Girl with Down Syndrome is Miss Possibilities 2019
A talented 14-year-old girl with Down Syndrome is the titleholder of this year’s Miss Possibilities, a Filipino beauty pageant for young women with special needs. Organized by Miss Possibilities Foundation and SM Cares, the pageant attracted young women with special needs from different parts of the Philippines and even a province in Thailand who competed during the coronation night, held at the SMX Convention Center.
Cielo Marie Guico—the youngest of 5 siblings and dubbed as the pageant’s Miss Perfect—brought home the crown with her heartwarming talent in singing. She also impressed the audience during the Q&A portion by answering the question, “who is your favorite singer?” with “Ariana Grande” after which she sang a few lines of the pop star’s song.
The Miss Possibilities Pageant aims to celebrate beauty without limits and promote a more inclusive society. The event also gave recognition to private entities that support the differently-abled such as Accenture Philippines which encourages PWDs to practice their profession and maximize their skills by employing them; and SM Kids which featured children with special needs as models for one of its campaigns that promote inclusivity.
Aside from Guico, the other 9 participants received special awards: Ms. Charming Lis Alexandra Flores; Ms. Congeniality Tielo Princess Paller; Ms. Inspirational Vell Baria; Ms. Unstoppable Aeryk Eessabelle Perez; Ms. Spirited Benecee Pratharn; Ms. Limitless Angel Mae Sison; Ms. Fashionista Chelsea Joy Disuanco; Ms. Amazing Angela Gayle Angeles; and Ms. Photogenic Darryl Gwen Fernandez.
“Sponsorships, participation and audience attendance is so meaningful to the Miss Possibilities Foundation because that means we can continue to advocate, educate, celebrate and empower those with different needs and their families,” said Suzzana Yuzon, founder of Miss Possibilities
Another highlight of the event is the Inclusive Fashion Show with Celebrities which featured prominent media personalities that walked alongside children with special needs. Some of the celebrities present during the event were Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman and husband Marco Alcaraz, ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy, Denise Laurel, Vicky Morales, Bettina Carlos, and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo.
Founded in 2015, the beauty pageant aims to convey the message that everything is “possible” for girls, even those with special needs. This message of social inclusion is aligned with the thrust of SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., which is known for promoting a disability inclusive environment. Initiatives like Happy Walk for Down Syndrome and Angel’s Walk for Autism are some of the activities SM Cares are carrying out for the past years to push for inclusivity and diversity.
“We at SM have always believed that each one of us is endowed with unique traits and abilities. This event, which is the country’s first pageant for young women with special needs, has inspired us to do more for the community. This is aligned with SM’s goal for social inclusion,” said SM AVP for CSR Marketing Chito Bauzon.
To know more about SM Cares, you may visit https://www.facebook.com/