TikTok star Ayn Bernos said Sunday she was competing for the Miss Universe Philippine crown to inspire girls like her who don't fit the beauty queen stereotype, responding to a comment on social media that she must have a "mental health problem" for going up against "taller, smarter and more beautiful women."
Standing 5'3" and with one million TikTok followers, Bernos has formidable competition -- former Asia's Next Top Model winner Maureen Wroblewitz, Miss Supranationa 2018 first runner-up Katrina Dimaranan, and ex-Miss Cebu Steffi Aberasrturi, who went viral for turning the construction site of what would be the Philippines' largest bridge into her runway.
"I didn't join Miss Universe Philippines because I believed I was the beauty standard. I joined because I know I'm not, and it's about time girls like me are allowed to try, too," the 26-year-old Bernos said.
@aynbernos Idk about you, but I’m more afraid of never having tried. ?????
? La vida es corta así q c4g4la - ?Yani Hagreeves?
Bernos said she filed her application as soon as the call for contestants mentioned no height requirement. "Those were magic words for me," she said.
She's survived two cuts, making it to the Top 100 and the Top 75, where she competed in the runway challenge and received the hate comment.
Bernos posts affirmations on her TikTok feed. Addressing her height in one video, she quoted Olympic skateboarder Margielyn Didal: "Kung gusto nyong makipag-usap, walang height-height. Ano ba ginagamit pag nag-uusap? Height?"
@aynbernos Promise fulfilled. We have a long way to go. ????????
? original sound - Ayn Bernos / IG: @aynbernos
She said she had dreamed of being a beuaty queen since she was a kid, staying up late to watch pageants.
"I always wanted to be like them but at the same time I knew as a pageant fan I wasn't qualified. But because I am a fighter and I am a dreamer, I promised myself that the moment I could apply, I would," she said in a TikTok post announcing her Miss Universe Philippines campaign.
That post earned words of encouragement from fellow TikTokers Inka Magnaye, Nina Elaine and Sassa Gurl.
"Idk about you, but I’m more afraid of never having tried," she said on Monday.
@aynbernos I had to use this iconic @margiedidal line ???? thank you to everyone who voted for me!!! # 2 po tayo sa voting!!! SALAMAT! ????##AynPeroMissUniverse
? original sound - ?rι??el ????
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