Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant reacquires Miss Intercontinental license
Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs/ARMIN P.ADINA
After months of anticipation, Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs has received her much-awaited international pageant assignment. She will represent the Philippines in the 51st Miss Intercontinental contest later this year.
When Gibbs received her national title in December last year, her fellow queens already knew which international pageants they will be competing in. The organization said they will still send her to a global tilt, but they did not reveal it yet at that time.
On Feb. 15, during the national pageant’s appreciation night with sponsors and friends, Mutya ng Pilipinas Chair Fred Yuson announced the organization’s reacquisition of the license for the Miss Intercontinental pageant.
“In 2019 on our 51st Mutya ng Pilipinas edition, I made a commitment towards MNP’s growth and expansion. Today is the day, with the announcement of our formal ties with MIO,” he said.
For her part, Mutya ng Pilipinas President Cory Quirino said, “we welcome MIO with open arms and look forward to a great year in Mutya ng Pilipinas 2023. Pageant fans should expect much enthusiasm and excitement this year and hopefully in the years to come.”
The last time Mutya ng Pilipinas sent a delegate to the Miss Intercontinental pageant was in 2013, with its top winner Koreen Medina going to the global tilt and finishing fourth.
In 2014, the rival Binibining Pilipinas pageant acquired the franchise. They were able to produce the Philippines’ first Miss Intercontinental winner, Karen Gallman, who won in 2018. Cinderella Faye Obeñita duplicated the feat in 2021.
Two other Bb. Pilipinas queens finished second in the Miss Intercontinental pageant, Katarina Rodriguez and Christi Lynn McGarry.
Curiously though, it wasnt McGarry’s first participation in the Miss Intercontinental pageant. Before she was sent by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. in 2015, she joined the global tilt in 2010 as a Mutya ng Pilipinas queen.
The Miss Intercontinental organization has yet to announce the date and venue for its 2023 pageant. Gibbs will try to inherit the title from reigning queen Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc to become the third Filipino woman to wear the crown. EDV
