Miss International Top 15 delegates. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
MANILA, Philippines—In a move not usually made by the biggest global competitions, the Miss International pageant has announced the official ranking of the ladies who advanced to the semifinals in its most-recent staging.
In an Instagram post, the Tokyo-based international pageant not only showed who ranked from sixth to 15th hut also revealed who almost made it to the next round of competition by announcing who placed from 16th to 20th.
“The public deserves to know, and it’s good to make people still talk about us even though the pageant is over,” Stephen Diaz, the Filipino head director of Miss International organizer International Cultural Association (ICA), told INQUIRER.net in an online interview.
“Now that I am fully in charge, I believe in transparency and fair play,” continued Diaz, adding that “judges decide who will place or not. That’s what pageants should be.
This year, Binibining Pilipinas Nicole Borromeo was proclaimed third runner-up in the competition held at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 26. Andrea Rubio scored Venezuela’s ninth victory since the Miss International pageant was established in 1960.
Colombia’s Sofia Oslo was first runner-up, while Peru’s Camila Diaz was second runner-up. Rounding up the winners’ circle was fourth runner-up Vanessa Hayes from Bolivia.
Thailand’s Supaporn Ritthipruek and Mexico’s Itzia Garcia, whose final placements were not revealed in the coronation show, finished sixth and seventh, respectively, the Miss International pageant later revealed.
Even the standings of the remaining delegates in the semifinals were revealed. Hong Kong’s Verna Leung was eighth, Vietnam’s Nguyen Phuong Nhi was ninth, Yamilex Hernandez from the Dominican Republic was 10th, Panama’s Linette Clement was 11th, Malaysia’s Cassandra Yap was 12th, Amanda Solis from Puerto Rico was 13th, Nassita Daiko from Cote D’Ivoire was 14th, and Greece’s Zoi Assoumanaki ranked 15th.
Two Asians almost made it to the semifinals, Cambodia’s Alyna Somnang and Myanmar’s Ei Ei Myint Aung Thein who finished in the 16th and 17th spots, respectively.
Djulieta Calalb from Moldova and Alisha Cowie from the United Kingdom ranked 18th and 19th, respectively, while Lesotho’s Boithumelo Sehlotho finished in 20th place.
“We’ve got nothing to hide,” said Diaz, who also shared that the national directors appreciated it when the Miss International pageant announced the rankings in the 2019 competition.
In the 60th edition, held after a two-year pandemic pause in 2022, the Miss International pageant revealed the eight ladies who topped the national costume, evening gown, and swimsuit segments on social media after the finals had already concluded.
This year, the ICA also posted on social media the delegates who topped the three preliminary segments of the competition, with Borromeo finishing second in the evening gown round. “I think it speaks volumes about our sense of security,” Diaz said of the pageant’s move for transparency.
“Our social media was busy, and we have seen an increase in organic followers just by creating wholesome content. Miss International just proves that we don’t need drama and controversy to be followed by people,” he added.
“Pageantry is worth saving. And if it means that Miss International is going to lead the way, then so be it. I’m not gonna let any low class pageant destroy what we had built and worked hard for!” Diaz declared.
Diaz also gladly shared that the 2023 Miss International pageant was a sold-out event with about 2,500 audience members inside the gymnasium. About 50 international ambassadors and diplomats based in Tokyo also attended the final show, he said.
From among the global competitions currently running, the Philippines has found most success in the Miss International pageant with six winners—Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013) and Kylie Verzosa (2016).