15-yr.-old student is Miss Bayao 2023

She may be one of the youngest of seven beauties who vied for the crown, but her age was no excuse for her to shine and get the Miss Bayao title which was not given to anyone in the past 13 years.

Alongside the launching of Barangay Bayao’s ‘Bakaw’ Festival on April 28 was the comeback of the search for Miss Bayao which was last conducted in the village in 2010. The event was pushed through by the barangay council and the Sangguniang Kabataan to look for the next ‘empowered young woman who will serve as an ambassadress of Barangay Bayao’.

On Saturday, May 13, it was one of the most beautiful evenings in the barangay as seven dashing candidates representing their respective sitios showcased their best and competed for the crown.

Among the ladies, 15-year-old high school student Zaiden Kaye Mendoza of Bayao Proper stood out and won the crown which was not passed for more than a decade.

Joyzen Mae Tannong, Kacy Liezel Faith Basinag, and Bea Bangit were crowned as the first, second, and third-runner up, respectively.

First timer in the pageant

Zaiden told GURU Press Cordillera it was her first time to join a beauty pageant and that she dared to conquer the stage for the title as she wanted to inspire her fellow youth that ‘nothing is impossible with hard work and determination’.

She recounted that while she was anxious when she first met the other candidates, she was motivated to give her best and enjoy the pageant and accept whatever the results will be.

With the Miss Bayao title on her shoulder and the crown on her head, Zaiden looks forward to working with the members of the Sangguniang Kabataan in spearheading events for the youth in their village.

The pageant’s organizer, Ivan Colangan wished the candidates to continue becoming the best version of themselves saying, “You have added another unforgettable experience into your life and we hope to see you become the best version of yourselves. Good luck ladies to your future pageant endeavors.”

Meantime, in his message, Bayao SK Chairperson Christian Malnawa acknowledged all the people who worked tirelessly just to make the search possible this year. He likewise thanked the villagers for their participation and for the learners who actively performed during the coronation night.

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