The crowning of Catriona Gray (No. 1) as 2018 Miss Universe in Thailand last Dec. 17 affirmed the Philippines’ reputation as “Asia’s powerhouse in beauty pageants.” Catriona holds the record of beating the most number of delegates (with 94) in the 67th editions of the Miss Universe pageant.
Besides Catriona, here are the Philippine beauties who reaped international honors in 2018 (you will be surprised how many other beauty contests there are!!!), compiled by Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas:
• Sharifa Akeel (No. 2), 2018 Miss Asia Pacific International, Pasay City, Philippines;
• Cynthia Thomalla (No. 3), 2018 Miss Eco International, Egypt;
• Ma. Athisa Manalo (No. 4), first runner-up in the 2018 Miss International, Japan;
• Katarina Rodriguez (No. 5), first runner-up in the 2017/18 Miss Intercontinental and Miss Asia & Oceania, Egypt;
• Zara Carbonell, 2018 Miss Tourism Worldwide, Batam, Indonesia;
• Aya Fernandez, 2018 Miss Tourism Dream Girl of the Year International, Malaysia;
• Karen Grace Atienza, 2018 Miss Landscapes International, China;
• Gerina Chanel Ancheta, 2018 Miss Asian International, Thailand;
• Kaycee Lim, 2018 Miss Summer World, Albania;
• Czarina Burgos, 2018 Miss Tourism Ambassador Universe, Malaysia.
• Sarah Bona, 2018 Miss Progress Environment International, Italy;
• Audine Villarama, 2018 Miss International Monspace Cosmos, Malaysia;
• Esraphelle Tambong, 2018 Miss China ASEAN Etiquette, Thailand;
• Sophia Senoron, 2018 Miss Multinational, India;
• Anne Legaspi, 2018 Miss Super Photo Model Universe, Cebu, Philippines;
• Charlene Rosco, 2018 Miss Top of the World Plus Size, Cebu City, Philippines;
• Simone Nadine Bornilla, 2018 Miss Teen International Asia & Oceania, India;
• Gemeli Tocao, 2018 Miss International Teen, Thailand;
• Diosem Budios, 2018 Teen Miss Global United, Minnesota, USA;
• Selin Hernandez, 2018 Miss Teen Hope International, South Africa;
• Sofia Loreen Cruz, 2018 Miss Teen Planet, Bulgaria;
• Kisha Guinto Broczki, 2018 Teen Face of the World, United Kingdom and 2018 Best Teen Model of the Universe, Italy;
• Liz Legeza, 2018 Miss Teen Asian, Thailand;
• Joy Bucao, 2018 Miss Teenager Asia, Mexico;
• Henna Perez, 2018 Miss Teen Globe Asia, Mexico;
• Exin Guingao, 2018 Little Miss World Official Princess, Texas, USA;
• Sophia Gwen Legaspi, 2018 Mini Princess of the World Super Grand Prize, Bulgaria;
• Keena Shanelle Sularte, 2018 Pre-Teen Princess of the World Super Grand Prize, Bulgaria;
• Jean Bridgitte Babas, 2018 Little Princess of the World Grand Prize, Bulgaria;
• Isabelle Anne Dela Cruz, 2018 Teen Princess of the World Grand Prize, Bulgaria;
• Armi Oliver-Farinas, 2018 Classic Mrs. International Global Goodwill Ambassador, Malaysia, and 2018 Elite Mrs. International Universal Beauty, Singapore;
• Mitzie Go-Gil, 2018 Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism, Malaysia;
• Faye Tangonan, 2018 Ms. Universe International, Nevada, USA;
• Eurresse Talisic-Misola, 2018 Mrs. Asia Pacific All Nation, Malaysia;
• Catherine Noval-Delos Trinos, 2018 Mrs. Asia Noble Queen International, Cambodia;
• Malou Esparagoza, 2018 Lady Belleza Classica International, Dominican Republic;
• Lyn Barnard, 2018 Ambassador Mrs. Asian Mum International, Thailand.;
• Marilyn Pearce, 2018 Mrs. Classic Universe Top Asia, Sofia, Bulgaria;
• Rachelle Casillas, 2018 Transcontinental Woman of Inspiration, Georgia, USA;
• Monique Cantalejo-Rivera, 2018 Mrs. South East Asia and 2018 Mrs. International Universal Beauty, Singapore;
• Joan Saturno-Babilonia, 2018 Ms. International Global Beauty, Singapore;
• Carlo Pasion, 2018 Mister Model Worldwide, India;
• Kenley Pilarca, 2018 Mister National Universe Ambassador, Thailand;
• George Reylor De Lumen, 2018 Mister Universal Ambassador, India;
• Mark Andrew Baron, 2018 Mister Star Model Universe, Peru;
• Ken Michael Cruz, 2018 Mister Tourism Ambassador World, Malaysia;
• Joshua Helito, 2018 Mr. Asia Pacific Prince, Thailand;
• Maku Espelita, 2018 Mister Model of the Planet, Myanmar;
• Woody Andres, Jr., 2018 Mister Tourism Ambassador Universe, Malaysia;
• Kerr Michael Cruz, 2018 Mister Tourism Ambassador World, Malaysia;
• Nicole Flores, 2018 Super Sireyna Worldwide, Quezon City, Philippines;
• Michelle Biñas, 2018 Miss Mardi Gras Queen International, Australia;
• Lei Balayungan, 2018 Miss Mardi Gras Rainbow Princess, Australia; and
• Cassandra Myles, 2018 Miss Mardi Gras International Charity Queen and Pink Triangle Princess, Australia.
(For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)