Nadia Fontana
Miss Philippines UK’s Candidate #11, Nadia Fontana, shares her experience competing in the UK’s longest-running Filipino beauty pageant.
This summer, I embarked on an extraordinary journey into uncharted territory. As an awkward flat-shoed Filipina with two left feet, I faced my fear of femininity head-on: training as candidate #11 alongside 11 remarkable girls, learning catwalks, choreography and Q&A to prepare for one unforgettable night. Our goal: to shine at Miss Philippines UK (MPUK) 2023, marking its triumphant return after a 5-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Almost a month has now passed since coronation night. It’s time to share my experience and also shed light on the stories of us 12 beautiful candidates and the 12 weeks of work that led up to this.
During this exhilarating journey, we grappled with profound questions about our cultural identity. What does it truly mean to be Filipino in the UK? Do we feel more Filipino or British? And is it essential for young Filipinos to learn their mother tongue? Mentored by accredited beauty queens and MPUK alumni, Keisha Quijano (2019 winner) and Christa Borja (2015 winner), through catwalks, duckwalks, and discovering your inner beauty – or “GGS” (gandang gandang sarili, Tagalog for “very beautiful self”).
This journey most definitely was not an easy one. Packing extra practice into every avenue of my life wherever possible – be it in my tiny London flat, the gym, the local park, or even secretly at my place of work. There were countless moments when I considered giving up. As someone with dyspraxia, a condition that affects movement and coordination, attempting to strut and dance in heels felt like an impossible feat. Every week I would look at my fellow candidates and wonder how they could seemingly take on these new challenges with such ease. I felt entirely out of my element. But as I got to know these girls more, I learned that I was not the only one filled with these feelings of self-doubt. That we are all on our own journeys of self-improvement and following our dreams. Although we are all at different points in our journeys, our paths have all crossed at this one moment in time which felt simultaneously never-ending and gone in a flash.
One thing that kept me going was reminding myself that the opportunity to represent my family’s hometown of Cagayan de Oro in London was once something I could only ever dream of. Growing up in a predominantly white area of Greater London, I was the only Filipino my classmates ever knew, so it was always at the forefront of my identity. The Philippines always felt like a place in the world that was special only to me. A country that, at the time, barely anyone seemed to know.
Through MPUK I have come to learn that the beauty of the Filipino diaspora is the fact that everyone’s relationship with the Philippines is unique. The diversity among us candidates was striking. From Mindanao to Luzon, from mestiza to morena, and spanning from ages 16 to 27, each candidate brought her own name and a story to tell, and it is now my pleasure to give their stories the recognition they deserve.
Candidate 1: Angel Rodrigo – The Multitalented Musician and Future Pilot
Angel Rodrigo (Aklan), at just 18 years old, is already an accomplished musician, songwriter, and academic achiever. Hailing from West London but with a deep connection to Aklan, she’s aced her A-Levels and is set to study psychology at Nottingham University. Angel’s passion for music shines through her songwriting and guitar-playing skills, which led her band to victory in the Future Sounds Music competition. She has also volunteered in Aklan schools, helping teach English to young Filipino children. Angel’s dream of becoming a commercial pilot reflects her dedication to promoting the Philippines as a cultural and scenic treasure.
Candidate 2: Corina Ann Asuncion – The Academic Athlete and Baker Extraordinaire
Corina (Zambales) is the youngest in this competition at just 16 years old. She is a shining example of the power of sports and education. Excelling in her GCSEs, Corina is set to pursue A-Levels in chemistry, biology, and psychology. She has honed essential life skills through sports like netball and hockey, learning about teamwork, patience, and sportsmanship. Corina’s love for baking serves as a delicious reminder of her Filipino roots (her favourites are cassava cake and chocolate crinkles!). Corina aspires to become a paediatric doctor to inspire kids to live life to the fullest as she believes children are the innovators of the future.
Candidate 3: Chanel Jimenez – The Unapologetic Tattooed Dancer
Chanel (Obando, Bulacan), the eldest at 27, is our tattooed morena queen on a mission to promote physical and mental health and the freedom to express yourself creatively. She is a professional dancer who strives to embody femininity and sensuality. With a degree in psychology and an interest in personal training, she’s determined to encourage others to embrace their bodies and be their healthiest, most authentic selves. An outspoken advocate for women of colour and the LGBTQ+ community, she firmly believes in standing up for yourself and others. Her goal is to support women’s mental health and well-being in ethnic minority communities.
Candidate 4: Angela Beatriz Obando – The Artistic Entrepreneur
Angela (Cagayan Valley), 23, is a true renaissance woman. Angela is a young entrepreneur, artist, athlete, model and dance enthusiast. Angela’s talent for sports has taken her to the National Junior indoor rowing championships, and she’s even trained with Millwall FC. Passionate about both traditional and digital art, her artwork has been featured across London with The Age Exchange charity. She currently works as a digital marketing manager and has recently set up a brand new graphic design business to support creatives and small businesses. Angela’s mission is to uplift underappreciated creatives, promote mental wellness and represent morena beauty.
Candidate 5: Shereene Santa Monica – The Crafter of Change
Shereene (Ilocos Norte), 20, has always had a deep adoration for the arts. Having studied criminology, her acrylic realism paintings are inspired by social injustice and mental health, with ambitions to have these displayed in galleries. She’s volunteered for educational programs, mentoring special needs children and advocating for environmental causes. Excelling academically, she’s studying film at Bournemouth University, where she aims to graduate at the top of her class. Shereene’s goal is to use her education to create a better future, not just for herself but for her home country, the Philippines.
