Herlene Budol quits beauty pageantry: 'Di ko na po ipipilit'
Herlene Nicole Budol, who won Miss Philippines Tourism title at the Miss Grand Philippines 2023, announced that she is quitting pageantry.
In a 9-minute vlog uploaded on Thursday, the comedienne-turned-beauty queen tearfully thanked her supporters and bid farewell to her career as a beauty queen.
"Nakakatatlong pageant na po ako pero hindi pa rin po puwede. Ibig sabihin, huwag na natin pong ipilit. Ibig sabihin po non, ako po si Herlene Nicole Budol na nagsasabing, 'Sorry, Pilipinas, this is my last pageant," she said.
"Herlene Budol is signing off," she declared.
Herlene, popularly known as "Hipon Girl," also admitted that she may not have what it takes to represent the Philippines. She said that she had been hurt by the painful words people have said about her, adding that she was just trying it out because it was always been a dream of hers.
"Nasasaktan lang po ako kasi parang totoo po lahat ng sinasabi niyo na pinipilit ko lang po talaga na sumali, na hindi ko po deserve," she said. "Nagsusubok lang po ako na abutin 'yung mga pangarap ko, na magkaroon po ako ng crown at ma-represent ko po 'yung Pilipinas, pero 'di ko po pala kaya," she continued.
"Siguro 'yung panahon na 'yung nagsasabi sa akin na, 'Uy, tama na, Herlene. Gumising ka na sa katotohanan, hindi mo kaya i-represent ang Pilipinas,'" Herlene added.
Herlene apologized to her fans and thanked them for supporting her throughout her pageant journey.
"Kaya humihingi po ako ng sorry sa inyong lahat. Sa lahat ng mga tao pong sumusuporta sa akin, thank you so much po. Kayo po 'yung dahilan kung bakit po ako andito. Sa mga ayaw po sa akin, titigil na po ako. Di ko na po ipipilit 'yung sarili ko," she ended.
In the vlog, Herlene also addressed the resignation of Wilbert Tolentino as her manager and confirmed that it was because of his personal health and family matters.
The 23-year-old TV personality meanwhile considered the idea of focusing on modeling "kasi walang Q&A, alam niyo na."
"Patuloy pa rin po ang laban. Malay niyo sa ibang journey naman ako dalhin ng Panginoon," she said.
The Magandang Dilag star made her pageant debut in 2017 when she won the Binibining Angono in Sining title. She then joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2022 where she landed first runner-up.
In November 2022, Herlene represented the country at the Miss Planet International in Uganda. However, she pulled out from the pageant due to "uncertainties by the organizers." She and her manager alleged that the organizers did not provide the delegates with any food during their stay and that they had to book their own accommodation because the pageant's original venue backed out.
Herlene joined the Miss Grand Philippines the following year and won the Miss Philippines Tourism title.