The 2023 Miss Earth queens (from left) Do Thi Lan Ahn, Drita Ziri, Yllana Marie Aduana, and Cora Bliault, are together in the Philippines./ARMIN P. ADINA
The four queens of the 2023 Miss Earth pageant had an epic reunion in the Philippines in time for the Miss Philippines Earth 2024 pageant coronation night to be held on May 11 in Talakag, Bukidnon.
The Miss Earth pageant proclaims four new titleholders very year, the main winner and her three “elemental” queens. But most of the time, the last moment they are all seen together in the same place is during their coronation. And the 2023 batch got the rare occasion of being reunited in the Philippines.
Reigning Miss Earth Drita Ziri from Albania and Miss Earth-Fire Cora Bliault from Thailand flew to Manila several days ago, while Miss Earth-Water Do Thi Lan Anh came from Vietnam afterwards. They were then joined by Filipino queen Yllana Marie Aduana, reigning Miss Earth-Air, at a media conference held at Brittany Hotel in Bacoor, Cavite, on May 7.
The last time the four were seen in public together was at a post-coronation event in Ho Chi Minh City, a few days after they were proclaimed winners at the final competition held at the Van Phuc City development project in the southern Vietnamese city in December.
The epic visit was made possible by entrepreneur Jam Aquino and her team, with the cooperation of Carousel Productions, organizer of the Miss Earth and Miss Philippines Earth pageants. The ladies reunited for the national competition, that is scheduled to crown new winners this weekend.
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Ziri said she was supposed to take a hosting job, but gladly let go of the gig when she learned of the invitation to fly to the Philippines. Do had just come home from the United States, and boarded her flight to Manila just hours after landing in Hanoi, she shared. Bliault, meanwhile, said she was ecstatic upon hearing of the trip and immediately told her Filipino friends, as well as members of her family who have been to country.
The Albanian queen and the Thai beauty have already visited Boracay, where they said they had a great time. But the Vietnamese lass was not able to make it on time. Do, however, said she enjoyed “Halo-Halo” (shaved ice dessert) so much, that she is planning to put up stores in Vietnam to share with her people the cold treat.
Aduana will bring her three international sisters to Bukidnon on May 9, where they will be seen together on stage at the 2024 Miss Philippines Earth coronation night in the town of Talakag on May 11. The ceremonies will be streamed real-time on the pageant’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, and will have a telecast on A2Z on May 12.
The winner will represent the Philippines in the 24th Miss Earth pageant in Vietnam later this year, and try to become the fifth Filipino woman to win the international title.