Former Mrs. Universe Philippines Arlene Damot's advice for married women wanting to enter pageantry

For married women and mothers who dream of joining pageants, Arlene Cris Damot believes nothing should hold them back.

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"Of course, if they want to join, they can join," said the former Mrs. Universe Philippines, who herself entered pageantry for the first time in 2023.

She shared during an interview with The STAR that her own journey in pageantry was driven by a purpose. "One thing is, of course, I want to do my advocacy, and then I want to broaden my network. And also, it's actually related to my business," she said.

Arlene, a registered nurse, has been in the healthcare industry for years. She later ventured into aesthetics and founded Royal Aesthetics Philippines clinics, which she runs with her Malaysian husband. Even with the success of their business, she continued to pursue education and went into medical school.

Meanwhile, with the Miss Universe organization now accepting married women, among other new rules, Arlene weighed in on the distinction between Miss Universe and Mrs. Universe Philippines.

"Actually, yes, may pagka-redundant," she said, believing that they should serve different purposes.