Bb. Pilipinas Globe Anna Lakrini. Image: Facebook/Anna Valencia Lakrini
MANILA, Philippines—Binibining Pilipinas Anna Valencia Lakrini scored perfect in the “Miss Bikini” competition in the ongoing 2023 edition of The Miss Globe pageant taking place in Tirana, Albania. The auxiliary event was held on Nov. 7 (Nov. 8 in Manila).
But the German-Filipino model, tutor and nutrition graduate did not receive the special title even if she received “5” from all the judges. Brazil’s Laura Catuzzo also got a perfect score, and the judges broke the tie by proclaiming the South American beauty as “Miss Bikini.”
“Pilipinas, we made it to the Miss Bikini Globe 2023 1st runner up!” said Lakrini on social media, showing photos of her in a daring one-piece black swimsuit that exposed her toned abs through a revealing cut-out on the mid-section. In 2021, eventual The Miss Globe winner Maureen Montagne from the Philippines also finished second in her respective Miss Bikini competition.
Lakrini’s feat on the international stage came as no surprise to many pageant observers because she was proclaimed as “Best in Swimsuit” in the 2023 Bb. Pilipinas pageant. She earlier shared with INQUIRER.net that she was body-shamed online for her figure when she first joined the national pageant last year, so she worked hard to achieve a more competitive physique when she returned this year.
Bb. Pilipinas Globe Anna Lakrini. Image: Facebook/Anna Valencia Lakrini
Lakrini waxed emotional with her participation in the international competition. “Words cannot describe how it feels to wear my beloved country across my heart,” she said in a social media post.
“I thought this dream would never come true, and maybe that’s why I get emotional and teary-eyed whenever someone calls me Philippines,” she continued.
Lakrini is aiming to give the Philippines its third victory in the current iteration of The Miss Globe pageant under Deliart Association established in 1995, after Montagne and 2015 winner Anne Lorraine Colis. Another Bb. Pilipinas queen, Maricar Balagtas, was crowned Miss Globe in 2001, in the international competition’s previous iteration.
Since Colis’ victory in 2015, Philippine representatives have consecutively made the cut. Nichole Manalo, Nelda Ibe, Leren Mae Bautista and Rowee Lucero were proclaimed as runners-up, while Michele Gumabao and Chelsea Fernandez finished in the semifinals.
The Miss Globe pageant will hold its 2023 coronation show on Nov. 17 (Nov. 18 in Manila). More than 60 delegates from all over the world are competing for the title currently held by Annabel Payano from the Dominican Republic.