Gazini Ganados says Miss U dispute shatters queens’ dreams

“Super sad for them. Because first, I know Miss Thailand Tharina Botes. I was with her during Miss Grand All Stars. I’m just so sad that these girls are collateral damage of political differences in the organization. It just breaks my heart that their dreams are shattered on this decision, so they have no choice but to comply,” she said.

Ganados hopes the affected queens will still be given the opportunity to represent their respective countries, stressing that their aspirations should not suffer because of disagreements between organizations.

“I just wish that they will be given justice and a chance to represent their countries because that’s their only dream, and I hope that they can settle it in a private matter,” she added.

She also acknowledged that the controversy could discourage aspiring beauty queens, expressing hope that the affected delegates would find their voices amid the uncertainty.

“That alone is nakaka-discourage siya ng motivation, definitely. I just pray that they may find their voice to stand up on their own in the midst of all the chaos,” she said.

Ganados backs affected queens

Meanwhile, Ganados expressed excitement over fellow beauty queen #MichelleMarquezDee’s return to the international pageant stage as the Philippines’ representative at the second edition of #MissGrandInternationalAllStars.

Having competed in Miss Grand All Stars herself, Ganados described the experience as fun and expressed confidence that Dee would have an exciting journey, particularly with Thailand hosting the competition.

“I’m so happy that she made a decision to crossover because, to be honest, Miss Grand All Stars is so fun, and especially that it is gonna be held in Thailand. Thai fans are also loving as Filipino fans, so grabe talaga, kabang-abang,” she shared.

Dee should focus on votes

Beyond encouraging Dee to enjoy the experience, Ganados also offered advice on navigating the competition, emphasizing the importance of voting and financial preparation.

“Actually, nag-podcast kami kahapon. Ang sabi ko sa kaniya, mag-focus siya sa votings kasi it is a vote-based [competition]. No matter how strong you are, as long as you have the money, you will definitely push through to the Top 3,” she said.

The beauty queen explained that building a strong social media presence and maintaining a capable support team require financial resources, particularly in a competition where online engagement can play a significant role.

“In this economy? Yes! Definitely, you need money if you really want to produce a good foundation of social media presence, you need a good team, you need a great team to pull it off. And for you to do that, you have to have your finances, of course. Wala nang libre ngayon, definitely, and we have to compensate our team because that’s their bread and butter as well,” she explained.

Ganados’ pageant journey

Ganados won Miss Universe Philippines 2019 and finished in the Top 20 at Miss Universe 2019. She later competed in Miss Grand All Stars and has used her platform to advocate for Palestine, drawing from her Filipino-Palestinian heritage.

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