Angelique (left) and Racquel in their respective National Costumes (Photo credit: Emerson Cebanico for OPMB Worldwide)
In any beauty pageant, it always helps to wear gowns or national costumes that will allow ease of movement on and off the stage. For starters, a candidate garbed in relatively lightweight attire allows the choreographer to strategically place her up front or in the prime line-up. Secondly, the possibility of slipping or tripping or the heels getting caught on the hemline of a long skirt or the complex bottom design of an over-designed number is greatly reduced. Lastly, the ability to perform a sleek or commanding catwalk is almost always a guarantee.
So we see Binibinis 31 Angelique de Leon and 21 Racquel Kabigting above wearing the light and heavy of traditional wears, respectively. It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that the former was able to project a more genuine and relaxed smile given the comparatively feather-weighing jeepney-inspired outfit (courtesy of Jeffrey Rogador). And the latter could do no more than to please her designer that the heavy-as-a-tree creation did not bother her stage presence at all.
So on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being the highest), what score will you give the two? 
