Newly-crowned Miss Supermodel Philippines Shyrla Nuñez/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Shyrla Nuñez applies crowns on people’s problematic teeth as a dentist, but she, too, received a crown of her own at the Miss Supermodel Philippines contest, taking home top honors at the culmination of the competition held at the Pandanggo-Polkabal Hall of the Manila Hotel in Manila on March 6.
The new queen, who comes from a family of dentists in Caloocan City, edged out 14 other aspirants to receive the crown from reigning Miss Supermodel Worldwide Alexandra Mae Rosales, the first Filipino woman to bring home the global title. Nuñez now bears the responsibility of securing back-to-back wins for the Philippines in the international modeling pageant, which will hold its next edition in India next month.
The newly-crowned titleholder also received the Best in Filipiniana and Miss Congeniality awards, and was one of the three “Print Supermodels.” Nuñez was also one of the three candidates voted by members of the local media as “Press Supermodels,” along with first runner-up Aileen Santiago from Cabanatuan City and second runner-up Querubin Gonzalez from Marinduque.
For finishing second, Santiago was also proclaimed as the “Face of Velvet Media.” She also topped both major segments of the competition and received the “Body Supermodel” and “Beauty Supermodel” awards. She also received the “Charity Supermodel” and “Popularity Supermodel” awards, and was one of the five ladies chosen as “Faces of Aurea Aesthetic and Wellness.”
Miss Supermodel Philippines Shyrla Nuñez (center) is flanked by her runners-up (from left) Floriane Lajara, Querubin Gonzalez, Aileen Santiago, and Imogene Belles./ARMIN P. ADINA
Gonzalez’s third-place finish also made her the “Face of Top Shelf Magazine.” She was also proclaimed “Runway Supermodel” and “Style Supermodel,” was one of the three “High Fashion Supermodels,” and one of the five “Misses Asia’s Lashes.”
Imogene Belles from the City of Manila was third runner-up, while Floriane Lajara from San Pablo City was fourth runner-up. The earlier was also proclaimed as Miss Nailspagram and was one of the three “Brand Supermodels,” while the latter was one of the three “Print Supermodels.”
May Evelyn Maghirang, the contest’s national director, told the Inquirer in an earlier interview that they were looking for “a strong follow up” to Rosales who can win the international title for the Philippines for the second year in a row.
Rosales captured the title in the 2022 contest held last October. The Miss Supermodel Worldwide competition returns to its usual schedule of April this year. Although having a truncated reign, the reigning Filipino queen’s contract with the international organization will still be for two years. EDV