The cast members of the upcoming satirical comedy ‘Red Crown’ said the film aims to present a different picture of women in pageantry – one that emphasizes healthy competition, sisterhood and individuality rather than rivalry and stereotypes.
The film, directed by Dominic Zapata and written by Kit Villanueva and Ken de Leon, explores the competitive world of beauty pageants through a fictional ‘Queen of the Islands’ competition.
Asked what healthy competition looks like in an environment where women are often pitted against one another, cast member Faith da Silva said it should not be about comparing oneself with others.
”Yung healthy competition dapat hindi ka nagko-compare sa ibang tao. The success of other people doesn’t take away your own,’ she said during the grand media conference on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Da Silva noted that each woman has her own strengths, weaknesses, character and background, adding that healthy competition begins with ‘support and love for one another.’
Ashley Ortega, who competed as a figure skater before entering show biz, said having strong competitors pushed her to improve rather than bring others down.
‘When I have a strong competitor, I actually challenge myself to become better,’ she said. ‘If there’s a comparison of jealousy, I feel like you have lost to competition already.’
Ortega emphasized that competition should involve ‘growth, respect and sisterhood,’ and it’s important to handle defeat with grace.
‘I’ve lost so many times before, but I didn’t take my failure as a way that I should not continue my dreams. It actually helped me to become better,’ she said.
Shuvee Etrata, meanwhile, acknowledged how women are often deliberately pitted against each other.
‘Uso ‘yon ngayon. They pit women against each other,’ Etrata said. ‘But I believe the only competition that is allowed for women is healthy competition.’
She added that women can support one another because ‘there’s always more room for another woman to shine.’
Sanya Lopez shared a similar view, saying women can remain determined to win while still treating their competitors with kindness and respect.
‘You can be competitive even if you’re in a competition. But you’re still respectful. You’re still kind. You have a good heart,’ Lopez said.
The other cast members said ‘Red Crown’ also seeks to challenge assumptions about what beauty queens are supposed to be like.
For former beauty queen Ariella Arida, one of the stereotypes the film addresses is the idea that beauty queens must always appear polished and composed.
‘This movie, actually, if you’ve got to watch it, at least this would make people realize that beauty queens are humans as well,’ Arida said.
She pointed out that beauty queens can also be sad, humorous and capable of making mistakes.
‘We can make mistakes. And what’s important is we know how to handle it and we know how to stand up with every mistake we make,’ she said.
Alethea Ambrosio, meanwhile, said the film also touches on the expectation that beauty queens should be fluent in English.
Ambrosio recalled being criticized after competing in a pageant in 2024 because of her English and diction, despite speaking Tagalog and eventually winning.
‘Why? Is English the only language that can transcend the message of beauty queens to inspire and to uplift?’ she said.
Aside from the aforementioned, ‘Red Crown’ features a large ensemble of real-life beauty queens and Sparkle stars, including Ahtisa Manalo, Michelle Dee, Yllana Aduana, Herlene Budol, Gazini Ganados, MJ Lastimosa and Bianca Manalo, among others.