It has been almost a decade since Filipino-Arab beauty queen Mary Jean Lastimosa stepped onto the Miss Universe stage, but memories of her arduous journey still linger.
“If you ask me if I'm willing to do it all over again, I'll probably say no,” she tells The National from a hotel room in Ilocos Norte, northern Philippines, where she is judging a local beauty pageant.
Unlike many young girls in the beauty pageant-loving South-East Asian nation, Lastimosa, now 35, never really dreamt of becoming a beauty queen. She only joined a university-wide beauty contest in 2006 as an extracurricular for her grades.
“I wasn't the young girl who believed she was pretty. I didn't imagine being on television,” says Lastimosa, who was born to a Saudi father and Filipina mother. “I never once looked in the mirror and thought that I will ever become a Miss Philippines.”
But her university stint paved the way to pursue pageantry further, and Lastimosa eventually flew to the US for the 2014 edition of Miss Universe, where she made it to the top 10.
Training fit for a queen
How did someone like Lastimosa, who grew up in a modest household in a landlocked province in southern Philippines, conquer a national stage and represent her country in one of the biggest pageants in the world?
The answer is the country's so-called beauty pageant boot camps.
Lastimosa is one of many beauty queens who've been put through an all-encompassing training school where pageant hopefuls are moulded. There, they are taught everything from posture to public speaking.
Another crucial aspect of pageant preparation is the "passarella" training, where girls are taught how to walk gracefully in high heels.
Often, beauty queens develop a "signature walk" that they use to leave a mark in competitions. Miss Universe 2018 winner Catriona Gray's passarella was called the “lava walk”, which involved slowly gliding and flowing through a runway, finished off with a slow-motion turn.
These gruelling boot camps run six days a week and sessions often finish at midnight.
One prominent camp is Kagandahang Flores, which has been training pageant hopefuls since 1996.
“My love for pageants started when I watched the first Miss Universe held in the Philippines in 1974. I was just seven years old,” founder and head trainer Rodgil Flores tells The National. “It was like fairy-tale characters were coming to life.”
In 1994, when Miss Universe was held again in the Philippines, it refuelled Flores's passion for pageantry. Two years later, he trained his first protege for a national competition.
Since then, Kagandahang Flores has been producing Filipina beauty queens for national and international pageants, including Lastimosa. Flores has also trained former Miss Universe Philippines contestants Rachel Peters (2017) and Gazini Ganados (2019) as well as Miss Earth winners Angelia Ong (2015) and Karen Ibasco (2017), among others.
Flores, 55, who runs the camp with his cousin, Gio Flores, a make-up artist, says he has lost count of all the girls he has trained over the years, but estimates it to be about 200 a year. When his studio started, he would scout for girls across the Philippines at local pageants. But as his popularity grew, he became inundated with requests for mentorship.
He trains them for free, funding boot camps through donations and the occasional sponsor.
This year, Kagandahang Flores is training 23 out of 40 candidates for Binibing Pilipinas, the national pageant that determines the Philippine representative at Miss International. Until 2019, the pageant also sent representatives to Miss Universe, but the rights was acquired by another organisation in 2020, who named the pageant Miss Universe Philippines.
Flores says girls train up to six months before a national competition, and an additional two to three months when selected for an international pageant.
“There are lots of sacrifices from contestants and from us, volunteers, who are passionate about helping these girls,” he says.
His work also caught the attention of pageants outside the Philippines. In 2015, Flores was tapped by Miss Universe Indonesia Anindya Kusuma Putri for training. He also trained Miss International Indonesia Kevin Lilliana Junaedy in 2017, who eventually won the global crown, as well as Miss Earth 2018 winner Nguyen Phuong Khanh from Vietnam. He has also trained beauty queens from Puerto Rico and the US.
Last year, Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 Evlin Khalifa flew to the Philippines to train ahead of the global pageant in January.
Khalifa, who had an all-Filipino team for her Miss Universe stint, spent two weeks in the country where she was trained by some of the best in the industry.
Josh Yugen, owner of Yugen Group, which owns the Miss Universe Bahrain and Miss Universe Pakistan franchises, calls beauty pageants a "national sport" in the Philippines.
“We have the three Bs: basketball, boxing and beauty pageants,” he tells The National.
Yugen, whose company is headquartered in Dubai, says he takes pride in pioneering the Gulf's participation in the international pageantry scene.
“Beauty pageants have evolved since they launched more than 70 years ago. A pageant has gone through several changes, from fashion perspective to culture and society,” he says.
“The landscape of our times has changed dramatically. Now you can see a beauty pageant not just as a plain bikini contest. It has changed to become a platform for young women to speak about their advocacies, tell their stories and inspire other women who may not have the same privilege,” he adds.
“Miss Universe, for example, champions diversity in women, celebrating their differences and acknowledging that perfection in women does not exist.”
Last year, the Miss Universe Organisation made the historic decision to no longer limit the contest to single women and, for the first time in 71 years, applicants can be single, married, divorced or mothers.
The organisation, which was recently acquired by Thai millionaire Anne Jakrajutatip, said it was a move to evolve with the times.
Miss Universe alumna Lastimosa, who has crossed over to hosting and acting, says beauty pageants will continue to be popular, especially in countries such as the Philippines.
“Whenever my European friends ask me why beauty pageants are still so popular in the Philippines, I tell them it's because Filipinos are constantly looking for inspiration,” she says.
Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures from Miss Universe 2022
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
TEST SQUADS
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
THREE
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The bio
Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades
Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus
Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga
Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MORE ON IRAN'S PROXY WARS
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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