Beauty For A Cause: Miss Earth 2017, Karen Ibasco

On November 3rd, Karen Ibasco, Miss Earth 2017, will crown her successor. Despite her success - she is humble, kind, light-hearted... and she still loves watching cartoons. Yes, fascinating! She's one of us, isn’t she? When it comes to fame, she says, "I am not the type who runs after fame. I know if you act on what you are called for, people will start noticing your heart and sincerity for what you do." 

Karen loves travelling and seeing the beauty of nature around her; experiencing a variety of cultures, food, and lifestyle. She believes that a woman who loves to travel is one of the qualities of every Miss Earth winner. Outside the glamorous life of pageantry, she is a health enthusiast. "I'm the kind of person that doesn't need to be dragged into the gym just to workout. Exercising is a part of my lifestyle." She further added, "I am also an art enthusiast. Few people know that I was supposed to take up fine arts in college, but even though I didn’t pursue that career, I still have that passion in me and pursue different short courses in art and design.” 

As Miss Earth 2017

Karen got involved in pageants because she envisioned pageantry as a platform and an avenue of disseminating a worthy message to capture the attention of the people around her. When it comes to her mission as Miss Earth 2017, "In connection to how I got involved in the world of pageantry, it's using my profession to be a credible advocate of sharing an environmental message to all people as I maximize my platform of being Miss Earth."

On Environmental Issues: Technology and Developments vs. Environmental Protection and Awareness

PageantLIVE (PL): Social media especially Instagram is very influential to millennials and Gen Z, how do you incorporate the Miss Earth advocacy through them, so they would have a better understanding as to why we need to "Act Now" when it comes to having a sustainable future?

Karen Ibasco (KI): Social media is one of the most essential tools of this generation and a lot of people including me are more inclined to using Instagram since I can post a caption with an inspiring photo of how a small environmental act goes a long way. I believe it's being creative on how you will make it interesting for the millennials, how spreading more awareness is important in doable ways, and how they can act on it by posting photos and videos. I personally do it, and on Miss Earth activities I am involved in and also sharing environmental groups and movements they can join in. 

PL: There is an alarming increase of developers who are eyeing on building infrastructures, such as housing and industrial developments in wildlife areas, just because it sounds like an "exotic place," how are we able to press the issue that the ecological effect of these virgin forests is crucial to wildlife survival? It's negative impact on mankind's health survival?

KI: It's very essential that people understand the balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability. I understand that the developers want to grow their businesses, but it should not compromise the ecological balance. There are things meant to go about the way it was originally created. It's not a wrong vision of wanting people to experience nature but risking the preservation of that place is non-negotiable. 

Honestly speaking, people are undisciplined that cause all the damages. These wildlife areas are where biodiversity can be found which is essential to the ecological balance. They are also crucial for the wildlife and for humanity’s quality of life and survival. Trees have vital roles in the ecosystem. They act as a carbon sink, source of food, habitat of animals, etc. What will the future be if trees can no longer be found and are replaced by infrastructure everywhere? Climate change will surely worsen in ways unimaginable that are a threat not just to properties, agriculture but to our own lives as well.

Defining Beauty and Women Empowerment

"For me, beauty is not just about the beautiful facade that people see or the unfading beauty of the inside, it's about the balance of both and having a sincere heart for what you do that radiates and resulting to empowering and inspiring not just yourself but also the people around you."

"Women empowerment is seeing a woman with a distinct role in the community that can't be lived without."

To end the interview, we asked Karen for something she can’t live without? She genuinely answered, "I can't live without having my devotion or quiet time with the Lord every morning. It is what equips me every day as I take time to read God's Word."

Karen Ibasco is a perfect definition of beauty, earth goddess and an eco-warrior with a pure heart. She is Miss Earth 2017.

By: Joyce Cortez

PageantLIVE and Ask The Crown Exclusives. PageantLIVE is known for exclusive interviews, and we pride to have and maintains on publishing our original contents. 

**Disclaimer: Cover photo from www.girlontv.com. Karen planting mangrove from Twitter. Karen in the green evening dress from Facebook.

A Force To Be Reckoned With: Q&A With Andreia Gibau Miss Earth United States 2017 By Natalie McGovern

Andreia Gibau of Massachusetts took the Miss Earth United States 2017 title on August 6th in Washington D.C., becoming the first African American woman to nab the title. Congratulations Andreia!

