Anyone can wear a crown, but it takes a queen to bear its weight. This is the mantra that drives 2015 Queen Philippines International Maria Paula Vega to continue ascending.
The 24-year-old stunner has achieved a lot.
She won the prestigious Miss Gay Mandaue, which is known as a stepping stone for grander pageants.
Her failed bid in the first Queen of Cebu in 2009 did not stop her from continuing her passion to inspire and influence others through her success. She flew to Manila and won Bb. Gay Pilipinas and made Cebuanos proud as she carried the city’s name in local noontime show Eat Bulaga’s “Super Sireyna.”
Her journey brought her back to her first major failed pageant, now called Queen Philippines, emerging as a top contender and ultimately bagging the Queen Philippines International crown.
When did you start joining beauty pageants?
I first joined Miss Gay Globe in 2006. But we don’t call most pageants Miss Gay now—we use Queen most of the time because the LGBT, especially the transgenders are more empowered. After joining Miss Gay Globe, it became a passion. I then joined Miss Gay Mandaue. This is one of the grandest pageant, not just in Cebu but nationwide as transgenders from all over the country come here to join the pageant. Miss Gay Mandaue not only looks at beauty but beauty and wit.
Luckily, when I joined in 2009, I won the title at the age of 19. I was the youngest beauty queen of Miss Gay Mandaue. The same year, it was the first year of Queen of Cebu, the batch of Rain Marie Madrigal, I joined. I was so young and I unfortunately didn’t make it. So I went back to school. In 2013, I went back to joining beauty pageants and competed in national contests in Manila. I went to join Bb. Gay Pilipinas. I screened to represent Cebu City. There were four of us from Cebu and I was the one chosen to represent the city, one got to represent Mandaue, the other Consolacion. We went against contestants from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. I won the title Bb. Gay Pilipinas Universe. In 2014, I joined Eat Bulaga’s Super Sireyna, made it to the grand finals and got the title Queen of Festivals. Now, Queen Philippines International.
What’s next for you?
This will not be my last pageant of course! There is still the Miss International Queen, representing our country in an international pageant. But I have to take a break first because Mother Cary (Santiago) said that I have to ensure that I have to uphold my responsibilities to the Queen Philippines organization.
What is your planned charity for your reign?
I have been very involved with the youth being an SK Councilor. In college, I was a student councilor. Most of my charities focus on children and leadership trainings for the youth. I will also continue the charities of the Queen organization—the elderly in Talisay City and the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children.
And of course, to support the Coalition for the Liberation of the Reassigned Sex (COLORS), the LGBT organization that is very active in Cebu.
What made you join beauty pageants in the first place?
It’s a passion! When I was four years old, I wanted to go up the stage and be a beauty queen. Of course, I just don’t want to be a pretty face. I want to be substantial. People say that if you have a title, you’re a beauty queen. No! Being a beauty queen is not just about the crown. What makes one a queen is what she does during and after her reign. That determines if you are truly a queen —or not. If you have followers, that is a good sign because it tells you that you are substantial, that you are someone who inspires people.
Maria Paula Vega (CDN PHOTO/ EDD BUENAVIAJE)
How did you feel when you didn’t get the Queen Universe title?
Sad, of course! I’m sad because that was what I was aiming for but it wasn’t given to me. But I am very happy because this is my comeback and I got to bag a crown.
At the end of the day, it’s not a leveling of whether you’re Universe or International. What matters is what we do and what we achieved by the time we turn over our crowns.
I am not against any of the other queens. I am not comparing myself to them, but I am comparing myself to myself, what I have done before and what I can do and will do now.
That’s a lot of pressure.
True! It was a good thing that Miss Cebu City was not given to me. During pageants, when it’s Maria Paula Vega, the word Cebuana is always attached. In Manila, my introduction will always be with a “From the Queen City of the South.” I would have doubled the pressure! But I also had to give my all because I was not just fighting for Negros Occidental but also for all of those who believed in me.
I will not be here if it wasn’t for them. But I also faced a lot of pressure because I never really planned to join this year. I was just there at the screening with Ate Trixie Maristela, the 2014 Super Sireyna winner. We just went to E-Mall to watch the screening. I prettied up a bit because we just got back from GMA 7 and I was with another beauty queen. When the judges saw us, especially Bee, they asked what I was doing here. I said, “Sister! Am I not invited being a former queen candidate?” Bee replied asking me why I’m here at the spectators’ area and not at the contestants’ area. She said that Cebu is waiting. People were shouting my name at that time! I was really pressured! I wasn’t really ready to screen but I went through the process.
