Why Herlene Budol Is a True Beauty Queen
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Herlene Budol (Source: Bb. Pilipinas Instagram)
Should she have talked about being a beauty queen in her usual fashion, in her regular programming, many of us would’ve swallowed it with laughter. However, she was a “beauconera”—a portmanteau for a regular candidate in local beauty contests-- before becoming a television icon. Her own narrative allowed us to see her differently. She came in as the unassuming girl-next-door in rom-coms, with humble beginnings, whose perseverance, genuineness, and feisty nature sharpened by a tough life would win her the leading man, a career, along with a legion of fans.
As an open book, a metaphor she uses for herself, she was able to mesmerize us just by being unashamedly legit. During the lockdown, she was one of the celebrities who openly spoke out about the scarring economic impacts of the pandemic. As a breadwinner, she opened up about her financial situation, not for pity, but for sheer humanness.
When she was a guest in Alex Gonzaga’s vlog (Gonzaga generously gave Herlene her first luxury items), Herlene remained her humble self, spilling details about her living and financial situation, not to juxtapose her background against the glitzy world and the universe of branded merchandise she was being inducted into, but because she knew that the only way to earn these is by hard work.
Herlene Nicole Budol was discovered in a segment of Willie Revillame’s Wowowin game show called Willie of Fortune. Now 23, the 5’9” chatty, funny beauty from Angono, Rizal impressed Revillame, who invited her to be a regular. Slender, she came to be known as “Hipon Girl,” a moniker she admitted had hurt her, referring to the colloquialism “hipon” (shrimp), someone with a body to flaunt but without very traditionally desirable facial features.
Herlene Budol (Source: Bb. Pilipinas Instagram)
In the recent decade, beauty pageants have been very keen on identifying participants with real-world advocacy issues besides TV appearances and ribbon cuttings. The most successful and memorable Binibinis have dedicated themselves to worthy causes.
Since her Miss International win in 2016, Kylie Verzosa’s ‘Mental Health Matters” campaign has been a fixture in the growing holistic health trend. She has taken the cause to Congress, standing beside Sen. Risa Hontiveros when the Mental Health Law was finally passed.
In the Miss Universe pageant, Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray mesmerized the world with their beautifully worded answers. Pia’s HIV prevention campaign and Catriona’s anti-poverty cause are classic issues that have been embraced by the likes of the late Princess Diana.
Then comes Herlene Budol. She may not have Kylie’s charm, Pia’s energy, and Catriona’s eloquence, but that’s the whole point of Herlene’s legacy: to be unprecedentedly authentic. She isn’t the second coming of anybody. It’s exciting to see a girl from the slums, whom Catriona envisioned in her Miss Universe Q&A response, the girl with dreams, who’s finally in the Q&A herself.
She’s the girl with dreams to win, with being a breadwinner for her family her own big advocacy. She’s the proud girl from the slums who had already inspired people via a noontime show, even before she applied to be a Binibini.
Herlene Budol (Source: Bb. Pilipinas Instagram)
For pageant viewers, however, some stereotypes are too strong to outgrow. When Herlene answered in Filipino in the Q&A portion (a suitable touch as the coronation night fell on Buwan ng (mga) Wika,) she was ridiculed and underestimated. But many others referenced what Janine Tugonon answered in her Q&A regarding language as a prerequisite to becoming an international ambassador for Miss Universe: “No matter what language you have as long as you have the heart, you can inspire other people.”
The debate on what language Filipina pageant contestants should use continues, but imagine contestants who could have gone further had we allowed them any language other than English to use, like the cheerful and statuesque Janina San Miguel, who was pitilessly shamed, despite her strong look and abilities.
The peculiar is always uncomfortable. On coronation night, social media burst with opinions. But In a world where girls are known for tsunami walks and slow-mo turns, it was amusing to see Hipon Girl in swimwear even winning most of the special awards, displacing strong competitors and pre-pageant bets.
She did not need the English language or a quotable line to talk about inspiring and empowering her generation of women to be resilient, strong, and genuine. She was a standing figure of empowerment.
Cecilio Asuncion, the director and founder of Slay Model Management, asked her, “A beauty pageant is a space for transformation. What has been your biggest character transformation since you joined and how can this make you deserving of a crown tonight?”
Herlene answered, “Para sa akin, isang karangalan na nakatungtong ako dito sa Binibining Pilipinas bilang isang binibining hindi inaasahan. Para sa akin, ang sarap pa lang mangarap. Walang imposible. Isa po akong komedyante na laki sa hirap at ang aking transpormasyon ay magbigay ng inspirasyon because I know for myself that I’m uniquely beautiful with a mission.”
(For me, it’s already an honor to be in Binibining Pilipinas even if I may be someone who is not expected to win. For me it’s just delightful to dream. Nothing’s impossible. I’m a comedian who grew up poor, and my transformation is to give inspiration, because I know for myself that I am uniquely beautiful with a mission.)
Her authentic and unapologetic self, standing there; from a comedian people did not take seriously to a queen making us question stereotypes. She was every bit the Binibini.
Herlene walked away as first runner up on coronation night. Yet, she was the biggest winner. Fans were thrilled to see her take over an international pageant when the Binibining Pilipinas organization appointed her to represent the Philippines in the Miss Planet International in Kampala, Uganda.
Herlene Budol (Source: Bb. Pilipinas Instagram)
After some logistical issues in Uganda, however, Herlene had to withdraw from the pageant, but her story is far from over. It is exciting to guess what other barriers Herlene will soon break.
If you type “Herlene Budol” on Google, you will find a Filipina in beautiful form. To borrow from the poet R. Zulueta da Costa, “strong in its own fiber.” Confident in her body, barefaced or in make-up, in mid-laughter, in tears, in posh surroundings. Every image of Herlene may look different, but every image is hers.
Ian Layugan hails from Baguio City and is currently based in Gunma Prefecture, Japan where he works with the Kiryu City Board of Education under the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. He has written for Rappler and has led research projects for Oxfam, Asmae International, and the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. Follow him on Instagram/Twitter at @ijlayugan.
