WINWYN Marquez officially dismissed rumors of her participation in the inaugural Miss Grand International (MGI) All Stars, as she is set to prioritize her television comeback.
The actress-beauty queen told select members of the press during the recent grand media conference for the upcoming action-drama “Never Say Die” that she is sitting out all pageant endeavors this year.
“No, I’m not joining Miss Grand All Stars. Not this year,” she said. “But like I’ve said, never say die because I cannot close any doors. We’ll never know what’s going to happen next. Pero abangan na lang nila kung ano ‘yung mag-u-unfold.”
Despite having no plans to join the first edition of the anticipated competition, Marquez admitted that she researched MGI since it’s a special edition of the Miss Grand International pageant, designed to bring back past titleholders and representatives from different pageants to compete on one stage.
“Parang kailangan mo ata manalo, parang may round siya. Oh, di ba alam ko. Siyempre, ni-research ko din ‘yan. Aabangan ko muna kung ano mangyayari sa first season,” she said.
Marquez, who won the Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 title and competed in the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 pageant, where she finished as first runner-up, candidly shared that her supporters seem reluctant to believe that she is prioritizing acting for now.
“Alam mo, hindi ako nagpaparamdam [sasali sa MGI]. Nakakatawa, kasi nagpo-post lang ako. Sabi ko, ‘Abangan niyo po ako sa primetime.’ Pero parang ayaw nila maniwala na sa primetime ako lalabas. Pinost ko na siya, ‘Sa primetime niyo po ako abangan,’ parang walang pumansin,” she laughingly said.
The MGI All Stars is expected to hold its first edition on May 30. The competition is open to women and transgender women aged 20 to 40, regardless of marital status or parenthood.
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Meanwhile, in “Never Say Die,” Marquez will play the role of Theresa Park, a high-ranking member of an international drug syndicate.
The series is top-billed by Jillian Ward and David Licauco. It also features Richard Yap, Kim Ji Soo, Angelu de Leon, Raymart Santiago, Analyn Barro, Wendell Ramos, Ayen Munji-Laurel, and Gina Alajar, among others. (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
