Gwendoline Ruais back after Miss World runner-up finish

At 5’11", Gwendoline Ruais was one of the tallest contestants in the recently concluded Miss World 2011 pageant. But her height isn’t the only thing that makes the 21-year-old French-Filipina stand out. More than the Miss World 1st Princess 2011 (first runner-up) sash, tiara and the tangerine gown Ruais was wearing during the Friday evening press conference at the Midas Hotel in Pasay City, it was her self-confidence that made her shine brightest. “She was very confident and her stage presence is very strong and it wasn’t just because she was the tallest candidate in Miss World… but it was her aura. She has the aura of a winner," said Miss World-Philippines national director Cory Quirino. Ruais arrived in Manila Friday afternoon, nearly two weeks after she competed in the Miss World 2011 pageant in London. Prior to the main pageant, Ruais won in three out of five Miss World “fast-track" competitions – “Beach Beauty," “Beauty With A Purpose," and “Top Model." The other two were for sports and talent.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Her strong pre-pageant performance, however, was not enough to give her the elusive Miss World crown. Ruais is only the second Filipina to grab the 1st runner-up title after Evangeline Pascual in 1973. Despite failing to bring home the Miss World 201 crown, Ruais said she was still thankful. “When I join something, it’s not to come in last, it’s not to not win – it’s always to win. But you never know what happens. At kahit ano man ang nangyari, I know that I did everything that I could do," she said. Ruais’ older sister, Gwennaelle Ruais, also a beauty queen, said the road to Miss World 2011 in London wasn’t easy. Contrary to what some people may think, competing in a beauty pageant isn’t just about the glitz and the glamor, she told GMA News Online. The younger Ruais only had around two months to prepare for the event where she competed against 112 other candidates. “It’s a lot of things to master, especially because the [time] gap between Miss World Philippines and Miss World was so short for Gwendoline," she said. During the press conference, local pageant organizers also revealed that Ruais was only a few points behind the Miss World winner, Ivian Sarcos from Venezuela. While some contestants might have felt bad about losing in a very close fight for the crown, Ruais, in a true beauty queen fashion, told reporters that beauty can be subjective, and that being ranked second in the competition was already a huge honor. “All I wanted to do was to make my country proud and show to the world [na] ang galing ng Pinoy," she added. Ruais also expressed amazement over the support she received from a lot of her pageant-crazy kababayans. “The support was so overwhelming, they were there, they were 100 percent behind me." Her stay in the Philippines won’t be a long one, though. After the year-end holidays, Ruais will be traveling with the Miss World organization to promote and support its various charity works. Ruais was set to make a courtesy call on Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives, to formally recognize her win. The Palace already congratulated Ruais in a statement shortly after her victory. Local pageant organizers said she might also meet President Benigno Aquino III, once he arrives in the country Saturday evening. Aquino is in Indonesia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. — LBG, GMA News