Felina Lim (Mark Yap)
It’s a pageant not too many of us have heard of. The youngest daughter of businessman Johnie and Flor Lim (all three siblings’ names begin with F), 22-year-old Felina Joyce Lim, operations manager of Body and Sole, bagged the first runner-up honors at the 2013 Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia, held in the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia, last Aug. 10.
The international pageant, which began in 2007, is a beauty-brains-personality search aimed at “closing the distance to establish the global Chinese”—a new generation in beauty standards—where our Cebuana beauty bested 16 other candidates from all over South-east Asia to emerge as second biggest winner.
Educated in Saint Louis University in Baguio (where she also manages the city’s Body and Sole branches) this registered nurse wants to be an ambassadress of goodwill to China, where RP relations is a bit challenged.
For this issue, Play! threw some pageant patty questions, which the chinita charmer answered in honest-to-goodness fashion—truly worthy of any crown. Definitely, Felina’s surprise triumph puts another jewel to the crown of the Queen City.
Is it a childhood dream of yours to become a beauty queen?
It isn’t. My dream is to inspire people, and I can use what God has given me to do that. Somehow I decided to venture into the world of beauty queens. I believe that a true beauty queen is just beauty and brains. More importantly, you must have the heart for people.
How did you learn about the 2013 Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia? Why did you join the pageant?
It found me. I was submitting requirements to Miss Ecotourism when the organizer Mr. Ovette
Ricalde e-mailed my dad (Johnie C. Lim), asking if I’d be willing to represent the Philippines to the 2013 Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia. It’s kind of daunting to know that it is not only my province or city that I will be representing, but the whole country. Yet, I believe that opportunity knocks only once and God is giving me such a task because He believes I am capable of doing it. So I shut down my fear, and said ‘Yes, for the Philippines!’
How did you prepare for the pageant?
Foremost are prayers, which I believe is most powerful. To Him, I prayed, ‘I offer my first international pageant to Thee. I have come this far because of Thee… because I seek Thee.’
What’s that one life-changing lesson you learned from the pageant?
Never underestimate yourself. Shine a light for yourself if everybody gives you darkness. God and you is what matters most. If you believe in Him, you will believe in yourself as well.
Looking back, what would you have done differently?
I should have given 150 percent effort since that moment I stepped into the pageant. Nonetheless, I am still proud and happy for what I have achieved. This is a blessing I didn’t expect.
Would you stop at being a first runner- up, or you have plans of joining other beauty pageants after Miss Cosmo?
With God’s grace, I aim for the highest honors. Someone once told me that if I fail in my goal, I’m just a step away from it. So I’m not closing my doors. If there’s an opportunity, I’ll grab it. And whatever happens, if it is what He wants me to have, then it’s enough.
What is your beauty secret? What do you think was your edge over the other candidates?
Optimism. That’s my beauty secret. That’s my power. I put in my mind into it, accompanied by a willful heart and faith in God.
How do you handle stage fright?
I’d imagine the crowd to be my family… that I must do my best to make them proud. And that power of doing my best is believing in yourself.
Who are the beauty queens that you look up to?
Miss Carrie Lee, the first Malaysian who won the International Miss Chinese Cosmos Pageant 2004. For the whole stay in Malaysia, I had seen her sincerity and felt her kind heart. She was not just an organizer, a boss, or a celebrity—she is a sister and a mother to all of us, candidates. That, I will never forget. She is a true beauty queen that inspires people. And I strive to be one like her.
What is the best advice you got?
Always believe in yourself. It’s also same advice I gave to my co-candidates, too.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where and why?
I would still choose Cebu. This city had brought me where I am now. I have experienced many challenges in life, but without these, I would never learn to pick myself up. The Philippines will always be my country, and Cebu, my home because it is where my family is and my family is my all-time inspiration.
If you could meet any person in the world, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
I would choose God. I would hug Him and whisper in His ear: Thank you.
What is your most prized possession?
The red rosary that my mom gave me. It will remind me of her wherever I go. I will be inspired and protected from negative thoughts I sometimes entertain.
What is your advocacy and how do you plan to promote it?
I am for sustainable life in the city. I’m a volunteer in the Youth for a Livable Cebu. I love gardening. Vertical farming for edible plants was one of our projects. The idea really inspires —growing crops in one’s limited city space, which is good not only for houses with small gardens but also for buildings. Healthy living is possible even in a very urban place like Cebu. To promote the idea, I will teach people ways to live healthy.
If you could live anyone else’s life, who would it be and why?
Felina Joyce Yap Lim’s life. I may only be 22, but I would never exchange my life for someone else’s. I am contented with what I have. I am happy, I am loved. And that’s enough.
If you can be granted one wish, what would you ask for?
That every Filipino values discipline and practice it to advance our country, not only in preserving our environment but also in achieving economic progress.
If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it?
I’d give part of it to the church. Of course I will have a thanksgiving Mass first. Also, I will invest some amount for myself, like mutual funds. The rest, I will use to help my community in whatever project as long as it is for the good of all, like livelihood and training projects.
If you can be reincarnated, what life-form would you assume and why?
An acacia tree. Make that an old acacia tree, whose branches are spread out, making it a good shelter for people during hot days or even rainy days. Being a tree, I can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, which is good for the environment. With many trees, we won’t have landslides. Most of all, being that old acacia tree, I hope to serve as a reminder of the past and an inspiration to the next generations.
What is the biggest challenge to young people today?
I believe there is much technology out there—which is good. But sadly, many young people don’t put it to good use. Access to the internet should be used to acquire knowledge and not used to harm or do injustice to others. We, the next generation, must correct these wrong acts and be living examples for generations to come.
What is one trait of yours that you’d like to change?
I believe that my total personality including my defects are what makes me unique. Along my journey in life, I will take time to acquire more knowledge, more skills, more life lessons. I will try even more to improve my communication skills, perhaps enroll in dance and theater so that I will have more to share to others.
