Fans of beauty queen Herlene Nicole Budol or “Hipon Girl” offered messages of support after she posted a picture of her during the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 competition with the words, “The end.”
The former representative of the Philippines in the now-postponed Miss Planet International (MPI) shared a swimsuit photo and said that her journey in the beauty pageant has concluded after several mishaps.
The picture was taken when she joined Binibining Pilipinas, where she finished as first runner-up in its 58th edition.
Herlene added emojis of face-holding-back-tears and the Philippine flag in her post.
Numerous fans consoled Herlene in the comments section after her withdrawal from MPI 2022 in Uganda.
“Hi ate! I’ve been through many male [pageantries] already and I know it’s hard to aim international. But never close your door for opportunities and always strive better,” Mister Imperial Universe Philippines 2018 Christian Villarin wrote.
“It’s not the end, I know and I’ve been there. But always trust in God’s perfect timing and we’ll get there,” he added.
“Just continue to pray and fully depend on God, Herlene Hipon Budol. His plan is always so much better than ours,” another Facebook user commented.
“Keep joining a pageant, who knows, you might be our next Miss Universe or Miss World,” a different Pinoy said.
“Hello Herlene, remember Miss Pia, ganyan din [siya] pero nakuha [niya] pa din ang korona. Ganun lang talaga, marami pa ring pagkakataon makuha ang korona, malay [mo], kaya ‘di ibinigay [sayo] ‘yan, pang Miss Universe ka pala,” another fan said.
Herlene’s manager, Wilbert Tolentino, previously bared that organizers of MPI caught themselves in the middle of an Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda, where the pageant was supposed to be held.
He also announced his decision to withdraw the beauty queen “due to uncertainties by the organizers.”
Days after, Wilbert shared their experiences in his YouTube vlog which include the following:
- Contestants rehearsed under the heat of the sun as sponsors of the original venue backed out due to unsettled payments.
- Contestants not being given food in the rehearsals
- Contestants looking for their own place to stay since the accommodation promised was not available
Two days after Herlene’s withdrawal from MPI, the pageant organizers confirmed the postponement of the pageant.
“We regret to inform that the Finals and Preliminary competitions won’t be held due to the Host Organizers failed to comply and meet the requirements for the realization of the events,” it said in a statement.
“Miss Planet International 2022 moves forward and it will be held in the Kingdom of Cambodia in January 2023. We would like to express our sincere apologies for all the inconvenience caused,” the organizers added.
MPI was supposed to be Herlene’s first stint on the global pageant stage. Its coronation was supposed to be held on November 19.
