PH bet is 4th in Miss World 2016 pageant
TOP FIVE Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie del Valle (fourth from left) is joined by Miss Philippines Catriona Gray, Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez,Miss Indonesia Natasha Mannuela and Miss Kenya Evelyn Thungu during the grand final
of the Miss World 2016 at the MGM National Harbor on Dec. 18 in Maryland. —AFP
of the Miss World 2016 at the MGM National Harbor on Dec. 18 in Maryland. —AFP
Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss World 2016 in the United States on Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila), edging out runners-up from the Dominican Republic and Indonesia, and beauties from around the globe.
First runner-up was Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez of the Dominican Republic, followed by Miss World Indonesia Natasha Mannuela.
Catriona Gray of the Philippines placed fourth and Kenya’s Evelyn Thungu, fifth.
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Del Valle, 19, is a brown-eyed brunette student who speaks Spanish, English and French, and hopes to get into the entertainment industry.
Crowned by Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna of Spain after the three-hour ceremonies at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland, Del Valle called it an “honor and a great responsibility” to represent her Caribbean homeland.
Gray’s Top 5 finish was met with mixed emotions, with some followers expressing disappointment over what they called an error in judgment on the part of the jurors, and others celebrating her placement as a source of pride for the Philippines.
“Catriona did her very best, there was nothing more she could have done. But everything in life is unpredictable. All we should just do is to admire her on how well she represented our country with great elegance and grace,” said Inquirer Lifestyle columnist Cory Quirino, the Miss World national director for the Philippines.
The 22-year-old model and blogger advanced to the pageant’s Top 20 when she bagged the “Multimedia Award,” one of the “fast-track” events whose winners automatically advance to the quarterfinals.
The other fast-track winners were China’s Jing Kong who topped the “Top Model” contest, Mongolia’s Bayartsegtseg Altangerel who won the Talent contest, Cook Islands’ Natalia Short who dominated the “Sports Challenge,” and Indonesia’s Mannuela whose “Beauty with a Purpose” project was deemed the best.
Del Valle, who bested 116 other aspirants, is the second woman from her country to win the global tilt, following Wilnelia Merced-Forsyth who won in 1975.
Forsyth, who was also one of the pageant’s judges, asked Del Valle during the final round, “If you have an opportunity to change something about the world, what would it be?”
Del Valle replied: “I think what I would do is send a message of how important it is to change exclusion for acceptance, to promote and provide justice for others, and the importance of helping those in need.”
For her final question, Gray was asked by Lalaguna, “Which qualities do you think it will take to wear my crown?”
The Filipino beauty replied: “I think, first of all, it takes bravery. To be a Miss World is to carry a burning torch. It is like action carried out by one to illuminate the lives of many. And I would dedicate my whole self, my love for the arts and my voice to try to uplift, empower and educate people. And it would be my greatest honor and duty to hold this torch high enough so that all the world could feel and see its light.”
Quirino applauded Gray’s performance.
“Catriona gave us all a stunning representation of the true Filipina—graceful and gracious up to the very end. While we all expected a Philippine victory, we should still consider a Top 5 placing as a blessing,” Quirino said.
Canada’s Miss World representative, Chinese-born Anastasia Lin, was embroiled in a controversy when pageant officials reportedly warned her against speaking to the press for three weeks about human rights abuses in China. She was given the green light again on Wednesday.
Last year, China blocked Lin from attending the same contest when it was held in the city of Sanya. —ARMIN P. ADINA AND AFP
Read more: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/248267/ph-bet-4th-miss-world-2016-pageant/#ixzz4TK1ATm7a
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