Steffi Aberasturi and Emma Tiglao bid goodbye to pageantry
Two Filipina beauty queens are ending their pageantry journey.
Miss Universe Philippines 2021 2nd runner-up Steffi Aberasturi and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019 Emma Tiglao announced that they will no longer be joining pageants.
On her Facebook page last Feb. 22, Aberasturi broke the news to her fans, saying that the reason why she's not joining this year's MUPH pageant is because of the "immense love and support by a community of dreamers."
"I’ve come to realize that the honor to inspire, uplift, and touch people’s lives has been what I’ve been searching for all along. That alone is beyond the universe," she wrote. "I will forever be grateful to all of you who dreamed with me and believed that the universe is just a Steff away."
"Every end is a new beginning. As I close this chapter, looking forward to the bright unknown ahead, I am following my true desires with new goals and priorities. My heart has been telling me that I have the power to decide how this story will end. With this, I will boldly declare that this is not the one last Steff. Be it on top of a bridge, runway, on stage, or a church aisle, this will not be the final Steff either," the Cebuana beauty added.
A basic rule for pageants is that the contestants should have never been married. Aberasturi is also set to marry her longtime boyfriend Karl Arcenas, who proposed to the Cebuana last Jan. 23 during his birthday celebration.
"I am truly blessed to have him in my life and now, finally, we are engaged. Na tinuod na gyud and #Karffiforever #Karffineverdies," she wrote in a post.
Aberasturi was given the moniker “undefeated beauty queen” by her fans. In the past, she won the titles Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, Miss Campus Femme 2012, Miss IPI 2012, Miss Mandaue 2013, Reyna ng Aliwan 2014, Miss Beauche International 2015, and Binibining Cebu 2018.
Meanwhile, Tiglao wants to pursue a career as a TV anchor and a morning show host.
She revealed that she already trained for the pageant last year and "was prepared," but realized that something else was for her.
"Gusto ko pa rin sana na lumaban before my age reaches the finish line. Sa totoo lang nag-training na ako last year. I was prepared. But God has already opened doors for me to take a different path. And I am hopeful that you will remain my constant source of encouragement and support as I embark on this new journey. Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat," she said.
Tiglao represented the Philippines at the Miss Intercontinental 2019 pageant and finished as a Top 20 semifinalist.
She also competed in Mutya ng Pilipinas in 2012, Binibining Pilipinas 2014, Miss World Philippines 2015, and Binibining Bilipinas 2019.
Currently, Tiglao is a host of Kada Umaga and Mata ng Agila by Net 25.
Best wishes and good luck, ladies!