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Mrs. Universe South Asia 2017 Joyce Penas Pilarsky, a womanImage may be NSFW.
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for other women, is a tireless advocate of female causes.
As a world-class fashion designer, Pilarsky uses colors intuitively. She is partial to bright florals as these represent living and loving. Yet on August 30, 2017, on the event of Women’s Month when Mrs. Universe 2017 leads a global protest against child abuse and gender-based violence, she will give up the color code and wear black and gold.
To be held this year in Durban, South Africa, Mrs. Universe is an international and global beauty pageant and Human Rights Forum organized in Sofia City, Bulgaria in 2007. The contest is open to married women from countries/nations of all continents around the world, who are between the ages of 25 and 45, have a family and career, and are involved in a “significant cause.”
“The #OneVoice march taps into the theme for this year’s Mrs. Universe event, ‘Empowering women. Creating change.’ What could be more hard-hitting than women from all over the world, from different backgrounds and communities, speaking out in a collective voice against the scourge of women and child abuse?” says Mrs. Universe 2017 hosting director in Africa and Durban resident, Tracey-Anne Agget. “We want governments, communities, civil society groups, men and women to join forces to protect our women and children. This is an international outcry; a global declaration that enough is enough.”
The organizer, Mrs. Universe Ltd., also coordinates the Mrs. Europe, Grandma Universe and Children of the Universe pageants. The current and reigning queen and titleholder is Mrs. Universe Olga Torner of Austria who won in the competition held in Guangzhou, China.
“Durban has outdone Africa by clinching the rights to host the 40th Annual Mrs. Universe Pageant. It’s a coup for the KZN coastal hub as this is the first time the glitzy event will be held in the continent,” says 2016 Mrs. Universe first runner-up Aggett, who won over the International Mrs. Universe organizing committee with her charitable projects and vision for the continent.
“After hosting in South Africa, I’d love it to take it to Botswana or Ghana because there are a lot of women there that are trying to step up and it would be a great privilege for their economy from the tourist level, trade and investment, as well as empowerment level,” adds Aggett.
“There’s a lot of emotions that runs through me regarding this. It's very exciting because finally I have a platform which I can really make as a way to see more women and children around Africa. The fact that I’ve got 10 years to empower women around Africa and to be a strong voice and unite women and children’s voices as one, globally, makes me feel like I’m doing the work I’m supposed to do,” shares Aggett.
VIOLENCE AGAINST FEMALES. Violence strikes females from all kinds of backgrounds and of all ages. It can happen at work, on the street, or at home.
Different types of violence are: Dating violence; domestic and intimate partner violence; emotional abuse; human trafficking; same-sex relationship violence; sexual assault and abuse; stalking; violence against immigrant and refugee women; violence against women at work; and violence against women with disabilities.
Sometimes, women are attacked by strangers, but most often they are hurt by people who are close to them, such as a husband or partner. Either way, violence and abuse can have terrible effects. She can get help for any physical and emotional problems. She can feel better.
THE JOYS OF JOYCE. Early in life Joycelyn “Joyce” Javellana Penas of Paranaque imbibed the practive of helping others from her parents. Her father, Atty. Felix Million Penas, worked as a lawyer who rendered free legal service to the needy and her mother is Soledad Nonato Javellana Penas who cooked chicken porridge that Joyce fed to their needy neighbors, mostly children. They had a steady supply of chicken and rice as her father was often given fresh produce in appreciation of his legal services.
As a girl, Joyce had lofty dreams and ambitions. Being beautiful, tall and intelligent, imbibing the good genes of her parents, she aspired to be an actress, a flight stewardess and beauty queen, but her father discouraged her. He wanted her to be a lawyer like him as her eldest sister of seven siblings, five females and two males, married early and he feared she would follow the same path.
By nature, Joyce grew up following his decisions. In her mind, she believed she would be able to pursue them in her own time.
Near his passing on, he allowed his wife to migrate with two of their daughters to London. Joyce and two of her sisters alternated in taking care of him. It was her turn when the bright light allowed him in. Joyce took over his role as head of the family by working as a fashion model and a flight stewardess, where she met her German better half. She matured following the whims and wishes of males.
Then, in 2009, she designed the accessories for John Guarnes’ fashion collection who she selflessly sent to school and tutored in drawing with would-be actor Roden Araneta.
“Fashion design is for the young. You must retire,” a gay young designer confronted her backstage as a new designer of her gala show at the Philippine Fashion Week Summer 2010 held the Mall of Asia Convention Center. Joyce, who had had to sell a lot of acquisitions in order to finance her
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show, was dumfounded, but she did not overreact. “Like you, I have the right to pursue my dream regardless of age,” she replied.
Pilarsky has always joined global beauty pageants and fashion shows with a social responsibility such as a environmental and/or charity purposes. Since childhood, she had always done feeding programs and building/supporting educational facilities for marginalized children.
Joyce did not hesitate to cross the crocodile- and rebel-infested Agusan marsh in Mindanao in Southern Philippines in a small boat to inaugurate the floating library she and her husband donated through Gunther Pilarsky Foundation. The people honored her by making her an honorary princess.
“Thrice I joined Mrs. Universe beauty pageant and in all of those times I got accepted,” the glowing Mrs. Universe South Asia 2017 Pilarsky recalled when we had lunch at Luk Yuen restaurant in Cash and Carry supermarket upon her arrival from Germany. The short vacation to see her husband also served as exercise opportunities to prepare herself for the competition.
“But I failed to join the first time for personal reasons and the second time for professional reasons. Yet when I applied for the third time — this time around — they still accepted me,” Pilarsky humbly recalls.
Leaving for Durban, South Africa for the competition today, August 23, with her London-based sister Sol Penas as travelling companion, she clarifies the circumtances in which she represents South Asia.
“I could have represented the Philippines, but avoided it so I would not be in direct competition with a dear friend. So the organizers offered me South Asia as I will represent nearly 1.6 billion people from the countries of the Indian subcontinent,” she explains. Those countries that make up South Asia are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Sometimes Myanmar (Burma) is also included.
Dispersed from their original homeland, its people of South Asian descent who are not living in their original homeland — some of them may never have set foot in their original “homeland.” They have made increasingly significant contributions to the countries they now live in. The economy, health, arts, media and culture have all been affected in some way.
A well-travelled woman, Pilarsky had been to most of these countries during her many travels with her businessman husband who deals in minerals and other precious stones. So she had observed how their women and children were affected by social conditions, politics, climate change and religions.
Pilarsky has been indirectly promoting their well-being with her fashion shows and charities since 2009 to the presents. Mrs. Universe South Asia gives her the platform, the first time she shouts out directly for the rights against abuse, which she intends to pursue in connection with her mission in the Philippines.
Pilarsky requests for prayers for the victory of her causes. She remains resilient: "I live every day to the fullest so I don't have to worry about tomorrow," she admits.