Kylie Verzosa
MANILA, Philippines — It has been seven years since Kylie Verzosa became the sixth Filipino woman to bring home the Miss International crown, and she said she is looking forward to the changes that the global competition will implement for this year’s contest.
Stephen Diaz, the first Filipino to be appointed head director of pageant organizer International Cultural Association (ICA), already revealed that the 2023 Miss International competition will nix the swimsuit parade during the final gala, which will be held in a much bigger venue in Tokyo. The show will also be trimmed to just two and a half hours from the usual four-hour program. Several countries are also competing for the first time, and about 80 delegates are expected to participate this year.
“I think it’s pretty interesting. Miss International is known for, you know, holding its culture. So, for me, change is good,” Verzosa told INQUIRER.net in a recent interview.
“I really trust Stephen in his decisions. I like what he did last year, so, they’re better stage production, more engaging. It’s televised even now, you know, the simple things like that that can help reach the audience. So for me, it’s great,” the beauty queen-turned-actress continued.
Diaz had earlier confirmed that he will be in charge of this year’s production. When he assumed his new position earlier this year, he also said, “I am accepting the challenge of making Miss International the most exciting annual pageant of all.”
Verzosa said that she hopes to see a “more relatable” staging of the competition under Diaz’s direction. “Miss International is known for being a long pageant, a bit stiff, prim and proper. So this one, if they make it a little bit more commercial, a little bit more entertaining, I think it will be beautiful,” she added.
The 2023 Miss International pageant will stage its coronation show at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward on Oct. 26, where reigning queen Jasmin Selberg from Germany will relinquish her title to her successor at the end of the show.
From among the most prestigious global pageants currently running, the Philippines has found most success in the Miss International competition with six winners. Before Verzosa, the Filipino titleholders were Gemma Cruz in 1964, Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005, and Bea Rose Santiago in 2013.
Nicole Borromeo, who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas in 2022, will represent the country in this year’s global tilt. EDV