Model-entrepreneur crowned Miss Supranational
The Philippines further secured its place in the international pageant scene when Katrina Llegado bested 66 other aspirants in the Miss Supranational competition in Poland on Friday evening (early morning Saturday in Manila).
The 28-year-old model and entrepreneur from Taguig City was given the title by last year’s winner, Brazil’s Eduarda Braum, as she became the second Filipino woman to win the crown.
Llegado’s victory came 13 years after Binibining Pilipinas Mutya Johanna Datul scored the Philippines’ first-ever Miss Supranational victory in 2013 at the international pageant’s fifth edition held in Belarus.
With Llegado’s win, the Philippines also sustained its placement streak in 14 successive editions, beginning in 2012 when model Elaine Kay Moll finished third runner-up.
Her ‘best version’
Now with two wins, the Philippines has dislodged India as the best-performing country in the Miss Supranational pageant’s 17-year history
The South Asian nation also has two winners and 14 total placements, but was edged out of the top spot because it did not have any runners-up, unlike the Philippines.
During the final round of the competition, Llegado was asked to share “the moment you stopped trying to become the woman the world expected and started becoming the woman you’re really meant to be.”
She responded: “I always believe that we should never fit into a mold. We are perfectly imperfect. I am someone who struggles [with] perfection, but I am here today doing my best and becoming my best version.”
“And here in Miss Supranational, I know I belong. I know [there’s] a place for me and this is becoming Supra, above and beyond,” Llegado said.
HIspanoamericana runner-up
The Miss Supranational pageant is Llegado’s second international competition. She previously represented the Philippines in the 2019 Reina Hispanoamericana contest in Bolivia and was proclaimed “quinta finalista” (fifth runner-up).
The beauty titlist—a military reservist—graduated cum laude from De La Salle University with a degree in financial management.
She is also cofounder of beauty brand Clocheflame, of which she is chief financial officer.
Finishing second to Llegado in the Poland pageant was another seasoned contender, Eve Gilles of France, who was a semifinalist at the 74th Miss Universe pageant.
Completing the winners’ circle are second runner-up Lara Marina of Brazil, third runner-up Ndah Eno of Nigeria and fourth runner-up Karolina Gorylova of the Czech Republic.
