With top Quezon City officials led by Mayor Herbert Bautista in a jam packed AFP Theater, Nikki Normanson, a BPO training specialist, was announced as the first title holder of the Queen of Quezon City (QQC) pageant last Saturday.
QQC was staged by the local government together with the community pride group Quezon City Pride Council and was anchored on the historic and comprehensive Gender Fairness Ordinance or ordinance #2357, a protective and anti-discriminatory measure specifically penned for the LGBT community.
Normanson bested 24 other candidates in the alternative beauty contest for gay and trans citizens living in the area. Aside from the title and P300,000 cash prize, she will also represent (QCPC) in all their activities.
Normanson was one of the crowd favorites in the final competition’s night graced also by LGBT key leaders and former beauty queens.
Not a first timer in the field of beauty contests, Normanson was Queen of Cebu 2013, Queen of Northern Luzon 2014 (Tuguegarao), and the Queen of the South 2014 (Davao). But she hoped to win in her home city because she wants to propagate gender fairness while working hand in hand with city executives.
Normanson pledged to give her best to promote gay rights in the city. “I will make sure that there will be equality in the city. Hopefully other cities in the Philippines will follow as well.”
As queen, Normanson shares the court with runners-up Lady Equality Aya Garcia, Lady Respect Nadie Marie Fernandez, and Lady Pride Britney Madali.
Special awards were also given that night. Normanson outshone other competitors when she won Miss Kokuryu, Best in Evening Gown, and Ms. Selfie. Garcia won Best in Swimwear while Madali was named Miss Friendship
.
Other recipients of special awards were Honey Del Barrio for Creative Costume, Patricia Maristela for Miss Photogenic, and Marla Quinones for Best in Talent.
The pageant night also showcased the candidates’ performing talents and creativity in crafting colorful outfits. For the Evening Gown Competition, all the candidates glowed and shimmered as they worked the stage wearing different dress interpretations in various hues of blue.
Meanwhile, She-Voyz, Michael Pangilinan, and Asia’s Got Talent winner El Gamma Penumbra wowed the crowd with top-class entertainment. Ariel Ureta and Issa Litton hosted the said event.
The judges of the event were Dr. Rey Castillo, Mr. Raphael Kiefer, Director Soxie Topacio, Ms. Rachel Parrish, Mr. Frederick Peralta, Mr. Wig Tysman, and Ms. Melanie Marquez, who won the 1979 Miss International beauty pageant in Tokyo, Japan.
Queen of Quezon City was conceptualized and produced by VPF Creative Productions, headed by its Executive Creative Producer, Mr. Paolo Fernandez.
