Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez with the Miss Bacolod MassKara 2022 contestants who were presented to the media at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, September 15.*Ronnie Baldonado photo
Fifteen contestants are vying for the Miss Bacolod MassKara 2022 crown and are also being groomed to participate in national and international pageants.
Of the 90 who applied to join the pageant, only 15 qualified, Carlos Durana, Miss Bacolod MassKara 2022 chairperson, said during the presentation of the contestants at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, September 15.
The prize for the Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe is P150,000, Miss Bacolod MassKara World – P100,000, Miss Bacolod MassKara International – P80,000, 1st runner up – P50,000 and 2nd runner up – P30,000, Durana said.
The contestants are Jhela Mae Velasco, Helcie Jamili, Chattea Cajucson, Franches Anne Laquibla, Yvonne Catamco, Jan Marie Bordon, Frances Marie Monsale, Kara Daniela Villarosa, Alyssa Marie Villanueva, Alexandria Margarette Colmenares, Eirine Juliane Granada, Sandale Masangcay, Kristel Mae Nacionales, Janine Gelera and Teresa Brunner.
Miss Bacolod MassKara is a rebranded beauty pageant for this year’s festival, Durana said.
“As we mark a new era, under the administration of Mayor Albee Benitez, our festival organizers decided to rebrand our festival queen title. More than a MassKara Queen, our winners also carry the name of Bacolod City. When our winners take on the bigger stage in national pageants, we want to take pride that these beauties are proudly Bacolodnons,” he said.
Aces and Queens, consultant of the pageant, conducted a workshop for the contestants. The winners will undergo further training for national and hopefully international pageants, Durana said.
The coronation night will be held at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum on October 19, Pinky Mirano Ocampo, 2022 MassKara Festival director, said.
The pageant will be open for free to an audience of about 8,000, but tickets will be distributed for crowd control, she said.
Each contestant will be given P80,000 for their participation costs, she added.
The contestants will also join a Designers’ Parade at SM City 4 p.m. September 25, Sponsors’ Day at SM City Bacolod 4 p.m. October 7 and Festival Costume and Talent Competition at Ayala Malls Capitol Central 4 p.m. October 9.*