Herlene Budol takes back announcement on quitting pageantry
It's not yet the end of the road for Herlene Budol's pageant career after all.
Less than a week after announcing that she is "signing off" from joining any more beauty pageants, Herlene took back her statement and clarified that she is just taking a break from competing for a crown.
In a lie detector test with TV hosts Kim Atienza and Susan Enriquez for a Dapat Alam Mo! episode, the actress was asked whether she's really throwing in the towel when it comes to competing in beauty pageants.
"Sasali pa ba ako o hindi? Oo ata," Herlene answered, which was backed by the lie detector machine.
Kim mentioned her viral nine-minute vlog that she uploaded on social media where she tearfully thanked her supporters and announced she was bidding farewell to her career as a beauty queen. "Nakakatatlong pageant na po ako pero hindi pa rin po puwede. Ibig sabihin, huwag na natin pong ipilit. Ibig sabihin po nun, ako po si Herlene Nicole Budol na nagsasabing, 'Sorry, Pilipinas, this is my last pageant," she said in the video. "Herlene Budol is signing off," she declared.
Setting the record straight, Herlene explained that she made the statement after she thought that she wouldn't be representing the Philippines on an international stage.
"Sinabi ko po na 'I’m signing off' kasi wala pa po akong Miss Philippines Tourism na ipagdadayo ko po. Kumbaga, wala pa pong franchise na kukuha doon sa international na paglalabanan ko. After nun, lalaban pa rin ako sa international," she explained.
Herlene was referring to how her victory as Miss Tourism Philippines at the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 was put at risk after the Hiyas ng Pilipinas organization issued a cease and desist order on all rights to their franchises, which includes Miss Tourism World Philippines. The ALV Pageant Circle, however, has clarified that Herlene will vie for a crown in a "different" international tourism pageant.
But what happens after the former Wowowin host has competed at the global tilt?
"After nun, baka magpahinga po ako at papagalingin ko na lang muna 'yung sarili ko. Mag-focus focus muna ako sa kung anong meron ako ngayon," Herlene said, adding that she is preparing for future pageants by educating herself and praying for her betterment.
She went on to highlight that she isn't joining beauty pageants to prove that she is beautiful. "Ang pagiging magandang dilag, wala pong binabaseng kahit anong crown. Para po sa'kin, kung mabuti ka namang tao atsaka magaling ka makisama, nagrereflect 'yun sa kung ano ang ginagawa mo sa ibang tao."
Herlene's first mainstream pageant was Binibining Pilipinas 2022, where she won first runner-up. In November 2022, she represented the country at the Miss Planet International in Uganda, but she pulled out from the pageant due to "uncertainties by the organizers." She joined the Miss Grand Philippines the following year and won the Miss Philippines Tourism title.