MANILA -- Half-Japanese Natsumi Sekiguchi is the representative of Bacoor at this year's MIss Universe Philippines (MUPH) pageant, and is a proud lover of physical activities.

Among her goals is to also raise awareness on body dysmorphia.

“I’m a fitness enthusiast,” she said. “Since I’m a body dysmorphia advocate, I think beyond [working out] it’s also important to take care of our mental health.”

Working out three times a week, Sekiguchi makes sure to live an active lifestyle to look good and feel good. 

Also embodying the look-good, feel-good mentality are more of her MUPH sisters.

Bulacan’s Chezca Pacheco is also proud to share she works out regularly, while finding balance with taking breaks.

"I make sure to take rests,” Pacheca said. “We don’t just work out all the time.”

When asked about how she feels about the competition, she replied, “Actually there’s so much pressure. But I think there’s a lot of fun.”

Representing the Filipino Society of Washington State is Miss Ilocos Jeanne Nicole Perez Lipa. She emphasized the importance of working out. 

“it’s all about confidence. When you’re confident with your body, it really does show on stage and how you carry yourself with your presence and your aura as well too,” she said.

“It’s not necessarily how we look but how we feel internally so we can be our best selves,” Miss Ilocos said.

Apart from working out, Lipa said confidence can also be credited to self-love. This includes skincare and fitness routines.

“Learning what makes your body work best is what could make you feel healthy, feel fit, and feel good about yourself,” she said.

Miss Dumaguete Shamara Krupa may just be 18-years young, but she also has great advice to share on how to keep a beauty queen body in terms of diet.

“I’ve never been overweight,” she said. “I think one thing that really helped me is kickboxing in the gym.”

Another thing that helps her is her diet which includes substituting white rice with a low-calorie alternative like Konjac rice.

“Sometimes if we have time, I’d have Konjac rice with Filipino breakfast,” shared Krupa.

Prior to the pageant, Sasha Lacuna of Tarlac admitted that she didn’t have a strict fitness routine that she follows, but her diet mostly consists of vegetables.

For Miss Siargao Millien Joy Cabigas, the best part of her diet - eggs.

“I take three eggs for breakfast,” she said.

After finishing their meals, Cabigas and Lacuna have easy, helpful tips to do that helped them in maintaining their physique.

For Cabigas, she said, “Just stand.”

Meanwhile, Lacuna encourages everyone to go on 10-minute walks.

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