After making her beauty pageant debut in 2022, actress Herlene Budol ended up becoming first runner-up in Binibining Philipinas where she also took home seven special awards.
She also joined the Miss Grand Philippines pageant the following year, but went viral after receiving flak for the unexpected way she answered a question during the Q&A portion of the contest.
The sexy comedienne, best known as Hipon Girl, later apologized to the public, explaining that she was nervous and did not fully understand the question. Herlene revealed that all the bashing she received from the incident affected her deeply.
Since then, the 26-year-old actress has focused on acting.
During the grand launch of the new local entertainment app, Star Sinemax, Herlene revealed that she is not closing the door on beauty pageants just yet.
“Hindi natin masigurado pero madaming nag-ta-try na yayain ako mag-pageant ulit. Why not di ba? Pero tingnan natin yung tamang panahon. Siyempre yung boss amo manager ko pa rin, si Wilbert Tolentino na yung bahala kung saan ako dadalhin. Pero actually, dapat this year may nag-invite sa akin, sila sir ALV (Arnold Vegafria). Pero nasa tamang panahon pa rin talaga siya.
"Ayoko naman i-disclose din na parang umayaw ako or ayaw nila sa akin pero nasa point na parang nasa tamang panahon pa rin yung pagbabalik. If ever, kapag hindi inabutan ng tanda, kasi patanda na po ako ng patanda kaya tingnan natin. Siyempre yung katawan, yung face, ano, walang kabulukan? (laughs) Siyempre meron tayong hangganan kung hanggang saan. At saka huwag na kayo masyado mag-expect, hindi naman ako masyado nagtatrabaho sa utak ko kaya ready na ba kayo i-bash ako ulit? (laughs) Yun lang yun,” she said.
As one of the featured artists pn Star Sinemax, Herlene stars in her first horror film along with co-star Mon Confiado, who plays her husband in the online film.
“Ang title ng horror film na prinoduce ng Star Sinemax is The Haunted Bride. Sana mapanuod niyo kasi nahihiya ako kasi first time ko talaga mag-horror kaya parang kabado ako. Excited din ako na mapanuod ko din kasi hindi rin siya pinapasilip sa akin basta-basta para daw pati ako ma-excite. At saka siyempre, si sir Mon (Confiado) din yung kasama ko, sobrang batikan na nun. Inalalayan niya rin ako. Kahit si direk din. Kaya sobrang happy ako. Mag-asawa kami ni sir Mon dun sa storya. Ang daming eksena baka makuwento ko na lahat (laughs).
"Pero ako yung tao, ako rin yung multo. Ako yung bride (laughs). Mahirap pong manakot. Akala ko mas madaling manakot kumpara sa pagpapatawa. Mas madali pala na magpatawa na lang kumpara sa manakot kasi sobrang trying hard ko (laughs). Sobrang trying hard yung feeling ko habang ginagawa ko po siya pero sinabi naman nila ni direk na okay naman daw,” she explained.
During her first time working with Mon on another show, Herlene revealed how it almost “traumatized” her, but in a good way. “Kasi si sir Mon, first tme ko siya makasama work sa Tadhana, isang GMA show. Ang nangyari kasi nun, hindi niya ako kinakausap. Sabi ko, ‘Ay, baka ganun talaga siya.; Yun pala, after nung show namin, sinabi niya sa akin na, ‘Pasensiya ka na ha hindi na muna kita kakausapin kasi nag-i-in character ako na takutin talaga kita. Kaya mas maganda na after na lang kita kausapin.’ Ang galing niya!” she added.
With her latest project being launched on a streaming app for the first time, Herlene said she welcomed her film being seen on different platforms. “Siyempre iba pa rin pag sa sinehan, di ba? Pero maganda rin na mag-explore rin tayo sa iba’t ibang platform, lalo na sumisikat na rin yung social media. Kahit ako na-hu-hook na rin ako sa mga clickbait ng mga show sa social media. At saka ang gaganda (ng mga gawa) in fairness din sa kanila,” she admitted.