Loren Artajos
MISS Philippines Earth second runner-up Loren Artajos will be taking over as Miss Philippines Earth to continue the reign left by Imelda Schweighart after her controversial resignation.
Her assumption to the crown was announced by Carousel Productions president Ramon Monzon at a party for Miss Earth 2016 winners held at the Oakwood Hotel in Pasig City last Wednesday night.
Loren, a nursing graduate from Laoag City, was named Miss Philippines Water in June.
Kiara Giel Gregorio, the first runner-up of this year’s competition, was supposed to fill in the vacant post but she had to refuse because of her prior commitments in London.
Kiara is a law student. She is in scholarship with the University of Westminster in London. She represented the Filipino community in London and was crowned Miss Philippines Air.
The confusion regarding the succession came after Schweighart stepped down following social media backlash caused by her controversial statements.
Schweighart failed to qualify in the top 16 of Miss Earth 2016, which was won by Miss Ecuador’s Katherine Espín.
After the pageant, a video of Schweighart bashing the newly crowned Espin circulated online.
She also earlier drew flak for likening PresidentRodrigo Duterte to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.