Newly crowned Miss Eco International Nguyenh Thanh Ha. Image: Facebook/MISS ECO INTERNATIONAL
MANILA, Philippines—Kathleen Paton, the second Filipina to win the Miss Eco International title, relinquished her crown to Nguyenh Thanh Ha from Vietnam at the culmination of the competition at Triumph Luxury Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, on March 3 (March 4 in Manila).
Nguyen, 19, the first Vietnamese woman to capture the crown, edged out more than 30 aspirants for the title. She was also the Best in Eco Dress winner.
African queens Ifunanya Basilia Ikochuwu from Nigeria and Yuvna Gookool from Mauritius were first and second runners-up, respectively.
Another Asian contender also joined Nguyen in the winners’ circle, Ratana Sokhavatey from Cambodia as the third runner-up. Genesis Guerrero from Ecuador rounded up the Top 5 as fourth runner-up.
The Philippines was represented by Ashley Subijano Montenegro, daughter of 1994 Miss World finalist Cara Subijano and model-host Hans Montenegro. She finished in the Top 21.
The Philippines scored its first victory in the Miss Eco International pageant in 2018 when Cynthia Thomalla captured the crown. She was also the country’s first representative in the global tilt.
Two other Filipino delegates finished second—Maureen Montagne in 2019 and Kelley Day in 2021. No pageant was held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Miss Eco International pageant is just one of the global competitions that promote environmental issues. /ra