MANILA, Philippines – After her first runner-up finish in the 2012 Miss Universe pageant, Janine Tugonon is setting her eyes on an acting project.

The beauty queen, who has gained endorsement deals after her impressive performance in the prestigious pageant, said she is willing to undergo workshops in preparation for a career in showbiz.

“I want to really try acting because I haven’t tried it before. Just to test kung kaya ko,” Tugonon said in an interview on “Mornings@ANC” on Thursday.

She was quick to add, however, that she has yet to be offered a contract or a project. “Wala pa naman pero [for now] I need a workshop,” she said.

Asked who she wants to be her first leading man, Tugonon instantly remembered her showbiz crush. “Jericho Rosales, he’s really great in acting,” she said.

Last year, Tugonon was hesitant about the idea of joining showbiz, saying, “I don’t know kasi acting is not… I’m not really good.”

But she did not close any doors. “Pero I think kung meron man mag-open na opportunity, I’ll grab it,” she said.

Tugonon’s predecessors, Shamcey Supsup and Venus Raj, have forged their own paths after their runner-up finishes in the Miss Universe pageant.

Supsup is currently an architect by profession, while Raj is one of the hosts of the ABS-CBN morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

Some of the beauty queens who have ventured into showbiz include Charlene Gonzales, Ruffa Gutierrez, Gloria Diaz and Miriam Quiambao.