A week after winning the Miss Supranational Philippines crown, Pauline Amelinckx made time to promote body positivity as part of the “B.R.A.V.E. Beauty,” a benefit talk and fashion show last May 21 at Draper StartUp House in Makati.
Looking resplendent in her white flowing gown, the beauty queen from Bohol shared how she has been bashed online and called “elephant body,” etc., even after being designated as our country’s representative to the 7th Miss Supranational to be held in Poland on July 14.
“Ever since I joined beauty pageants, I’ve experienced body shaming,” she revealed.
“Even last night I checked online. Meron pa rin. But I don’t take it as hardly as last year,” she continued. “I have a very strong mindset now about myself and I carry that …strength now wherever I go and I hope other people will also find that inner strength within themselves… To not be weighed down by other people’s opinions but love themselves through all that.”
The 27-year-old feels a kinship with others who have been shamed or bashed.
“I feel you. I hope that you know you are not alone. Know that there are so many people out there, your family, your friends who you can reach out to and see the beauty within you that you sometimes don’t see yourself. It’s gonna take time. Like it took me three years to have this kind of mindset but even now, it’s not [like I’ve] 100% overcome body shaming.
It’s really a process. Know that you are a work of art… Know that your worth doesn’t lie in other’s opinions about you.”
Pauline will be having her homecoming in Bohol this coming weekend before she starts her training next month. She is currently preparing for her requirements for the international pageant then fly to Poland to vie for the Miss Supranational crown by the end of June.
“B.R.A.V.E. (Bolder Reactions Against Violence to Empower) Beauty,” was hosted by Tere Gonzales and also featured Dr. Candy Drilon-Dalman, Carol Hamilton Malaise, Ariane Cher, and Billie Hakenson as speakers. Beauty queens, models, influencers, JCI Philippine presidents, and JCI Makati Princess Urdu members graced the runway wearing the creations of Mike Andrei and Ericka Evangelist.