Natalie (N): You just got back from Chicago recently to meet with your official dress designer Mac Duggal for Miss Earth, what was that process like?

Andreia (A): I had such a wonderful experience at the Mac Duggal headquarters in Chicago. I got to work with Antoinette, Mac Duggal himself, and his daughter Ieena Duggal. They had picked out a ton of options of wardrobe for me to try on and choose the ones I wanted to bring with me to the Philippines. I will be fully prepared for every occasion at Miss Earth, thanks to Mac Duggal. 

N: When do you leave for the Philippines and how long is the competition?

A: I leave for Manila, Philipines on October 6th, 2017 and the competition is 4 weeks long with finals taking place on November 4th. 

N: What are you doing to prepare?

A: I am doing a lot of media preparation with Candiace Dillard of Candiace Dillard Pageant Consulting. I am also keeping up my healthy eating habits while working out 5-7 days a week. It is also a lot of mental preparation since I will be living in an entirely different country for 4 weeks. I’m getting to know myself more and learning even more about our environment and ways to combat climate change. I am also getting all my wardrobe together and designing my national and heroine costume with Pixton Design Group. I am really excited to have the best team - making sure I am ready to take home the crown.

N: You are the first African American woman to be crowned Miss Earth United States. What is your heritage and what has that experience been like?

A: I am incredibly honored to be the first black Miss Earth United States. I am full Cape Verdean, a group of 10 islands on the west coast of Africa and I also speak Portuguese, Spanish, and Cape Verdean creole. The experience has been so incredible, not will I be representing the USA but I will also be representing Cape Verdeans from around the world on an international stage.

N: What do you plan on doing with your title during your year of service?

A: My advocacy is “Think Global, Act Local” to encourage people to live in a way that does less harm to the environment around them. Educating and encouraging people to make the 5 R’s reduce, reuse, rethink, recycle, and respect as part of their lifestyle. I will be getting my hands dirty by planting trees and picking up trash. Education is really important to me so I will be going on my “Love Our Earth” school tour educating kids on climate change and what they can do to help. I want to create a world where our environment no longer needs protecting so I will support legislations that combat climate change and soak up as much information on more ways we as individuals can help.

N: What is a typical day in the life of Miss Earth United States like?

A: Days that I do not have an appearance I typically wake up at 6 or 7am and go straight to the gym. I have a to-do list for the day, and since I am less than 1 month away from leaving to the Philippines I spend the majority of my day in preparation mode. Throughout the day I am very aware of what I can do to reduce my carbon footprint and minimize my waste. I also log into my social media to interact with my fans throughout the day and answer messages.

N: Do you work or go to school?

A: I just graduated my B.S. in Public Relations. I work as a model full time and I run self-development workshops for kids on the weekends when my schedule permits. I've been signed with NY MMG for the past few months and I am also a Jovani Inhouse model.

N: If you don't take the Miss Earth title, what are your hopes? You could quite possibly make history again if you placed as an Elemental queen by being the first African American and Cape Verdean titleholder to hold those titles? ;)

A: If it's not the Miss Earth title I would still be more than happy to hold an elemental title. At the end of the day, I know that I would come back and there's still a job to be done in my home country. This title and job are a lot bigger than myself and I'll be serving my country no matter what.

N: Any foods or anything about the Filipino culture you are looking forward to trying? 

A: I'm really big on fully experiencing someone else's culture. My entire life I have been around diversity and especially now living in NYC. I want to try balut, which is a popular Filipino delicacy. There's a restaurant in New York that has it on the menu but I'm waiting until I get to the Philippines!
Balut is a developing bird embryo (usually a duck) that is boiled and eaten from the shell. It originates and is commonly sold as street-food in the Philippines and it is extremely popular.

N: Do you think pageantry has become the catalyst to launching a modeling career?

A: Pageantry has become a catalyst to launch modeling and many other careers, which I think is so wonderful. The opportunity to get your name out there, build your brand, and constantly network with amazing people helps so much. Pageantry also builds character, integrity, and hard work so you're able to succeed in whatever career.

We think Andreia is going to slay Miss Earth finals and make the USA proud! 

Best wishes competing in the Philippines!