Ms. World Philippines 2018 Katarina Rodriguez (third from left) with (from left): 1st Princess Chanel Morales, Ms. Multinational Philippines 2018 Kimi Mugford, Ms. Eco Philippines 2018 Maureen Montagne, Reina Hispano Filipinas 2018 Alyssa Alvarez and 2nd Princess Pearl Hung
FOR the second time, Katarina Rodriguez will represent the Philippines in an international pageant. This time, it will be for the Miss World 2018 pageant to be held in Sanya, China.
The 26-year-old beauty queen was crowned Miss World Philippines 2018 at the Mall of Asia Arena (MOA) last Sunday, October 7. She succeeded Miss World Philippines 2017 Laura Lehmann.
During the question and answer portion, the Davao native was asked what she can do to some people’s opinion that beauty pageants are a form of women exploitation.
“One should live by example and I actually would like to admit that I was one of those before until I learned more about what beauty pageants are about. One thing I can tell you is that you may think it is very competitive but it is not. You understand beauty pageants when you know that it is actually not competitive against other women. It is actually competitive towards yourself and in a sense, it is all about woman empowerment. And you can feel that in this group of girls, each girl knows that we are all individually beautiful,” she said.
From the start of the pageant, Rodriguez had been one of the frontrunners.
On pageant night, she bagged several awards including Miss Bluewater Day Spa, Miss Cosmo Skin Award, Beach Beauty, Miss Resorts World Manila, and Best in Long Gown.
Even before joining Miss World Philippines, Rodriguez had already made a name for herself in national and international beauty pageants.
Rodriguez was crowned Binibinining Pilipinas 2017 Intercontinental and finished first runner-up in the Miss Intercontinental 2017 pageant held last January in Egypt.
In 2014, she made it to the Top 3 of Asia’s Next Top Model. She is currently part of Aces and Queens, a beauty camp in the country.
The rest of the winners are Maureen Montagne (Miss Eco Philippines 2018), Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez (Reina Hispano Americana Filipinas 2018), Kimi Mugford (Miss Multinational Philippines 2018), Chanel Morales (First Princess), and Pearl Hung (Second Princess).
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Cebuana beauty queen Kylah Sanchez made it to the top 10 of the competition.
Sanchez represented Compostela, Cebu and was the youngest candidate.
Another Cebuana who joined the pageant is Miss Cebu 2013 Neesha Murjani.
