Can another volleybelle wear a crown this year?
Mary Joy Dacoron wants to spread kindness, love, and joy.
This volleyball player explained why she chose to join a beauty pageant, days before Binibining Pilipinas announced she was part of their top 40 candidates for this year.
Dacoron, who has played for the Adamson Lady Falcons, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, and the Cignal HD Spikers, tried to join the pageant last year but failed to break into the top 40.
This time though, the 27-year-old middle blocker finally got her headshot.
Dacoron revealed she had been struggling whether to continue her dream of becoming a beauty queen, while competing as a volleyball athlete.
"Dami kong silent battles last year. Dumating ako sa point na ako na yung umayaw sa passion ko sa paglalaro ng volleyball," she shared in an Instagram post. "Araw-araw hinahanap ang sarili, ano ba talaga ang purpose ko sa buhay? Halong kaba at takot sa sarili, kakayanin ko ba? Kaya ko ba?"
In the end, she found her inspiration right in her own name.
"Napagtantuhan ko na proud ako sa sarili ko sa lahat ng pinagdadanan ko, na nalalagpasan ko at paninindigan ko na abutin ang aking mas malawak na pangarap sa buhay na mamahagi ng aking talento at magbigay inspirasyon," Dacoron wrote.
"Maikili lang ang buhay. Piliin nating maging masaya at mamahagi ng ating kasiyahan sa iba."
Check out her look as a member of the Kagandahang Flores pool.
And as an athlete who constantly trains her body, no doubt Dacoron would kill it in the swimsuit competition.
She can also carry elaborate costumes, as seen in this "Vegas Swan Queen" runway piece.
Creamline Cool Smashers' Michele Gumabao previously made a run in the pageant scene, winning as Binibining Pilipinas Globe in 2018 and finishing Miss Globe in the top 15. She joined another competition, the Miss Universe Philippines in 2020 where she was hailed as the second runner-up.
Can Dacoron replicate or even improve on Gumabao's success? One thing is for sure, she will definitely have the volleyball community behind her.