Meet Joyce Penas Cubales, the 69-Year-Old Candidate of Miss Universe Philippines-QC
When the Miss Universe Organization announced in September 2023 the elimination of age restrictions in all its pageants, 69-year-old Joyce Pilarsky Cubales received an outpouring of messages from friends and loved ones. Those close to Cubales were aware that becoming a beauty queen had been her cherished dream. Thus, when they suggested that she join the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, her response was a resounding, “Why not?” Cubales now stands as one of the 15 candidates vying to represent Quezon City at Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
People who still attribute beauty to age should learn to “embrace change,” says Cubales, who radiates a youthful glow at 69. In our video interview, she donned an off-shoulder dress with a sweetheart neckline, showcasing her elegant collarbones and accentuating her graceful posture. She was wearing light makeup and her hair, styled in a half ponytail, cascaded beautifully over her shoulders.
Cubales in a magazine cover shoot in Dubai
“Everything is changing," she says. "Tingnan mo yung rules ng Miss Universe. Did I ever imagine na one day magche-change sila ng rules? Maiisip mo ba yun, na mag-70 na ako this year and I could still join this contest? Before, up to 28 years old lang ang age limit. Nothing is impossible now.”
Cubales reveals that she wanted to join beauty pageants when she was younger, but her late father dissuaded her. Back then, the closest she came to joining a beauty pageant was when she represented her batch in a school competition in St. Paul's.
“I was Miss Education and Charo Santos I think was Miss Mass Communication,” she fondly recalls. “Then when I took up MBA at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, I joined the Miss MBA pageant in 1982 and I won.”
This multi-faceted woman, we found out, is an achiever. Aside from being an award-winning fashion designer—she has done fashion shows in many parts of the world—she also dabbles in music and visual art. She was once an English teacher, a flight attendant, and a ramp model. She is also a naturopathic and alternative medicine doctor. But the enduring dream to become a beauty queen remained in her heart.
A magazine centerfold featuring her men's collection
Later in life, as a married woman, she decided to realize these dreams. She joined different pageants including the 2017 edition of Mrs. Universe, where she bagged the “Mother of the Universe” special award. She also won the Mrs. Philippines Germany title in 2000, and the Mrs. Asia International, Mrs. Asia International Global, and Mrs. Ecotourism pageants in 2014.
By joining the Miss Universe Philippines, Cubales hopes to share her experiences to other younger contestants.
“If ever, I will be the oldest candidate in Miss Universe Philippines. So that means I have more experiences to share with them. I’m sure that the younger generation can learn something from me that they can use later in life.”
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Cubales also wants to serve as a role model to other people. “I’m very careful with my words, and I really try to encourage others to practice self-discipline, to take care of their bodies and live a healthy life,” she says.
Get to know Cubales more in this Q&A:
You didn’t become a beauty queen in your younger years, but you became a ramp model.
Yes. I was one of the Hyatt models back in the day, alongside Bessie Badilla. Almost every day we had a luncheon fashion show, and every week we featured different designers. I believe that was the longest luncheon fashion show in the Philippines. But then, hindi na siya nasundan.
Tell us about your growing up years.
As a child, napaka-creative ko. I had my own world. Mahilig akong mag-aral, magbasa ng libro, mag-draw, mag-paint. I sing a lot, too. Lagi akong nananalo ng first prize sa mga singing contests. I loved to dance. But then my father didn’t allow me to pursue the arts, so I took up education and I eventually became an English teacher.
Your career in fashion design started pretty late, too. How was that like?
Yes, I started my fashion designing career only 15 years ago. Initially, it was jewelry designing. Then my friends loved my creations. They encouraged me to join the Philippine Fashion Week (PFW). The following year, I started designing clothes and had my first show at the PFW.
From then on, tuluy-tuloy na. I got invited to participate in fashion shows in Paris, Germany, Brooklyn, Boston, Abu Dhabi, London, Dubai. The most recent one was the Thailand Fashion Week last year.
A lot of people discouraged me in the beginning. Sabi nila, I was already too old. I didn’t have a place in the industry, that it’s only for young people. But, I didn’t listen to them. I followed my heart.
And you know what happened? I joined competitions. I won the grand prize in the Los Angeles Design Competition in 2015. And then I won the grand prize also in Coastal Fashion Week.
And then, yung latest ko, second place ako sa London.
"Maiisip mo ba yun, na mag-70 na ako this year and I could still join this contest?"
How are you preparing for the Miss Universe Philippines-QC competition?
I always try to live a healthy lifestyle. Normal naman sa akin that I go to the gym once in a while, so wala namang pressure. I eat a balanced diet and regularly do my meditations. I exercise because that’s important to staying healthy and aging gracefully.
All of us encounter challenges every day. But then I try my best to maintain a positive attitude in life, to always look at the bright side of life.
How are you going to handle the pressures of competing with younger candidates?
Siguro naman at my age, I'm already used to a lot of pressure. (Laughs.) So I told myself, ‘kinaya ko nga before, ngayon ko pa ba hindi kayanin?’ We are all human beings, we are not machines. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na if you're young, you don't get tired. So pare-pareho lang kaming mapapagod. What I do is I just drink vitamins, eat healthy, and have more sleep, para I am prepared for the challenges ahead.
Joyce's husband, Marc, wearing her creation for a magazine shoot in the US
How do you deal with the inevitable signs of aging?
It's okay. Pag may gray hair ako, eh di tabunan, or I use a natural hair color. To prevent sagging skin, I do exercises targeted on areas prone to sagging. I make it a point to go to the gym, and if my schedule is tight, I include exercises in my daily routine like lunges, squats, and dancing.
You look blooming. You seem to have a happy love life
Marc and I have been married for four years already. We both work in fashion, and that was how we met.
I'm very happy that I have a husband who's very supportive of me. He’s a very nice, loving person, with a good heart. We have a lot of things in common because he’s also a model and a producer. We’re both health fanatics, so we go to the gym together sometimes. We go to the spa to have massages. We also do my charity works together.
I prayed to God before na sana pag nagkaroon ako ng partner, yung mabait din. Yung kapareho ko ng outlook sa buhay para we will grow together. Mabait naman si Lord, si Marc yung ibinigay. (Smiles.)
Wearing a gown she handpainted
Are there any remaining goals and dreams that you wish to achieve in life?
Oo, madami pa. I still want to produce an album. Kasi I also write my own music. I sing and play the piano. When I was growing up, pangarap ko din talagang maging singer. But my father didn’t want me to pursue a music career. Also, we have to admit the fact that one day, we will all go. So, naisip kong mag-produce ng album so people could still play my music even when I'm gone. My music could still inspire them.
I’m also planning to have an art exhibit. Kasi when I pursued fashion, painting had to take a backseat. I studied painting when I was in Germany. I do water color and oil painting. I’m more inclined to do nature painting. I have done more than 200 paintings.
I’m also writing my second book, which I hope to release this year.
Mayroon pa tayong mga wish list, things I want to do in my life. Pero siyempre unahin ko muna itong pageant.
