Bohol's Roving Eye: MJ Lastimosa: Our 2014 Miss Universe Philippines

I got goosebumps the moment MJ Lastimosa was declared Bb Pilipinas Universe 2014. It was the high point of her emotional rollercoaster ride for the Bb Pilipinas Universe crown

She was 2nd Runner Up in 2011, Top 15 in 2012 and finally the top crown this year. She is indeed the poster girl for determination and persistence

MJ Lastimosa during the 2011 Bb Pilipinas where she placed 2nd RU

A lot of people in the audience including fellow beauty queens like Shamcey Supsup, Bea Santiago & Mutya Datul were tearing up and getting emotional during the crowning moment for MJ because they knew how hard she worked to get the crown

Even MJ cried a river and lost whatever was left of her composure and just let go. It was a humbling victory for her. Moments before the Bb Pilipinas Universe crown was announced, the camera already caught MJ shedding a tear or two when she realized that there was only one crown left and Pia Wurztbach, the other crown favorite was right there with her.

It was now down to MJ and Pia and MJ must have felt that it was now or never

The stars were indeed aligned that night for MJ who gave the performance of her life

Congratulations MJ! You deserve it!

Battle of the Beauties: It's MJ over Pia
Photo Credits: Ron Titular for Adventures of a Beauty Queen

Prior to the big announcement, she was declared Best in Swimsuit but still, she wasn't very confident and it was not an assurance that she will take home a crown that night. Remember her heartbreaking loss in 2012?

She was Miss AVON and Miss Philippine Airlines and yet went home without a crown

During the Coronation Night, MJ did everything right and she got the most deafening cheers from the crowd most especially after giving one of the most heartfelt answers in the Q & A

Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler asked her what the greatest advantage of being a woman is. MJ's answer:

"The greatest advantage of being a woman is being able to compose herself. Just like here, we're standing in front of thousands of people, not knowing if they're going to cheer for us or boo us.

But we try to compose ourselves. We keep the emotions and show the beauty that is in us and tonight, thousands of people are standing here, celebrating the beauty of women."