TWO KIMS FROM OLONGAPO DOMINATE BEAUTY TILT

Two young women from Olongapo City gained national recognition after winning two of the main titles in a prestigious beauty pageant recently.

The 2009 Miss Bikini Philippines, presented by Slimmers World International (SWI), held their coronation night on May 3, 2009. Kim de Guzman was crowned Miss Bikini Philippines-World, while Kimberly Ann Brandon was Miss Bikini Philippines-International.

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. immediately extended his congratulations to this year’s reigning beauty titlists. “Muli na namang kinilala ang angking ganda at galing ng mga Olongapeños. These young ladies have been part of Olongapo City’s search for beautiful and talented young women and they have really come a long way since then,” shares Gordon.

Kim is 18 years old, a native of Olongapo and a student at Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila. She stands 5’5” and measures 31-24-3. Kim will compete internationally for the Miss Bikini World in the Republic of Malta.

Kimberly, on the other hand, measures 32-25-36. Her father is an American-Irish, while her mother is Filipino-Chinese. She also won the Best in National Costume award.

Both “Kims” previously represented Olongapo City in the television search for Ms. Fitrum 2008 in the noontime show “Wowowee.” Kim was 1st runner up, while Kimberly won the Best in Regional Costume award.

Aside from the Miss Bikini International to be held anytime this year, Kimberly will also be competing in a few weeks in the Miss Global Beauty Pageant in China.

Also included among the 26 finalists were Caselyn Barrion, 17, an accounting student at the Mondriaan Aura College in Subic and Darlene dela Cerna, 17; a student of Columban College in Olongapo.

Catch the delayed telecast of the 2009 Miss Bikini Philippines on Studio 23 on May 9 at 10 p.m.