Miss World Philippines 2017 pageant promises to be an exciting contest with this year’s highly competitive batch of beauties competing to become the country’s representative at this year’s Miss World pageant.
Kapuso talent Winwyn Marquez and ABS-CBN Sports+Action reporter Laura Victoria Lehmann lead the early favorites during the media presentation of the 35 official candidates held recently at New World Makati Hotel.
Teresita Ssen Marquez, the 25-year-old, daughter of Alma Moreno and Joey Marquez, is in her second national pageant after competing in Bb. Pilipinas 2015 where Pia Wurtzbach finally won on her third try.
The 5-foot-6, Marketing Management graduate of San Beda College finished among the Top 15 and won the Miss Talent, Best in National Costume and “She’s so JAG” 2015 special awards.
Lehmann, a 24-year-old, Psychology major at Ateneo de Manila University and courtside reporter at UAAP games, was first runner up in Bb. Pilipinas 2014.
Other standouts during the press presentation include Cynthia Thomalla, a 22-year-old, Tourism student who was crowned Sinulog Festival Queen 2016; Jona Ili Sweett, a 22-year-old, Fil-Australian beauty , student in Hotel and Restaurant Management and Miss Eco-Tourism in Miss Philippines Earth 2015; and Janela Joy Cuaton, a 20-year-old, model from Doha, Qatar who was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International 2015 and won first runner-up at the Miss Tourism Metropolitan International 2016 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Aside from the Miss World Philippines title, three other titles are being introduced this year, namely, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2017, Miss Eco Philippines 2017 and Miss Multinational Philippines 2017.
The Miss World Philippines is now headed by Arnold Vegafria after taking over from Cory Quirino who quit as national director of the local franchise in early January. The Miss World Philippines 2017 coronation night will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sep. 3.
Photos by Edmund Chua
