Inside the Philippines' high-stakes beauty pageant boot camps

In a country where such pageants are a ticket to a better life, the multimillion-peso cultural and social phenomenon is followed with the fervor of a national sport.

- Mara Cepeda

MANILA - They looked like they belonged in a fairytale — eight young women in shimmery gowns, each a picture of poise and grace under the glare of studio spotlights in the Philippine capital.

Before them sat a panel of 10 judges, eagle eyes trained on every detail: a misstep, an uneven hemline, a strand of hair out of place.

A judge sitting in the front row leaned forward and raised an eyebrow.

"Your undergarments were showing beneath the gown. And that high slit? It was a bit too much," she critiqued three contestants. "You have to be careful these days. Online trolls don't miss a thing."

The girls nodded, lips pursed ever so slightly, but kept their shoulders squared and chins lifted.

This was no coronation night—just a mock pageant run by the country's most storied beauty camp, Aces and Queens.

In two weeks, these same women will be stepping onto the Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) stage on June 15, vying for the chance to represent the country at the Miss Globe international pageant in October 2025 and Miss International in 2026.

But first, the contestants had to face the mock question-and-answer round.

Mr. Gerry Diaz, 69, head of Aces and Queens and one of the country's most sought-after pageant trainers, turned to a girl in a glittering gold gown. She was a last-minute entry to Binibining Pilipinas, offered a slot only after another candidate backed out.

"What did you learn from being rejected the first time?" he asked.

The girl smiled, started to answer, then hesitated. "I felt hopeless but then I learned I was given a second chance..." she said softly. Her eyes welled up. Her voice cracked. She tried again, but no words came, though she smiled throughout the taut silence.

"You have to fight," Mr. Diaz said, his voice calm but firm. "You have to give an answer onstage. Don't just be silent. Use your voice."

NO PLACE FOR SHY DAMSELS