Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Fresh from her trip to Egypt after competing in the Miss Intercontinental pageant, Binibining Pilipinas Gabrielle Basiano on Tuesday gave a piece of her mind about the Filipino pageant fans’ toxic behavior online.
During the send-off press conference for fellow beauty, first runner up Herlene Nicole Budol, who will be competing for the Miss Planet International crown in Uganda next month, Basiano noted her observation about some fans’ “negativity”.
“I hope they would stop bickering. I can still read some online,” Basiano told the Inquirer in an interview.
Basiano attempted to score a back-to-back for the Philippines in the 2022 Miss Intercontinental pageant on Oct. 14 (Oct. 15 in Manila), but finished in the Top 20. Her national costume and evening gown also drew criticism from many pageant fans on social media.
Her Bb. Pilipinas predecessor Cinderella Faye Obeñita, who won the global crown in 2021, relinquished the title to Vietnam’s first winner Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc.
“If I were to give an advice [to Filipino fans], I hope for our future representatives of the Philippines, as much as possible, do not send negative messages, especially when it’s about something they performed onstage because it affects [the queens],” Basiano shared.
She also advised future Filipino representatives: “You should have a strong heart.”
Basiano said she is happy to advance to the Top 20 in such a “tough” competition and hopes she has still made Filipinos proud. The pageant’s format only selects one representative from each continent to move to the final round of competition, she also explained. “But aside from that I made a lot of friends, I was able to bond with them, and I was so happy that I really enjoyed the competition,” she said.
She also shared her message to the newly-crowned queen: “Congratulations and enjoy your reign, you deserve it.”
Basiano said everybody saw Le Nguyen’s efforts and preparations since day one. “It was her night. Let’s all celebrate her victory,” she continued. EDV