A talented 14-year-old girl with Down Syndrome is the titleholder of this year’s Miss Possibilities, a Filipino beauty pageant for young women with special needs. Organized by Miss Possibilities Foundation and supported by SM Cares, the pageant attracted young women with special needs from different parts of the Philippines and even from a province in Thailand who competed during the coronation night which was held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Cielo Marie Guico - the youngest of 5 siblings and dubbed as the pageant’s Miss Perfect - brought home the crown with her heartwarming talent in singing. She also impressed the audience during the Q&A portion when asked who her favorite singer was, which she replied with “Ariana Grande”, after which she sang a few lines of the pop star’s song. The Miss Possibilities Pageant aims to celebrate beauty without limits, and to promote a more inclusive society.
The event also gave recognition to private organizations that support the differently-abled such as Accenture Philippines, which encourages PWDs to practice their profession and maximize their skills by employing them; and SM Kids which featured children with special needs as models for one of its campaigns that promote inclusivity.
Aside from Guico, the other 9 participants received special awards: Ms. Charming Lis Alexandra Flores; Ms. Congeniality Tielo Princess Paller; Ms. Inspirational Vell Baria; Ms. Unstoppable Aeryk Eessabelle Perez; Ms. Spirited Benecee Pratharn; Ms. Limitless Angel Mae Sison; Ms. Fashionista Chelsea Joy Disuanco; Ms. Amazing Angela Gayle Angeles; and Ms. Photogenic Darryl Gwen Fernandez.
Another highlight of the event is the inclusive Fashion Show with celebrities that featured prominent media personalities who walked alongside children with special needs. Some of the celebrities present were Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman and husband Marco Alcaraz, Michael Flores, ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy, Denise Laurel, Vicky Morales, Bettina Carlos, Patricia Javier, Pen Medina, and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo.
Founded in 2015, the beauty pageant aims to convey the message that everything is possible for girls, even those with special needs. This message of social inclusion is aligned with the thrust of SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., that promote a disability-inclusive environment in its malls. Annual activities like Happy Walk for Down Syndrome and Angel’s Walk for Autism are some of the projects that SM Cares supports, in its bid to support communities and promote inclusion.
To know more about SM Cares, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares, or send an e-mail to smcares@smsupermalls.com.
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