Image: Facebook/Shane Tormes
The Philippines finally scored its first Miss Global victory when Shane Quintana Tormes captured the crown in the pageant’s ninth edition staged in Bali, Indonesia, on June 11.
During the Top 13 interview round, Tormes was asked to interpret the pageant’s theme song “Born to Last.”
She shared how she lost her mother to cancer in December before taking part in her first international competition.
“It means rebuilding my life until the very end. I believe that in every chapter, in every adversity, we have to stand up,” Tormes said.
She also took home the Miss Talent award.
Sandra Lim of Malaysia was first runner-up, while Brooke Rankin of Australia was second runner-up.
Sandra Boris of Lithuania and Natalia Gurgel of Brazil rounded up the Top 5 as third and fourth runners-up, respectively.
Single mothers allowed
No competition was held in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pageant crowned a 2021 queen during the ceremonies.
Single mother Jessica da Silva of the United Arab Emirates was proclaimed 2021 winner. She also received the Miss Aesthetic and Miss Popularity awards.
The 9-year-old pageant is the first international beauty contest that allowed single mothers to participate in a “Miss” competition, and also extended the age limit to 35 years old.
Tormes is a veteran of local and national beauty pageants who was honed by the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp, which has also produced several other international titleholders.
She has participated in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, and joined the 2020 Miss Philippines Earth contest where she was crowned Miss Philippines-Fire.
Before Tormes’ coronation as Miss Global, the Philippines’ highest placement was CJ Hirro’s first runner-up finish in 2016 in the pageant held here.
Tormes was appointed to represent the Philippines by the national franchise holders after deciding to forego a national competition this year. INQ