Miss Supranational Philippines Pauline Amelinckx. Photo: MISS SUPRANATIONAL FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — Pauline Amelinckx is now a step closer to becoming the second Filipino woman to win the Miss Supranational crown after earning an automatic placement in the Top 24 by winning the “Suprachat” challenge.
The Belgian-Filipino host and model from Bohol hurdled the first cut in the final show happening at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Nowy Sacz, Poland the evening of July 14 (early morning of July 15 in Manila), and will move to the next round of competition.
Three other delegates earned Top 24 slots for clinching awards, Contestants’ Choice Andreina Pereira from Curacao, Supra Model Sakhile Dibe from Zimbabwe, and Miss Influencer Sancler Frantz from Brazil.
Also moving on to the Top 24 are the delegates from Colombia, Malaysia, Spain, Botswana, Poland, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, Mexico, Indonesia, Ecuador, Gibraltar, South Africa, Venezuela, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Peru, El Salvador, and India
Part-Filipino candidates Alexa Grant from Canada and Mayuko Hanawa from Japan missed the first cut.
Amelinckx earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2023 Miss Supranational pageant after her third participation in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant. She finished in the Top 3, while fellow returning candidate Michelle Dee took home the top prize in the national competition held in May.
Only one Filipino woman has won the Miss Supranational crown, Binibining Pilipinas Mutya Johanna Datul who was crowned in 2013, a banner year for the Philippines that also saw Megan Young score the Philippines’ first victory in the Miss World pageant, and Bea Rose Santiago giving the country its fifth Miss International win.
The Philippines has never missed the first cut in the Miss Supranational pageant since Bb. Pilipinas Elaine Kay Moll finished fourth in the 2012 competition.
Amelinckx has sustained this to an 11-year streak. From 2012 to 2019, the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. held the national franchise, until ALV Pageant Circle secured it in 2021.
Empire Philippines, organizer of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant currently holds the license. No international competition was held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Miss Supranational pageant seeks women who are “aspirational” and “inspirational.” Sixty-five delegates from different countries and territories are taking part in this year’s competition.
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