Karen Gallman’s Miss Intercontinental crown dubbed ‘most expensive’

MANILA, Philippines — The first Filipina Miss Intercontinental title holder, Karen Gallman, may be one of the luckiest pageant winners after she bagged the “most expensive pageant crown.”

Gallman, who won the pageant last Saturday, took home the Miss Intercontinental crown named “Oriental Holy Water.”

READ: Philippines’ Karen Gallman wins Miss Intercontinental crown

Miss Intercontinental Organization claims that the crown is the “most expensive pageant crown.”

According to the pageant-dedicated website Missosology the luxurious headpiece is designed by FUQI China. It is valued at around US$361,446 or P18.99 million (3 million Yuan).

FUQI China is the official jewelry sponsor of the 2005 Miss Intercontinental pageant produced by WBO.

“Its design was inspired by water, the source of life, representing the natural beauty and purity of women,” Missosology said.

“The crown will remain at the WBO Office and be used only for the crowning of each new Miss Intercontinental,” it added.

The pageant enthusiast website described the crown to be embellished with 720 diamonds with a total of 21 carats. It also reportedly has a huge .50 diamond carat.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s iconic phoenix crown, on the other hand, bears more than 100 pearls that signify power, status and beauty.

READ: LIST: What Catriona won at Miss Universe 2018

The current Miss Universe crown is designed by the former official jeweler of the pageant, Mikimoto & Co., Ltd. It is estimated to cost around $250,000 or P12.5 million.

MIO, meanwhile, said on its website that the prize money for the Miss Intercontinental pageant is worth US$45,000 or P2.36 million for the winner and runner-ups.

Gallman, 25, has beaten more than 80 contestants from around the world last Saturday in the final competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena. Like Gray, Gallman is also a Filipino-Australian beauty queen.

Miss Intercontinental was founded in 1971. Its first pageant was held on the island of Aruba.