Beauty queen, TV host, movie actress, product endorser. Now add “bride-to-be” to that long list of Miriam Quiambao’s credits.

After her much publicized romance with TV personality Hans Montenegro and her equally-publicized breakup with him less than a year later, Miriam has finally found the man of her dreams. The statuesque beauty who almost snagged the Miss Universe Crown in 1999, when she finished in second place, has also gone international in her choice of a lifetime partner.

Meet the future Mr. Miriam Quiambao—Italian businessman Claudio Rondinelli. Unfortunately for Claudio, that’s how Filipinos will identify him because his name is not familiar to the show biz audience. He will always be known as the husband of Miriam Quiambao despite his impressive credentials.

Claudio is a self-made man (that’s how Miriam describes him) and has a thriving import-export business in Hong Kong. Looking at his photos with Miriam, local observers will probably gush over how dashing and debonair Claudio is.

Standing 6’2” the 37-year-old businessman could easily pass for a Hollywood movie star. We agree with Miriam that he looks like Jean Claude Van Damme but it’s not just his looks that endeared him to Miriam.

Ever the analytical person, Miriam looked at several factors in the choice of her lifetime partner. “First of all, I want my man to have self-confidence. Claudio started with nothing and was able to build a successful business enterprise. He’s a self-made man. His dad died when he was only four while his mom passed away when he was 20. Despite the setbacks, he managed to make something of his life.”

“I want my man to respect my individuality,” she continues. “Claudio has not asked me to quit show biz because he knows I am happy with what I am doing. Another thing that impressed me was his uncanny ability to relate to children and animals. When he was growing up, he was known as ‘St. Francis of Assisi’ because of the way he treated animals. I like that because it shows what a kind person he is”

Miriam and Claudio share so many things. “We’re both Catholics. His temperament is very Filipino. What they say about Italians is true. They’re the Pinoys of Europe. We also have the same sense of humor. It’s incredible. We laugh at the same things. I don’t have to explain my jokes to him.”

Claudio was not the only one courting the beauty queen. A Filipino businessman had also proposed marriage and Miriam was seriously choosing between the two. Using the factors mentioned earlier, she could see that Claudio was ahead on all counts. Miriam was still unsure so she prayed for God to give her a sign.

Right after she sought divine intervention, Miriam and the Pinoy swain started having fights. The disagreements were petty at first but gradually she realized that she would be happier with Claudio. Last September 13, Claudio popped the question and Miriam happily agreed to his proposal.

Was it love at first sight? It was for Claudio, says Miriam, but it took her a while to fall for the Italian. They were first introduced at the Peninsula Hotel by fashion designer Rhett Ayala, who incidentally is doing her gown. That first meeting led to several dates and before she realized it, they became an item.

So sometime in January 2004, Miriam will march down the aisle and become Mrs. Rondinelli. Except her shoes will be walking on sand because they are getting married in Boracay. The ceremony will be an intimate one — only 100 people have been invited.

“Both of us love the sea so we decided to get married in Boracay,” gushes Miriam.

“Claudio and I wanted to keep it simple so we’re only inviting close friends and associates. She’s still considering whether the wedding will be televised on GMA as other celebrity weddings have been.

Unfortunately for her countless fans, Miriam will no longer be that visible in local show biz. She is quitting her daily “Extra, Extra” reality show on GMA which means her co-host Paolo Bediones will probably get a new partner.

For a while, show biz observers were hoping she and Paolo would end up together. When we interviewed the pair recently, Paolo explained that in the years they’ve been together, “hindi kami nagkakatugma. There was never a time that both of us were unattached.”

The situation never changed. Paolo is involved with someone who is finishing her studies in Canada. Miriam did admit that she and Paolo have a special relationship that goes beyond friendship. It was very evident during the press con for their movie with Sharon Cuneta and Richard Gomez. They kept embracing each other and having a private conversation while the Q and A was going.

She is also the host of the woman’s show All About You but the program changes hosts every three months so she’ll be done with the show in February. That doesn’t mean she will quit the entertainment scene altogether. “If there are worthwhile projects, I can always fly back. Claudio won’t mind,” says Miriam.

Miriam says she would like to do action movies next in the style of Charlie’s Angels and Lara Croft. That’s a great idea since there is no actress right now who has made a name as an action star. The reason is that most actresses are not willing to undergo the long training and physical effort required to tackle action scenes before the cameras roll.

Miriam is thinking of accepting modeling assignments and even TV assignments in Hong Kong if the opportunities arise. She is confident that things will open up for her in her new address.

Miriam looks at her marriage as the beginning of another chapter in her colorful life. She calls it the union of two complete persons who have decided to share the rest of their lives together. She has accomplished so much since her glory days as Miss Universe runner-up. Back then, she had a boyfriend of many years and people thought she would ultimately end up with him. Then Miriam took a workshop that changed her life forever. She realized she had so many issues to settle in her life and she learned how to deal with these issues.

Eventually, she broke up with her boyfriend and with her positive outlook, she embarked on a successful career in television that took her from hosting an early morning show called Unang Hirit and doing a daily magazine show with Paolo to a feature film with Sharon and Richard.

When we first met Miriam, it was at a press conference for a feminine wash that she was endorsing. She struck us as a smart person, rather shy but with plenty of ideas between her ears. Years later, Miriam and I were in Taipei to interview Matt Damon, star of The Bourne Identity and she really impressed us as a go-getter. When she interviewed Damon, she did what no other interviewer had done. She managed to ask the actor to demonstrate his martial arts routine in the movie. She even brought her own videocam so she could take shots of the actor during the general pres