Blessa Figueroa advances to Miss Asia Pacific International 2024 Top 20

The Miss Philippines-Asia Pacific International Blessa Figueroa/ARMIN P. ADINA

Blessa Figueroa, the Philippines’ delegate in the 2024 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant, moved a step closer to the crown as she cracked the Top 20.

Also among those who hurdled the first elimination at the coronation night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City, Monday evening, Oct. 7, are the top finishers of the preliminary competition.

Best in National Costume Anh Vuong Pham Thi from Vietnam, Best in Evening Gown Kanyaphatsaphon Rungrueang from Thailand, and Best in Swimsuit Jennifer Prokop were declared “fast-track” winners, and received Top 20 slots.

Five “continental queens” were also announced, who all earned Top 20 slots–Chizuruoke Sufficient Arua from Nigeria for Africa, Keshia Lee Llarenas from Guam for Oceania, Selena Ali from Belgium for Europe, Gabriela De Paiva Padilla from Bolivia for the Americas, and Sophiya Singh from India for Asia.

A Top 20 slot was reserved for the “People’s Choice” winner who garnered the most online votes, who happened to be Rungrueang who had earlier qualified for topping the preliminary gown competition.

The rest of the Top 20 spots went to the delegates from Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, Singapore, New Zealand, Colombia, USA, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Sweden, and France.

This is the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant’s comeback edition, mounted five years since last staging a contest in 2019.

Reigning queen Chaiyenne Huisman will relinquish her title to her successor at the end of tonight’s competition, the woman who will continue to promote beauty in diversity.