EMBODYING goddess-like poise, ethereal grace and otherworldly beauty, many a common folk would find themselves intimidated to be in the presence of a beauty queen. Most of the time, however, we forget that pageant queens are human beings, too. They are ones who work hard under unspeakable pressure without batting an eyelash and are expected to, above it all, still embody the utmost composure and poise onstage.
Having won the prestigious title of Quincentennial Miss Cebu 2022 on March 16, Gabriella Mai Carballo is the perfect example of grace and youthful elegance. The statuesque stunner is a person who shines brilliantly, inside and out. “My faith in God is such a stronghold in my life!” That was what Gabbi wanted us to know about her. It was a simple and relatable statement that humanized the beauty queen—with faith being something all human beings hold on to as they go about the daily conundrums of life.
Let’s get to know the queen behind the crown:
Education
She values learning, has concrete goals, and prioritizes her education.
Throughout her journey through pageantry, Gabbi has always prioritized her education. Currently a student at the Cebu Doctors’ University College of Medicine, she aspires to become a dermatologist. One tip she mentioned that helped her juggle her duties as a medical student with the preparations for the pageant was to plan ahead and make a checklist.
Relaxation
She knows how to kick back, relax and enjoy social media—just like the rest of us.
As a way to unwind as well as to prepare for her any future tasks, Gabbi loves journaling and meditation. She said, “It helps put me in the mood to have a good and productive day—whether it be for studying, planning projects or having meetings.”
“You’ll also find some videos of me singing on Facebook or Instagram for fun,” she confessed, adding that she grew up learning how to play different instruments and sports too—all of these factors making her a pretty well-rounded individual.
Mantras
She also has little mantras and quotes she lives by that help her brush off the dust when the going gets tough. The mantras she lives by are: a.) Small steps every day; b.) It is what it is; and c.) Just do it.
“Clearly the last one is the Nike tagline,” the beauty queen said. “But these quotes help me push through the little daily challenges of feeling tired or unmotivated, or even when things don’t go as planned. I really mentally repeat them to myself when I need a pick-me-up.”
Music
She loves music—and some good old Cebuano, homegrown music at that! Gabbi said that the “Simply Cebuana” jingle always gave her L.S.S.—Last Song Syndrome. She said, “That’ll forever be a reminder of my Miss Cebu experience.”
“I also have a playlist of homegrown Cebu music by artists like the Wonggoys, Intertwined, Vincent Eco and Lourdes,” she said.
Fun
She has a power color, spirit animal and role model.
“My power color would be any shade of blue, as it’s usually associated with masculinity but can be worn by a female and still look good. My spirit animal would be a tiger because they’re majestic yet graceful,” Referring to her role model, she then added, “My role model is Rep. Yedda Kittilstvedt-Romualdez. (To me) she’s a symbol of a beautiful empowered Cebuana.”
About the pageant
How did you prepare for the
pageant?
“I had to look back at my performance during Miss Mandaue 2018 and become aware of my weaknesses, which I personally felt were my walk and poses, as well as giving more concise and short answers during Q&A.“
What challenges did you face along the way?
“I struggled with burnout more than once throughout the journey. Balancing med school and a pageant is no joke, and it felt at times that my mind was always on overdrive as after a long day of activities, I’d have to come home and study for two, three hours. Truth be told, there were times I’d just have to cry to let it out! I’m really lucky to have a very supportive group of friends especially in med school, and they consistently uplifted me.”
What was the most nerve- wracking moment or challenge that night and how did you cope?
“Q&A for sure! The setup was different than most pageants, where we each had a different final question, and could hear the answers of the others. So I was standing up there tackling both my nerves about what question I was going to pull and trying to stop my brain from focusing on being better than those who answered before me. I can honestly say that I’m not sure how my answer came out that smoothly.”
How did you feel the moment you heard them call your name as the winner?
“My goodness, I was nervous! For some reason whenever I join a pageant I’m always up against some of the smartest and most beautiful girls! Although I was confident with the answer I delivered, I didn’t get a major award from the pageant night itself (Best in Evening Gown or Best in Modern Kimona), so I knew that it was anyone’s game. When I heard them call my name, I couldn’t help but cry a little bit. Lord knows how much I went through for the last six months and it felt liberating to be rewarded for all of my hard work.”
How did you get into pageantry?
“It actually started when my classmates in nursing school nominated me to be their class muse for Miss Nursing! After winning Miss Valentine 2017 in Nursing, I bumped into the late Jonas Borces and he looked at me for quite some time before coming up to me and asking for my number, saying that I had a future in pageantry. I started working with him when I decided to join Miss Mandaue 2018.”
Did your aunt, Miss Cebu Tourism 1991 Vita Grace “Golda” Ceniza-Villanueva, give you any tips or words of inspiration?
“She told me to be more expressive with my eyes on stage! I tend to have ‘sleepy eyes,’ so I tried to make sure to keep that in mind.”
So, what’s next for Miss Cebu?
“I plan on planning and implementing various projects with the Miss Cebu Charities organization and JCI Zugbuana throughout my reign, and of course fulfill my various duties. I (also) hope to graduate by 2024 from medical school. In terms of pageants, I’m not sure yet if I’ll join nationals, but I’m not closing any doors!”