The search for the country’s bet for Miss Universe 2017 pageant begins with 40 young beautiful Filipino women vying for Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2017 title and several others. Competing for the chance to follow in the footsteps of Pia Wurtzbach include an award-winning actor’s daughter, a pilot and a pair of runners up in Asia’s Next Top Model contest and Bb. Pilipinas pageant.
Maria Angelica de Leon, the 23-year-old, daughter of Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong, gives the pageant another try after her 2013 semi-finalist finish. An avid surfer, opera singer and dog-lover, De Leon resembles her aunt, former actress Pinky de Leon.
Asia’s Next Top Model (Cycle 2) 2nd runner-up Katarina Rodriguez, a 24-year-old graduate of Philosophy and Business Management at De La Salle University and a 5-foot-6 model, finished high school in Orlando, Florida.
Jehza Mae Huelar, a 21-year-old Finance graduate from Ateneo de Davao, was last year’s Bb. Pilipinas 2nd runner up. She is presently the ambassador of Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Mindanao Chapter.
Nelda Ibe, a 23-year-old 5-foot-10 student of Bachelor of Arts in English at Tarlac State University, was named 2nd Princes in Miss World Philippines 2014. Ibe, who also wants to become a pilot, completed her first solo flight as a Captain Cadet student at the Clark Aviation School.
Another favorite is Charmaine Elima, a 24-year-old Sienna College cum laude graduate in International Hospitality Management. The 5-foot-7 stunning beauty from Binangonan, Rizal was Miss Rizal 2012 and Miss Mandaluyong 2013. Elima works as a flight attendant at Philippine Airlines.
Another PAL stewardess is 23-year-old Dindi Joy Pajares, a semi-finalist at 2016 Bb. Pilipinas. The 5-foot-7 native of Balanga, Bataan, like Ibe, is a beginner’s pilot at the Fliteline Aviation School in Lucban, Quezon.
Also expected to give the other candidates a run for their money are Filipino-British beauties Sirene Sutton, Rachel Louise Peters, Fil-Aussie Chanel Olive Thomas, known in local showbiz as the ex-girlfriend of actor Jake Cuenca, and Fil-Italian Beatrice Valente.
With the grand coronation night set on April 30, this year’s search promises to be a highly competitive batch vying for the six titles at stake, apart from Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, the other titles at stake also include Bb. Pilipinas-International, Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental, Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational, Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International and Bb. Pilipinas-Globe.
