Cebuana model-host wins int’l pageant in Cambodia
The Philippines has further asserted its dominance in the international pageant arena when Filipino contender Maria Gigante emerged victorious in the 2024 Universal Woman competition held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday evening.
The Cebuana model and host reaped thunderous applause and cheers during the final round of the competition. In her speech, she said, “To me, Universal Woman means the future. I learned in working with this organization that I want to live in a world that is filled with respect and collaboration, one that encourages us to step into our differences instead of ignoring them, and learn to harness them in order to effect positive social change.”
New era of beauty
She added, “I want to be in this organization because I feel that I am not alone. I am one in an army of women who are ready and willing to make a difference, to support a world that is not only sustainable, but stands for economic progress, and positive inclusive social impact. If you are here tonight, welcome to the new era of beauty.”
The contest’s tagline is “we are the new era of beauty,” and it is open to women between 25 and 45 years old, with no restrictions on height, weight and marital status. Even mothers can take part in the international pageant.
Gigante edged out the delegate from another international pageant powerhouse for the title, Venezuela’s Lisandra Chirinos, who settled for the first runner-up spot. The Filipino queen’s victory also dashed the South American country’s dream of scoring back-to-back victories in the global tilt.
Venezuelan beauty Valentina Sanchez won in the first edition held in the United Arab Emirates last year.
Gigante’s social project was also among the Top 5 chosen by the selection committee. She also received the Universal Woman Sympathy title during the preliminary competition and garnered the most online votes to earn the Universal Woman Social Media award during the final show.
Three more ladies were included in Gigante’s court. They are second runner-up Elisa Myshyne from France, third runner-up Brianna Mai from the host country and fourth runner-up Tavera Pena Chabelli from the Dominican Republic.
Pageant veteran
Gigante is a national pageant veteran. Besides joining both the Binibining Pilipinas and Miss World Philippines pageants, she was also crowned as Bb. Cebu-Charity in the first-ever Bb. Cebu contest in 2017.
She was appointed as Universal Woman Philippines 2024 by talent manager and entrepreneur Arnold Vegafria, the man behind ALV Pageant Circle, which mounts the annual Miss World Philippines pageant that Gigante joined in 2022.
It has not been officially announced whether the Universal Woman Philippines title will be on the roster of national crowns that will be awarded in the next Miss World Philippines pageant, but ALV Pageant Circle has already made a call for applicants for the national contest’s 2024 edition. INQ
