Super Sireyna: More heart than beauty

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 In 1995, the longest-running variety show “Eat Bulaga” launched the first gay beauty pageant on TV: “Super Sireyna.”  The show was a breakthrough, allowing gay Filipinos to flaunt their exceptional beauty, talent, and wit.
Nineteen years later, “Super Sireyna” once again etched a mark on Philippine TV history. Last Saturday, July 19, what began as a simple celebrity look-alike contest leveled up as an international beauty pageant.
Exceptional individuals were called upon to represent their country; those who have once proven themselves in different competitions were invited to submit their application and portfolio. From their distinct personalities and backgrounds, “Eat Bulaga” chose the eight sireynas to vie for the title “Super Sireyna Worldwide.”
It was not an ordinary beauty pageant.
The sireynas and their stories
These sireynas are no pageant neophytes. Most of them represented their country in Miss International Queen, a transgender beauty contest held in Thailand.  But for Miss Venezuela Isabela Santiago, this was her first time to represent her country in an international pageant.
“It is my first time to represent my country in an international pageant like this.  Before, I won Miss Venezuela 2010 and now, I’m hoping to take home the title Super Sireyna Worldwide,” she said.
Back in their hometowns, some of these sireynas established themselves as theater performers, like Miss India Laeticia Patel, Miss Germany Jessica Spirit, and Miss Nigeria Miss Sahhara.
As she sashayed her way to the final round, Miss Nigeria left a message of encouragement to young transgender people to empower themselves through education.
“Dream big without fear, because dreams do come true. I know this because mine has come true,” Miss Nigeria said. She also revealed that being gay in Nigeria is against the law, so she didn’t have the freedom to be herself.
“I wasn’t allowed to be the woman that I am now. The  LGBT community is criminalized, so I had to move somewhere to a country where I can be accepted,” she said.
Family support
Miss Philippines Trixie Maristela considers her mother as her strength, although she revealed that when she was growing up, her mother did not accept her sexuality.
“Sa totoo lang, ang mga taong hindi nakakatanggap sa mga transgender ay may pagkukulang. Pagkukulang sa pag-iintindi. May kasabihan sila na you fear something because you do not understand it,” Miss Philippines said.
For Miss India, coming out wasn’t so difficult because her family has been very supportive.
“I grew up in England with my grandma, and my entire family has been very supportive from the beginning. I’m spoiled,” she said.
Sireynas reveal their hearts
The battle for the crown heated up during the Q & A portion. Pitting their wits against the judges’ questions, the sireynas proved that they have brains as well as beauty.
Asked by the judge what makes her happy, Miss Ecuador Susi Villa pointed out the simple things in life: “Family makes me happy. People and friends make me happy. A walk in nature makes me happy. People take it for granted but small things make me happy.”
For Miss India, being her real self is one thing that makes her proud. “Even though I had to go through becoming a sireyna, I’m still the same person. I don't have to pretend to be something better than I am. I am me, so I want everybody to keep it real with me. It makes life so much easier.”
Miss Philippines conveyed her generosity when asked by Margie Moran: “If I gave you $10 million now, how would you spend it?”
“Half of it, I’d be very practical. I have to save it. Then half of it would be invested into a micro-financing business because I want to give the small entrepreneurs a chance to put up their own business and to make their lives better. These small entrepreneurs find it hard to have access to get loans from the bank and I want them to start their business. I want them to improve their lives and in that way, my winning would have a purpose,” Miss Philippines said.
When asked about the proudest moment of her life, Miss Nigeria shared how she dreamed of becoming a beauty queen.  “The proudest moment of my life is being on this stage right now. When I was growing up, I had this dream of becoming a queen on stage and performing.  But I couldn’t because I was born male. I used to wear my mom’s high heels and pretend in front of the mirror that I’m a contestant.  So being here today and having these opportunities as a glamorous woman is a dream come true.”
Indeed, Miss Nigeria’s dream came true—she was crowned the first Super Sireyna Worldwide 2014. -Elsed Togonon/BM, GMA News