IN A few more weeks, Misamis Oriental will officially begin the celebration of the 7th Kuyamis Festival in January next year, especially since the lineup for the festival’s beauty pageant has already been introduced to the public.

However, apart from the highly anticipated Miss Kuyamis 2020, there’s one more pageant that will surely catch the Misamisnons’ attention.

In the coming Kuyamis Festival, the Provincial Government is opening its doors to members of the gay community to join the Miss Gay competition: Queen of Misamis Oriental 2020.

According to Provincial Tourism Department head Jeffrey Saclot, interested participant should be at least 18 to 30 years old (must present their birth certificate during rhe orientation); member of the gay community (including transgender/transsexual); endorsed by the mayor/tourism officer of the municipality/city they represent (only one representative per municipality/city); should be at least 5’4” in height; single; and knowledgeable about the tourism attractions and interests of the municipality/city they represent.

The candidates are judged during the preliminary and final rounds of the competition.

In the preliminary round, the candidates will have to go through four areas of competition, namely: the Closed-door Panel Interview, Kuyamis-inspired Streetwear, Swimsuit, and Evening Gown competitions.

The candidates who will garner the five highest average scores, according to Saclot, will advance to the final round.

In the final round, each of the five finalists will answer only one common question.

The person who will be crowned as the Queen of Misamis Oriental will receive a uniquely-designed crown, cash prize worth P30,000, and will have the opportunity to compete in the Queen Philippines 2021 pageant representing Misamis Oriental.

The first runner-up will receive P25,000; second runner-up, P20,000; third runner- up, P15,000; and fourth runner-up, P15,000.

There are also special awards such as Best in Kuyamis Streetwear, Best in Swimsuit, Best in Gown, Best in Panel Interview, Best in Producrion, Miss Photogenic, and Miss Congeniality, which will be given to selected candidates.

The screening/orientation for interested candidates for Queen of Misamis Oriental 2020 is set on December 30 at the Provincial Tourism Office in the Capitol grounds.

The week-long celebration of Misamis Oriental’s Kuyamis Festival is slated on January 6 to 11, 2020.