It is okay to choose yourself, it is okay to be you. Never be afraid to speak what is on your mind.
In the sea of gorgeous faces and sparkling dresses, she shines among the rest. Everything she ever planned was to be honest, but it went way more than that. She became a social media figure for a time—and attracted international publications at that.
Fasten your seatbelts as beauty queen Ma. Izobel Taguiam answers the most intriguing questions in an interview with The Quill.
Quill: Why did you decide to tell the truth about having a lesbian partner in a platform no less than Binibining Cebu?
Izobel: To be honest, I have been asked a lot of times about it. I was hesitant to tell the truth because I know it will cost me a spot on the coronation night, but I also don’t really want to deny it. For me there is nothing more important than peace of mind. I don’t want to pretend who I am and what I feel. That’s the Desa that the people close to me know.
Q: Have you ever thought of a possible backlash from family, relatives, and even friends about your coming out (or having a same-sex partner) on a big beauty pageant?
Izobel: Yes. At first I was hesitant to tell people about it. I was closeted for about three years. When I transferred to SWU–Basak Campus, I felt comfortable enough to be who I really am. People there treated me as family, and there I gained my confidence. When I told my mom about it, I was not expecting drama. My mom is very open-minded, a very intelligent woman. I knew it was hard for her at first, but when she saw that I was happy, she supported me.
Q: How was your life after the media hype and the seeming popularity you garnered after the show? Was it more of a negative or positive impact?
Izobel: We wanted to keep it low-key. Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, and TV5 asked for my statement, but I declined because I value the little of the privacy left for us. Everything happened so fast. After the competition, the world became a bigger place for me because I am now able to spread my wings unlike before. We still receive hate, but I choose to be positive. I choose no drama, I choose happiness all the time. That’s why I think my life after that became better, if not best.
Q: Did anybody of your friends or even random people approach or message you, telling you how proud they are of you? Tell us about your becoming an instant inspiration to the LGBTQIA community.
Izobel: My inbox on all my social media accounts blew up after the issue went viral. They were thanking me for standing up for the community, that because of what I did, they have also gained the courage to be themselves. Some told me that they went out of the closet and told their families about it. ’Yan yung nakakataba ng puso eh, yung nagpapakatotoo ka lang but na-aapreciate. Dahil sa ginawa ko, marami pala akong natulungan.
Q: What is your message to everyone out there, especially students, who have felt the need to be true to who they are and never be afraid of speaking from their heart despite society’s cruelty and judgment?
Izobel: Inhale courage, exhale fear. You must know how to weigh things in your life to know what really matters to you. Always ask yourself, “Am I happy?” If not, never be afraid to leave. It is okay to choose yourself, it is okay to be you. Never be afraid to speak what is on your mind. You see, people are so afraid of the unknown, but what if what lies behind it is the freedom we wanted? Life is too short. Do what you want to do. Say what you want to say. So many opportunities are waiting for you to open it. Go lang! Laban lang jud.
Truly, she proved that one does not only need a pretty face and a beautiful body to be a beauty queen. She may not have won the title as Binibining Cebu, but she definitely won the hearts of people and inspired so many youth to be who they really are in the world obsessed with trying hard to be perfect.
