‘Wise move’ to give Kris Janson the Intercontinental crown?

CEBU, Philippines - Just what is the Miss Intercontinental pageant that our very own Kris Tiffany Janson is set to compete on later this year, after landing the new and first-ever Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental title Sunday night?

Last year’s Philippine representative to the Miss Intercontinental finals held December in Germany came from the Mutya ng Pilipinas flagship. She was Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific 2013 Koreen Medina, who contributed to our country’s pageant haul last year with a third runner-up finish and the Queen of Asia and Oceania title. (Russia won the Miss Intercontinental 2013 crown.)

Rumor has it that the Miss Intercontinental franchise holder was amazed and inspired by the popularity garnered by the then-unknown Miss Supranational pageant, after Elaine Moll’s third runner-up placement in 2012 and Mutya Datul’s victory in 2013 — both under the Binibining Pilipinas banner. The short of it, the franchise reportedly transferred to the Binibining Pilipinas organization, thus the addition of a fifth crown this year.

In its 43-year existence, the Miss Intercontinental crown has remained elusive to a Filipina, and to a South East Asian for that matter. Reports state that the Philippines’ highest placement in the Panama-based contest has been second runner-up, with five semifinalists.

So while fans have wished for a Miss Universe Philippines or Binibining Pilipinas-International triumph for our lovely Cebuana, those in-the-know theorize it was a strategic choice and wiser move to hand Janson the Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental crown. They opine that giving her the Supranational or International titles would be a waste, as a back-to-back feat is, while entirely possible, an uphill climb considering pageant politics at play. Surely, pageant owners have to keep other nations happy and not let the Philippines keep on winning, is what pageant critics say.

As the Miss Universe Philippines crown deservedly went to MJ Lastimosa, naming Janson for Intercontinental gives the country a strong shot at finally clinching the Miss Intercontinental title. Or so they say.

In its official website, Miss Intercontinental states that it has approximately 70 countries vying for the title each year. According to its history, “the internationally-recognized pageant began in 1971 as a promotional event for the tourism on the island of Aruba. Starting as a teen pageant, it became directly an annual event after it attracted strong TV ratings following its debut in Oranjestad, Aruba. End of the 70s, the pageant moved abroad to many other exotic places.”

Janson, radiant in a rose pink-colored evening gown, also won Miss Photogenic after earlier winning the Best in National Costume award.

The Miss Cebu 2009 title-holder was seen letting out a nervous breath during the Q&A, as she stood beside hosts Xian Lim and Anne Curtis. A Toastmasters Cebu member, the 24-year-old model and finance analyst had Anne remarking that she made her emotional after seamlessly blurting out her answer.

Through a pre-taped video, Janson was asked by renowned fashion designer Michael Cinco, “If you could go back in time, what would you change and why?” To which Janson replied, “If I could go back in time, I would go back to my father [who passed away due to a heart attack] and tell him I love him, since it was something I took for granted. But tonight, I know he has the best seat in the house from above, and that I am one step closer to achieving his dream for me.” — VAB