Reigning Miss International Andrea Rubio/ARMIN P. ADINA
Venezuelan beauty Andrea Rubio arrived in Manila on Wednesday evening, July 3, making her the second reigning Miss International titleholder in a row to visit the Philippines. Her predecessor Jasmin Selberg came to the country last year.
The reigning international queen arrived in a sparkly short dress and was welcomed by 2013 Miss International Bea Rose Santiago, Rubio’s third runner-up Nicole Borromeo, and reigning Bb. Pilipinas International Angelica Lopez at Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City.
Rubio is in the Philippines as a special guest of the 60th Binibining Pilipinas pageant, with the grand coronation night scheduled on Sunday, July 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City.
READ: Venezuela’s Andrea Rubio is new Miss International
Selberg also made an appearance at the Bb. Pilipinas pageant’s coronation show last year, where she helped crown Lopez, who is set to compete in the 62nd Miss International pageant in Tokyo in November.
Rubio is expected to also help crown Lopez’s eventual successor, who will represent the Philippines in the 63rd Miss International pageant next year.
Miss International Andrea Rubio (second from right) with (from left) Bb. Pilipinas International Angelica Lopez, 2013 Miss International Bea Rose Santiago, and Miss International third runner-up Nicole Borromeo/ARMIN P. ADINA
Greeting members of the media who welcomed her, Rubio said, “You’re so nice, like Venezuela, so happy and sparkly, and I’m very excited to see you all here. Thank you for coming.”
She said she would also love to try Filipino cuisine. “I really want to eat a lot. I love trying new food, culture, and just see this beautiful country, get to know all of these amazing people, and learning some more when you’re out of your country,” Rubio shared.
Since her coronation in October, the Venezuelan beauty has already visited Indonesia, Guatemala, Argentina, and Peru. She has also returned to her home country, where she was joined by other Miss International winners from Venezuela.
Rubio is the ninth Venezuelan woman to win the Miss International crown, making Venezuela the most successful country in the Japan-based international pageant.
The Philippines is the second most successful country in the Miss International pageant with six winners — Gemma Cruz, Aurora Pijuan, Melanie Marquez, Precious Lara Quigaman, Santiago, and Kylie Verzosa.
Rubio will relinquish her Miss International crown to her successor who will be chosen at a coronation show in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 12.