina
WHO says plus-sized women can’t join pageants?
Jodel P. Mesina is proof that there’s no hindrance to achieving one’s dream of becoming a beauty queen, not even one’s weight.
She has brought pride to the Philippines after winning Ms. Top of the World Plus Size 2017 held in Singapore last Nov. 12. “I had the determination to win the crown. There was no challenge at all.
I was so confident,” she told reporters in a press conference held at Delice Recipes in Barangay Busay, Cebu City last Nov. 23.
Mesina bested 15 other plus-sized women across the globe.
She was handpicked by Tatta Saguin, the pageant’s national director, to represent the Philippines in the international stage.
When she learned that she was chosen to represent the country, Mesina said she grabbed the chance without any doubt.
Mesina, 35, is a real estate developer from barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
She is the fifth of six children. It took her two months to train for the pageant.
Earl Lee and Jessie Glova trained Mesina for her walk and make-up.
During the pageant, Mesina wore the creations of designer Hanz Coquilla in both the national costume and long gown competition.
Her national costume was Filipiniana-inspired made of “banig” and she wore a red gown with rhinestones for the long gown competition. For the talent competition, Mesina performed the Sinulog dance.
“I wanted to show to the world my devotion to the Señor Sto. Niño,” she expained. After winning the pageant, she plans to create an organization that will help educate people and let them understand the lives of plus-sized women in the country.