Miss CosmoWorld Meiji Cruz. Image: Philippine Daily Inquirer/Armin P. Adina
MANILA, Philippines—The Binibining Pilipinas batch of 2021 continues to amass crowns more than a year after the national competition was staged, with second runner-up Meiji Cruz capturing the 2022 Miss CosmoWorld title in Malaysia.
The 28-year-old host bested 25 other aspirants in ceremonies staged at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on Nov. 30, and received RM1.055 million (P13.5 million) worth of cash and prizes.
Cruz’s triumph now gives her Bb. Pilipinas batch a fifth crown. Titleholders Maureen Montagne and Cinderella Faye Obeñita both captured the 2021 Miss Globe and 2021 Miss Intercontinental crowns, respectively.
Also from the 2021 Bb. Pilipinas roster are 2021 Miss Aura International Alexandra Faith Garcia and 2022 Miss Supermodel Worldwide Alexandra Mae Rosales, who are both the Philippines’ first winners from their respective competitions.
In the Malaysia tilt, Cruz was also proclaimed as “Miss Healthy.” Her runners-up also received generous prize packages. First runner-up Amaliya Shakirova from Uzbekistan pocketed RM367,659 (P4.7 million) in cash and prizes, while second runner-up Onnapun Na Chiangmai from Thailand got RM290,660 (P3.7 million).
Cruz’s victory continued the winning streak of appointed Philippine representatives in international competitions. Like her, Garcia and Rosales were also hand-picked delegates to their respective global tilts. Another Bb. Pilipinas alumna became a successful appointee as Shane Tormes gave the country its first Miss Global win earlier this year.
All the winning appointed queens are under the “Kagandahang Flores” pageant camp by queenmaker Rodgil Flores.
Cruz was a returning contestant in the 2021 Bb. Pilipinas pageant. After her first participation in 2012, she became busy with a lot of endeavors including finishing multiple degrees in Mass Communication, Psychology, and Guidance and Counselling at Saint Scholastica’s College.
She said her school taught her to be “socially aware, and to speak up on social issues and politics.”
Cruz has also been advocating women empowerment and gender equality, as well as the welfare of marginalized sectors of our society.
Another 2021 Bb. Pilipinas queen is currently on her quest for a global title, Hannah Arnold, who is now in Japan for the 60th Miss International pageant. /ra
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