Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas Ingrid Santamaria/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino bet Ingrid Santamaria’s bid for the Reina Hispanoamericana crown was boosted by fans who voted her into the semifinals.
The De La Salle University graduate hurdled the first round of elimination as the fan vote winner, earning a slot in the Top 14, where her journey to the title also ended.
Peruvian delegate Arlette Rujel clinched the crown at the end of the ceremonies held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on March 25 (March 26 in Manila). She inherited the title from Mexican lass Andrea Bazarte who won last year.
Newly-crowned Reina Hispanoamericana Arlette Rujel from Peru/REINA HISPANOAMERICANA FACEBOOK PHOTO
Rujel is the first winner from Peru to be crowned Reina Hispanoamericana, even from the pageant’s earlier editions as “Reina Sudamerica.”
Venezuela’s Adriana Pérez was proclaimed Virreina (vice queen), while Guilhermina Montarroyos from Brazil was hailed as first runner-up.
Ediris Rivera from Puerto Rico, Diana Robles from Mexico, and Maria Lucia Cuesta from Colombia finished as second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Host delegate Maria Jesus Jimenez failed to advance to the semifinals.
The pageant’s recently-concluded competition is technically its 2022 edition. It was originally scheduled in October, but civil and political unrest in Bolivia forced organizers to postpone the contest.
In December, the organization said the pageant will be held in February 2023, then later eventually settled for a March staging.
The Philippines has already recorded a victory in the Latin American-dominated pageant, courtesy of Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez who won in 2017. She was also the first Asian winner and the first Filipino competitor to be sent to the Reina Hispanoamericana pageant. EDV