Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Binibining Pilipinas Nicole Borromeo’s turn to wave the country’s flag on the global stage has finally arrived more than a year since capturing her national title, as she embarks on her quest to become the seventh Filipino woman to wear the Miss International crown.
The Cebuana model and host was presented to members of the media and fans at the newly-opened Gateway Mall 2 at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Sept. 27.
Borromeo captured her Bb. Pilipinas crown in the 58th staging of the national competition held in July 2022, receiving the title from her predecessor Hannah Arnold who still had not competed in the Miss International pageant at that time.
The Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. clarified at that time that Arnold would be sent to the 60th Miss International pageant later that year, and Borromeo was reserved for the global tilt’s 61st edition scheduled in 2023.
The Tokyo-based Miss International pageant did not hold any contest in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the Bb. Pilipinas competition only paused for a year, resulting in the coronation of Arnold more than a year before her 2022 global tilt.
Borromeo, meanwhile, had already relinquished her national title to Angelica Lopez in May. Her successor will be sent to the 62nd Miss International pageant next year.
At her sendoff, Borromeo said, “when I was competing last year for Bb. Pilipinas, I already knew what I was getting into, the responsibilities, and the patience, and the determination it takes to win the title.”
She added: “It’s easy to look at something and say, ‘I’m waiting too long, when is my time?’ But the truth is, your time is going to come. And I’m happy it’s happening now.”
Six Filipino women have been proclaimed Miss International in the contest’s 61-year history — Gemma Cruz in 1964, Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005, Bea Rose Santiago in 2013, and Kylie Verzosa in 2016.
The 2023 Miss International pageant will conclude in a grand coronation show in a new venue, the Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 2 in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, on Oct. 26. Jasmin Selberg form Germany will crown her successor at the end for the ceremony. EDV