Reigning Miss Earth Mina Sue Choi/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Reigning Miss Earth Mina Sue Choi, the first Korean woman to bag the title, made a surprise appearance at a national pageant’s pre-coronation event here.
She hosted the presentation of the delegates for the 2023 Mss Philippines Earth pageant held at at the Lime Beach Club of Lime Resort Manila in Pasay City on April 3. Nellys Pimentel, the first Miss Earth from Puerto Rico crowned in 2019, shared hosting chores with her.
Choi was crowned in Manila last year at the first physical staging of the Miss Earth pageant since the COVID-19 pandemic broke. She has since returned to the Philippines several times after her coronation.
This time, she flew to Manila to grace the International Ecotourism Travel Mart that opened on March 29, where she was joined by reigning Miss Philippines Earth Jenny Ramp and Miss Earth Indonesia Karina Basrewan. The three beauty queens have also been designated as ambassadors of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity.
Ramp is set to relinquish her national title to her successor later this month. The 29 aspirants for her crown were presented to members of local media and guests at the Lime Beach Club, wearing identical two-piece swimsuits composed of leaf-printed tops and avocado green bottoms designed by Ricky Abad.
Members of the media who attended the event also voted for their favorites. Topping the poll was pageant veteran Yllana Aduana from Siniloan, Laguna. Nicolle Lagera from the Filipino community of California in the United States got the second most votes, while Lasil Relevo from Balayan, Batangas, was the third top vote-getter.
Reigning Miss Philippines Earth Jenny Ramp (in silver gown) and her Miss Water Angel Santos (in blue) pose with this year’s delegates. /ARMIN P. ADINA
Aduana was also among the 10 “Hana Beauties” proclaimed during the presentation, along with the delegates from Zamboanga City, Iloilo City, Mangatarem in Pangasinan, Aurora in Zamboanga del Sur, Puerto Princesa City, Toledo in Cebu, the Filipino community of Melbourne in Australia, Tuburan in Cebu, and Carrascal in Surigao del Sur.
Aside from the main Miss Philippines Earth crown, the delegates will also vie for four more “elemental” titles — Miss Philippines Earth-Air, Miss Philippines Earth-Water, Miss Philippines Earth-Fire, and Miss Philippines Earth-Ecotourism.
The eventual winner of the Miss Philippines Earth title will represent the country in the 2023 Miss Earth pageant, which will be held in Vietnam later this year.
The Philippines is the most decorated country in the Manila-based Miss Earth pageant with a total of four queens, including back-to-back winners. Karla Henry is the first Filipino woman to win the title when she captured the crown in 2008. Jamie Herrell and Angelia Ong were crowned in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Karen Ibasco recorded the country’s fourth victory in 2017. EDV