By Susan Palmes-Dennis
A beauty pageant of sorts capped off the birthday party of Muffy P. Therrien at her Spencer Mountain home in Charlotte, North Carolina last January 6.
The pageant is included in Muffy's Around The World contest and is now on its third year. This time the pageant was won by Amie Mendoza Ervay who represented Vietnam and was crowned Ms World.
About 20 countries were represented in the contest aside from Ervay, other winners were Gayzel Carballo 1st runner up represented Saudi Arabia, Dhi Donato who represented India and is 2nd runner up, Elvie Bramich representing Indonesia landed 3rd runner up.
Other winners were Marjorie Enriquez Ray who represented Peru and won MS Talent, Connie Vitug who won Ms Congeniality and Alma Redelosa Alindao Butler who won Ms Photogenic, Best in costume representing Argentina was awarded to Nora Gardner.
The contestants gamely wore native costumes of the countries they represented which they made themselves. They competed in both talent and the question and answer portions.
This contest/pageant started in 2015 during the birthday of Muffy T Therrien. In its first year, Myra Tranquilino got the crown.
Lest we forget, here's some background info on the birthday celebrant Muffy P Therrien: She graduated AB Psychology from Philippine Christian University and earned her masters degree at Strayer University specializing in Health Services Administration.
She graduated with a 4.0 GPA and she is also a member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society and Golden Key International Honor Society.
While pursuing her MBA, Muffy worked as a Starbucks manager in uptown Charlotte. She has a seven-year-old daughter Miko who shares her interest in cooking.
Muffy loves to be around people and she helped enliven the spirits of Filipino-Americans in the Charlotte, North Carolina community particularly at the Gastonia area.
Her friend Tonette Asay has this to say: “Nagalak ang marami mong kaibigan at kamag-anak sa kasiyahan na naganap sa iyong kaarawan celebrasiyun ng araw ng iyong kapanganakan sa Spencer Mountain, Dallas/Ranlo, NC nuong ika 6 ng Enero 2018 (A lot of your friends and family are happy at the joyous celebration of your natal day at Spencer Mountain, Dallas/Ranio North Carolna last Jan. 6, 2018).”
Asay, who represented Egypt, attended the party despite undergoing a cyst removal procedure in the chest and a face plastered on the left side a day before the event.
It’s that one day of the year when people laugh and celebrate their birthday and they share it with people who care about them. That’s what happened to Muffy who got to spend her special day with friends at her home.
I love birthdays and I am sorry to have missed your birthday party, Muffy P. Therrien. I could have represented Timbuktu.
