TANDA pa rin ni Binibini Leren Mae Bautista ng Laguna ang pagkakataon nang tawagin ang kanyang pangalan na pasok sa 40 official candidates ng Bb. Pilipinas 2019 pageant.

Ang pangalan niya ay inanunsiyo na second to the last na pasok sa Top 40.

“I was so nervous that time because there were only two girls left and there were still many qualified candidates. When my name was finally called, I told myself ‘this is it!’ ” sabi ni Leren Mae sa meet-and-greet event para sa kanya sa Quezon City kamakailan.

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Si Leren Mae, 26, ay isa nang international title holder bago sumali sa Bb Pilipinas pageant ngayong taon. Nagwagi siya bilang Miss Tourism Queen of the Year sa Malaysia noong Dec. 31, 2015, nang maging kinatawan siya ng Pilipinas bilang Mutya ng Pilipinas.

Ngayon, ang kanyang goal ay pagwagian ang isa sa anim na Bb. Pilipinas crowns sa grand coronation ng prestihiyosong pageant na gaganapin sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa Quezon City sa June 9.

“It took me three years to have the courage to finally decide to try Binibining Pilipinas. I don’t want to regret someday or experience that ‘what if’ moment if I will not join Bb Pilipinas,” sabi niya.

Inamin ni Leren Mae na ang ina niya ang humikayat sa kanyang sumali ng beauty pageants.

“I think that’s one of the best decisions I ever made. I’m thankful that I listened to her. I am very happy I made that decision,” lahad ng beauty queen.

Kinokonsidera ng pageant fans bilang isa sa mga front-runners, naniniwala rin sila na magiging isang malakas na kandidata si Leren Mae na tubong Laguna, dahil si Ariella Arida ay galing din sa naturang lalawigan, na nagwaging 2nd runner-up sa Miss Universe 2013 contest na ginanap sa Russia.

“I need to be fierce this time,” sabi pa ni Leren Mae. “Whatever Binibini title is given to me, I will accept it.”

Dahil may international title na, ipinaliwanag ni Leren Mae kung bakit nais niyang makakuha pa ng panibagong titulo via Bb. Pilipinas.

“Different titles have different advocacies. In Mutya ng Pilipinas, it’s tourism. In Bb. Pilipinas, they have many titles so they have various advocacies. I wanted to explore so I joined Bb. Pilipinas,” dagdag pa niya.

Para sa Bb Pilipinas, ang adbokasiya niya ay laban sa bullying.

“The issue of bullying started when I was still in the elementary. If I will not confront this challenge now, how will I overcome this? So I encourage everyone to fight and do positive. No one deserves to be bullied,” aniya pa.

“I remember them calling me kapre or poste when I was 11 years old. I don’t know why they are doing this to me. These name-calling continued in high school,” lahad ni Leren Mae, na naging emosyonal sa harap ng press nang talakayin ang isyu.

Dagdag pa niya: “I was even booed during the question and answer portion of a high school pageant”.

Nagbago na ang mga bagay-bagay at ginawang uri ng paghihiganti ang mga narating niya sa buhay.

“I never confronted them when they bullied me. I don’t want to pick up a fight. When I see them these days, they cannot even look straight in my eyes,” sabi pa ni Leren Mae.