Why Negros Occidental?
They chose it for us. I am originally from Dumaguete, but that is in Negros Oriental. The great thing about representing Negros Occidental is having the Masskara Festival to use for the theme.
What is the story behind your name?
I changed my last name from Espina to Vega, from the gay expression “Vegah ra!” So I used it and it felt perfect! My real name is Jose Paulo, which is why it is Maria Paula. Mother Cary (Santiago) was shocked why I didn’t use Espina, which also has a beauty queen ring to it. But I wanted to keep using Vega, since it is the last name of two previous Miss Universe winners—Paulina Vega of Columbia in 2014 and Amelia Vega of Dominican Republic in 2003. I’m proud to use Espina, however, I have already established myself and more known as Maria Paula Vega.
At what point did you discover that you were not who you were born biologically?
I don’t know if I would call it discovery. When I was a child, I didn’t tell myself that I am gay. I was just really like this. It was only later on that labels were used. I didn’t have the typical stage of hiding in the closet. Whatever and however I felt when I was a kid, like wearing a dress or having make up on, that was it. I didn’t know that there was such a thing as straight or gay. I felt that I was a girl and that’s how I lived like growing up.
How did they deal with it?
Acceptance was there already. I didn’t go through the coming-out-of-the-closet discussion. It was a direct acceptance. They did not treat me as a son or daughter.
They treated me as a child, no gender-based treatments.
Are you an only child?
No. I am a middle child. Among six siblings, I’m third. I’m the second biological boy.
How supportive has your family been in your pageant endeavors?
Very supportive. They are there when I have pageants. But when I was in Manila and they couldn’t go, my relatives would go on their behalf. They would often call or text, asking how I am doing. When in Cebu, they really support. They were very happy when I won Queen. My parents were in Hong Kong at that time, but my siblings were there.
Maria Paula Vega
Growing up, did your older brother protect you from people who’d bully or discriminate on you?
Yes! My brother and I had the same grade level because I didn’t go through Kinder 2. We were classmates. When my other classmates would bully me, he would come in and people were scared of him in our school. Some people dared to bully me but never infront of my brother. He doesn’t like hearing people call me names and humiliate me. But I’m also not a person that would run to him and tell him about it, I also know how to fight back! If I hear humilitating or discrminating words, I just ignore them. But it was not something I went through a lot…
I also had a lot of my classmates’ respect because I don’t bully other people. How you treat people will be how people will treat you. If you present yourself in such a way that people will laugh at you, people will really laugh at you. If you are decent and you respect yourself and other people, you’ll be accorded the same respect.
How far have you gone and will go with plastic surgery?
I’m already done with my face, but not yet with my body. I just had my nose done. But if there is something wrong with my face, we can have a procedure done. I’m open to it. This year, I’m planning to have breI did say during the Queen Philippines Q&A where Vicki Belo applauded my answer, “It takes a machine to look more natural.” I emphasized that during the screening, my waistline was 30 inches because I had no plans to screen! I was very happy because two weeks before the coronation night, my waistline became 25 inches thanks to diet and science. It does take a machine to look more natural. Look at me now, very proud. Utimately, your real beauty is based not on what you look outside but what you feel inside. If you have the confidence and you present yourself well in public, then you will look more beautiful to them.
If you are embarrassed with yourself and look sad infront of other people, then people will also see you in that way.
What is your stand on sexual reassignment?
If it’s a sense of fulfillment for you to become a real woman, why not? I am for the happiness of the people. For me, as of now, not yet. I’m not ready.
How is your love life?
Very fruitful! Five years and counting! We just had our anniversary. We met in Boracay. He knows me because he is also from Cebu. He didn’t have a very good first impression of me because he said that I was being bitchy. But he still said hi to me because I am also from Cebu. It started from there and the rest is history.
After all the pageants, how do you want to be remembered?
It doesn’t stop there. The crown is passed, but the title stays with you! I went through a lot. When I won Bb. Gay Philippines, I was supposed to join Miss International Queen.
I was already in but the entry was pulled out because there was a conflict due to “Super Sireyna.” So if I’ll be joining Miss International Queen, it would be my second time. I am also a repeater for Queen Philippines. From that, I want to be remembered as someone who believes in the possibility of good things. There’s a rainbow after the rain!
Locale:
Quest Hotel & Conference Center-Cebu
Make-up:
Tyra Soberano
Hair:
Fria Soberano
Styling:
Aira Ambrosio
Accessories:
Elegancia by Poi Subijano
Crown and shoes:
Mark Anthony Tenchavez of Shandar