Herlene Budol has spoken up after her past issue with Miss Manila 2020 Alexandra Abdon resurfaced when she won first runner-up in Binibining Pilipinas.
To recall, Herlene and Alexandra had a face-off on TV host Willie Revillame’s Wowowin show in December 2020 after an alleged misunderstanding at an event.
In the said episode, Alexandra told Herlene, who’s more known to the public as Hipon Girl, is not fitting enough to become a beauty queen.
“Kahit magpa-pageant ang nanay ni Hipon sa bahay nila, hindi siya qualified. Hindi ka qualified Hipon. Yung standards, yung qualification, medyo tagilid tayo ‘dun,” she said.
Alexa, at the time, trended on social media as netizens called out for her “rude behavior” towards Herlene.
Willie, later asked netizens to stop bashing Alexa online as the face-off was just a playful banter between the latter and Herlene.
Herlene, however, admitted in a recent interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila that she was hurt over her exchange with Alexa, which she said felt personal.
The beauty queen, nevertheless, said she holds no grudges against Alexa as they had settled their differences right away.
“Sinabi niya po na scripted, pero sa part ko po kasi, hindi ako nasabihan na scripted, eh. So, baka sana tinropa na lang niya ako, baka mas naging magandang tandem pa kami,” said Herlene.
She continued, “Wala naman po akong sama ng loob sa kanya kasi dati nagkaayos na po kami. Two years ago na po yung isyu na iyon, parang binabalik-balikan pa po nila.
“Nasaktan po ako, siyempre buong pagkatao ko iyon sinabi niyang… pati nanay ko dinamay niya pa, e.”
For the 22-year-old, she believes it was God’s will for her to make a name for herself in the pageantry.
“Siguro Diyos na rin yung nagplano ng buhay ko kaya siguro dinala ako dito. Kasi nung time naman po na iyon, wala naman akong balak.
“So, siguro para lang din po ma-realize ng ibang tao na kung sino yung ibinababa, itinataas ng Panginoon.”
