Fil-Canadian Riza Raquel Santos will represent the Philippines at the Miss Global 2019 international pageant to be held in Oaxaca, Mexico on Jan. 18 as officially announced byPauline Sofia Laping, national director & CEO of Miss Global Philippines.
Santos, a 30-year-old pageant veteran who represented Canada at the Miss Earth 2006, Miss World 2011 and Miss Universe 2013, was handpicked to succeed Miss Global Philippines 2018 Mary Eileen Gonzales.
Santos, born in Calgary, Alberta and raised by her Filipino-immigrant parents, is a graduate of the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering and presently works as vice president of Argyle Fox Inc., a technology firm based in Calgary Alberta.
The 5-foot-7 Santos, a former actress and TV host, was named runner up in ABS-CBN Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2 in 2007.
Santos, like Pia Wurtzbach, experienced controversy when she competed at Miss Universe Canada in 2013 where she was wrongfully declared as first runner-up due to typo-error in the ratings sheet, but was eventually corrected, just like Steve Harvey did at the 2015 Miss Universe pageant.
Also, at last year’s Miss Global 2018 pageant, held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila, where Miss Hong Kong Sophia Ng won the crown, host Ethan Salvador also committed a mistake of announcing Miss Canada Amber Lynn Bernachi as 2nd runner up instead of Miss Uzbekistan Tamila Khodjaeva.
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Zamboangeña vies for World Top Model International title
An air of positivity pervaded during the send-off press conference for World Model Philippines 2019 April May Short. The event also served as victory homecoming for Cyrille Payumo’s title conquest in the recent Miss Tourism International 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the fifth winner from the Philippines.
“It’s an early Christmas gift for the Filipino people and pageant aficionados,” said Cory Quirino, president of Mutya Pilipinas organization, who presided the twin celebration event held at CWC Interiors BGC, Taguig City recently.
“It feels so good to be back home with the crown on my head and I’m happy to bring so much pride for our country,” Payumo said even as she thanked all who have supported her in her quest.
Short, on the other hand, is a 25-year-old, 5-foot-10 Zamboanga native. She is the first Filipina to compete at the prestigious World Top Model International 2019 in Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco.
The statuesque model earned the right to represent the Philippines after winning World Top Model Philippines 2019 at the 51st Mutya Pilipinas search last August.
Short, former Miss Zamboanga 2018, Top Model 2013 and Top 15 Bb. Pilipinas 2019 semi-finalist, holds a BS Accountancy degree from the University of Zamboanga and is pursuing a Masters of Business Administration at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. She loves dancing and plays the guitar and banduria.
Short has worked for various local designers and has undergone training with the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) in preparation for the Monte Carlo modeling competition that will run from Dec. 11 to 14 at Fairmont, Monte Carlo, Salle de le Mer.
The grand winner of World Top Model International will receive a cash prize of Euro 200,000 ($225,260) and a guaranteed modeling contract with MAJOR Models Management in Paris, Milan, New York, Miami, and Munich.
