Miss Eco International first runner-up Chantal Schmidt. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
Chantal Schmidt had so many obstacles before she got to place as first runner-up at the 2024 Miss Eco International pageant, that even her trip to Egypt was eventful.
She had already shared how she almost missed the crucial preliminary competition because of an emergency trip to the hospital, but as it turns out, she also almost did not make it to Egypt.
“I faced more obstacles than a usual pageant queen would. I got stranded in Dubai for, like, 20 hours,” the beauty queen said at her homecoming press conference held at the Kao Manila club at the Newport Mall in Pasay City on Thursday, May 2.
Schmidt said hopping on a flight back to Manila even crossed her mind. “Me, Miss Japan, Miss Taiwan, Miss Australia, and Miss Malaysia, we were stranded by our gates, sleeping on the floor. It got to a point we took off our departure looks, we took off our makeup, because we just needed to sleep. We were sleeping on the floor trying to find food because the Dubai airport also ran out of food,” she shared.
They eventually got their new gate assignments, their updated flight schedules, and even food. “We were waiting for the storm, we were waiting for our luggage. It was such a nightmare getting there. But I can literally say that I fought to be at Miss Eco,” Schmidt said..
But even her medical emergency during the competition was also far from the usual. “Thankully the Miss Eco International took very quick action, in bringing me to the nearest hospital, which happens to be a provincial hospital in the desert with no electricity,” Schmidt shared.
She said she was throwing up in the dark while holding a flashlight. There was also very limited mobile connection so it was difficult to contact her mother.
“I was determined that in the darkness of that hospital, with blood on my hands, and an IV in my arm, told myself that I did not come this far to only come this far,” Schmidt said.
She recovered, and was able to take part in the preliminary competition. She even won the “Best in Evening Gown” award that evening.
She collected another award for “Best in National Costume” during the final show on April 28 (April 29 in Manila). Schmidt was also the last to be called at every elimination round, which added to the suspense and excitement.
At the final moment of the competition, she found herself holding hands with eventual winner Angelina Usanova from Ukraine as the last two remaining delegates.
She was proclaimed first runner-up, the third Filipino woman to finish with such placement, following Maureen Montagne in 2019 and Kelley Day in 2021.
Together with two victories posted by Cynthia Thomalla in 2018 and Kathleen Paton in 2022, the placement asserted the Philippines’ dominance in the Miss Eco International pageant.
Schmidt surmised that it was a disadvantage on her part that the country has been placing so prominently in the international pageant. “My strategy was not thinking about when to peak, but just consistently peaking. That was my thought process. I told myself every single day, ‘Today would be the best I could possibly be. I would do the best that I could possibly do.'” She said.
The Cebuana law student was the first Miss Eco International delegate to be sent by Empire Philippines, organizer of the Miss Universe Philippines and The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration. The license was previously held by the Miss World Philippines pageant under ALV Pageant Circle.
Schmidt earned her ticket to the global tilt after placing as one of the four finalists in the inaugural edition of The Miss Philippines held in October last year.