ACTOR Cris Villanueva and his wife former fashion model-turned-businesswoman Zhar Carbonell are playing a different role these days: As ever supportive parents of Miss World Philippines 2017 candidate Zhaniethia Antoinette Carbonell-Villanueva or better known as Zara Carbonell.
“I always tell her to be yourself and enjoy the pageant,” said Villanueva, during a meet-and-greet event for members of the pageant press at Salu Restaurant in Timog, Quezon City last Thursday.
“Gusto n’ya talaga mag-artista. Kinukuha na nga sya ni Tita Angge para sa show business. After isang teleserye, mas gusto n’ya ang hosting and pageants,” the actor said, who was last seen in the hit movie “Barcelona.”
Asked what it felt like watching her daughter competed in previous pageants, Villanueva said: “Para kaming nilulunod.
Pero syempre hindi naming pinapakita sa kanya ‘yung nararamdaman namin kasi baka maapektuhan sya.”
Cris said that it’s alright for her daughter to carry the surname of Carbonell instead of Villanueva. “That’s her screen name – Zara Carbonell.”
Zhar said she and Cris are supportive parents to the dreams and goals of their seven children.
“This is a full family affair. It’s not something that we let her do it all by herself. When she feels bad, ay naku, family meeting ito. Pag may nagsabing ‘Zara ang taba-taba mo pa rin, konti pa.’ and she will say ‘I’m doing everything and they’re saying it again?’
“Every day, my son Gian wakes up to take her sister Zara. Kami talaga, one for all, all for one. At the end of the day, it’s your family pa rin who will support you. Gusto n’ya talaga ito (beauty contest). Gusto n’ya ang platform ng Miss World,” she said.
This multi-talented young woman has graced the television screen in various commercials and a few stints on soap opera here and there.
Asked why she joined Miss World Philippines, Zara said: “The world truly does speak to those who learn to listen by learning to recognize its languages because after years of praying, training, preparing, and soul-searching, I have found my ‘why.’
“If the intention is clear, the mechanisms will appear. So, here’s to standing up and creating a better platform for dialogue and communication for learning the importance of every individual’s journey to self awareness!
“The better you become at being yourself, the more you will be able to give to the world,” she said.
Zara, 24, travels a lot and has started her own v-log called “In Zee’s Shoes.” She’s also into soccer, Muay Thai, and boxing to keep her fit.
She finished Organizational Communication at the De La Salle University on Taft Avenue in Manila.
Zara said that she always wanted to become a beauty queen. And being a beauty is included in her bucket list. Her career as a beauty queen started when she joined Bb. Colegio San Agustin-Makati where she won several awards and became one of the semifinalists.
Later, Zara won the titles Miss Teenager Universe-Philippines and World Miss University-Philippines. And the rest is history.
