Winwyn, whose real name is Teresita, previously joined the Bb. Pilipinas pageant in 2015 (the batch of Pia Wurtzbach) but only made it as a finalist and winner of best in costume and best in talent. The daughter of movie stars Alma Moreno and Joey Marquez, her aunt, Melanie Marquez, was the Miss International winner in 1979.
“I’ve always dreamed of being a beauty titlist,” she says. “Hindi ko na puedeng ipagpaliban pa kasi 25 na ako. So I now want to make my dream a reality.”
Has she asked advice from her Tita Melanie? “She now lives abroad but even before, she told me to just enjoy the moment, have fun, think positive, don’t pressure yourself by being scared and just do your very best. I think I’m more ready now than when I first joined in 2015. I’ve gained more experience and I can feel mas prepared na ako.”
Why did she join Miss World this time and not the Bb. Pilipinas? “I researched about it and I like their motto na beauty with a purpose. My own purpose is to help my former school, Southville International in their aim to ‘Save a PoUCh’ which means save a poor urban child. They offer scholarships to poor urban children who can’t afford to go to school.”
There is a rumor that Winwyn has already broken up with actor boyfriend Mark Herras but others say that it’s just a temporary separation so she can focus her undivided attention entirely on the pageant as it’s actually Mark who urged her to join the pageant. Winwyn won’t confirm or deny any of this but then, she attended the wedding of Rochelle Pangilinan and Arthur Solinap at Tagaytay last Tuesday with Mark, so that means they’re still very much on.
