It has been decades since the Philippines has first won the Miss International title with Gemma Theresa Cruz. So today, we honor her for being the first international beauty queen that the Philippines has ever produced!
Here are some trivia that you should know about her:
* She comes from a family of renown, her great-grandmother Maria was the sister of national hero José Rizal. She’s a descendant of the Philippines’ national hero!
* Leon Ma. Guerrero III, who was once Philippine Ambassador to Spain and England, was her uncle and was opposed to Gemma’s participation in the Miss Philippines pageant.
* Gemma’s mom, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, offered her P2,000 to back out from the Miss International pageant.
* There was no expectation from her to win, in a Rappler interview she said, “Nobody in the Philippines expected me to win. I did not conform to the Filipino’s idea of beauty.”
* Gemma donated all her Miss International $10,000 cash prize to build homes for children sleeping on the streets of Manila, the Boys’ Town.
* She went to bed with her crown and scepter despite appeals from pageant officials. The crown, trimmed with rhinestones, and scepter were only on loan from a costume company and due to be returned the next day.
SOURCES:
* http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/154917/gemma-reveals-rizals-true-love/
* http://www.philstar.com/funfare/photos/2014/08/14/1357320/gemma-cruz-50-years-later-niccos-time-will-soon-come
SASHES&SCRIPTS 
Gemma Cruz is a tall Filipina when she won the Ms. International 1964.
I think she stands
5’ 10”
Am I right?
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