PH wins back-to-back crowns in Malaysia, Thailand pageants

The Philippines has asserted anew its dominance in the international pageant arena with two back-to-back finishes in different competitions held in neighboring Southeast Asian countries, just a week after Michelle Marquez Dee entered the Top 10 in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant.

Mutya ng Pilipinas Jeanette Reyes succeeded Filipino queen Angelica Pantaliano as Miss Tourism Metropolitan International at the 2023 Miss Tourism International pageant held at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Sabah, Malaysia, on Saturday evening.

Just hours before her coronation, Misters of Filipinas king RJ De Vera received the Man Hot Star International title from last year’s Filipino winner Jovy Bequillo at the culmination of the male search held at the Sansuk Grand Hall of Bangsaen Heritage Hotel in Chon Buri, Thailand.

Reyes’ title was just one of the five bestowed in the Malaysia tilt. The top prize went to Thailand’s Tia Li Taveepanichpan, who also posted back-to-back wins for her country by inheriting her Miss Tourism International crown from her compatriot Suphatra Kliangprom.

The Filipino queen, meanwhile, also received the Miss Southeast Asia Tourism Ambassador title. “To my kababayans, I hope I made you proud with the crowns I will bring home. I’m bringing home two crowns!” Reyes told the Inquirer in an online interview facilitated by the Mutya ng Pilipinas organization.

“I dedicate my win to the Philippines, of course, and most especially to my motivation, my nephew who passed away last year. He’s my inspiration, that’s why I’m always trying to do my best to make him proud,” Reyes said.

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“This new crown, it symbolizes my hard work and dedication, in everything that I did for my pageant journey. And I think there’s nothing impossible if you have the courage to try. So, you just have to believe in yourself. And that’s when magic happens,” she added.

The Philippines is the best-performing country in the Malaysia-based tilt with five Miss Tourism International titleholders—Peachy Manzano (2000), the late Rizzini Alexis Gomez (2013), Angeli Dione Gomez (2014), Jannie Loudette Alipo-on (2017), and Cyrille Payumo (2019). INQ