The grand coronation night of Binibining Pilipinas 2014 was over and it was Mary Jean Lastimosa who grabbed most coveted title of Miss Universe Philippines. For the complete list of winners, CLICK HERE.
The 26-year-old North Cotabato native Mary Jean Lastimosa is an entrepreneur. A personal advocate of staying fit, she successfully established her own slimming center in Davao. On her free time, she loves working out at the gym, travelling, modelling, dancing and surfing social media websites.
Growing up in a war-torn province, she developed values of determination and courageousness, and this is something she brought to her personal life, her career and her journey to the Binibining Pilipinas crown.
Binibining Pilipinas’ Maricar Balagtas is her inspiration for joining the pageant again because she joined three times before winning. For MJ, it was "third time's a charm," finally clinching the top crown after three tries. She was 2nd runner up in 2011 and part of the semifinalists in 2012.
MJ must be in cloud nine right now but sooner, she will have to carry the pressure brought about by the Philippines' four consecutive top 5 appearances in the Miss Universe pageant. Will she finally get the crown which has been elusive to a Filipina for the last 40 years?
Congratulations MJ! The Filipino people is behind you in your journey to the country's third Miss Universe crown.