Miss Cebu Province Apriel Smith has received a message from Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola.
During Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Preliminary Q and A aired in MUPH Ringlight's Episode 6, Apriel shared that she was inspired to join pageants after watching Leila Lopes sashay her way to the Miss Universe crown in 2011.
"As a Cebuana I've experienced a lot of discrimination and bullying. I didn't know that I have this worth of joining any pageants. And when Leila Lopes won Miss Universe, I got inspired. I want to be an inspiration to the little Apriel Smiths who look up to me now."
--PAGEANTHOLOGY 101