Candidate 6: Maria Victoria Repollo Inglis – The Sustainability Champion
Maria Victoria (Binalonan, Pangasinan), 18, is making waves in the field of sustainability. A green queen with a degree apprenticeship in environmental science and a role as a sustainability manager, she’s passionate about promoting sustainable practices. Victoria is a newly elected board of director for Abikk Peasant Farmer’s organisation and actively participates in agro-forest projects, helping plant trees to safeguard the Sierra Madre mountains. Victoria proudly represents Binibining Pilipinas Nottingham UK 2023 and uses her platform to advocate for sustainability and raise awareness about environmental issues.
Candidate 7 : Angela Joanelle Macatangay Bagley – The Future Biomedical Scientist
Angela Joanelle (San Juan, Batangas), 17, is a determined young woman with a passion for science. Studying biology, chemistry, and maths for her A-levels, she aspires to become a biomedical scientist and contribute to the medical field. She also holds a silver in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and Biology Olympiad. Despite growing up in Surrey, Angela can speak Tagalog as her family values the importance of language and culture. Having recently undergone spinal surgery, she is motivated by her own experiences to share the message that scars aren’t something to be ashamed of, rather they are a part of our story that makes us unique and strong.
Candidate 8: Bianca De Villa – The Tenacious Dancer and Poetic President
Bianca (Villasis, Pangasinan), at just 19 years old, is a published poet, dance teacher, and tutor in maths and English. Bianca has been a natural leader throughout her life; from Girl Scout to Queen Advocate at her local barrio fiesta, to now president of the University of Kent Filipino Society. A talented dancer since early childhood, she has been awarded Squad Star at her university’s hip-hop dance squad and now is running her own dance classes. Her dedication to tutoring children of all abilities including autism and ADHD demonstrates her commitment to helping others. Bianca’s life goal is to become a psychologist as she believes that mental health is truly the biggest wealth.
Candidate 9: Caxie Tabora Dagupen – The Inspirational Igorot Queen
Caxie (La Trinidad, Benguet), 24, is a dance hobbyist, dog-lover and digital marketer. She is incredibly proud of her heritage, actively participating in the Igorot UK Organisation and using her platform to represent Igorot culture. Caxie adores Baguio for its rich history and people which is why she aims to own a travel and tourism business there to promote the beautifully unique landmarks of Benguet and its surrounding regions. There’s the hanging coffins in Sagada, Mt Pulag in Buguias and the strawberry plantation of La Trinidad, Benguet. Her goal is to promote the Philippines as one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Candidate 10: Allysa Taniajura – The Aspiring Barrister and Humanitarian
Allysa (San Pedro, Laguna), 23, is on a path to becoming a barrister with a strong focus on human rights. With an eye for aesthetics and a taste for the finest foods, she unwinds in photography, posting fashion and delicious treats on Instagram. She currently works as an events manager in central London while studying law at the University of Greenwich. She hopes to use her education, skills, and kind-hearted nature to protect people in deprived communities, particularly in her home country of the Philippines. Allysa’s ultimate goal is to work with UNICEF to bring awareness to refugees and children in need, working towards a brighter future for all.
Candidate 11: Nadia Fontana – The Artist and Educator
And there’s me, Nadia, representing Cagayan de Oro. I’m 24 and graduated from one of the UK’s top-ranked art schools, University of the Arts London. With projects exploring ADHD in girls and my Filipino heritage, I went on to assist special needs students in subjects ranging from digital arts to performing arts. All of this while working as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer in my spare time, producing album covers for musicians on Spotify. Growing up in an English-speaking household motivated me to learn Bisaya and Tagalog, with the help of ILAW Ltd, a Filipino language school. My life goal is to be a full-time artist and achieve fluency in Tagalog and Bisaya while helping international Filipinos learn more about our beautiful culture.
Candidate 12: Simonne Rothwell – The Independent Entrepreneur and Podcaster
Simonne (Cebu), 22, your last but not least candidate #12 and my dear childhood friend. With a passion for fashion and fast cars, Simonne is truly a force to be reckoned with. A triple-threat of beauty, brains and brawn. She has found success in modelling, speaking her mind as a podcast host, enriching herself through books, and building insane gains at the gym! She’s achieved remarkable success despite her hardships in leaving home early as a teenager. Her personal experiences have strengthened her faith in God and empowered her life goal to help individuals struggling with homelessness and navigating modern life.
During the fifth week of our transformative journey our mentor, Christa, shared words that most definitely ring true for all of us:
“Pageantry is more than just parading your beauty, it’s actually you blossoming into the woman that you were supposed to be.”
We are truly more than just beauty queens: we are entrepreneurs, creatives, educators, humanitarians, future doctors and lawyers. If we have made it through those 12 weeks of rigorous training, to perform catwalks, dance routines and public speech, in high heels and in front of hundreds of viewers (both in person and online) – we can most certainly accomplish anything!
I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to represent my family’s hometown of Cagayan De Oro City in the rich tapestry of London—a city where all cultures, especially our vibrant Filipino community, can flourish and thrive. I am also proud to have represented the Visayan/Cebuano dialect and to have had the chance in my Q&A to share my story on what Filipino pride means to me as a mixed Filipina having to learn Tagalog and Bisaya on my own while growing up in the UK. I may not have left this competition with a crown or sash, but I did leave with an overflowing collection of high heels, an engagement ring, and a lifelong sisterhood.
Congratulations to our official Miss Philippines UK 2023, Maria Victoria Repollo Inglis, and to our runners-up: Allysa Taniajura, Angela Joanelle Macatangay Bagley, and Angel Rodrigo.
Always and forever, Nadia Fontana, your candidate #11, from Cagayan De Oro City!
Daghang salamat and thank you.
Credit: Photos taken by James Erwin and Ezra of MPUK.
