Mutya bet in Miss Intercontinental 2024 sees Filipino heart as advantage

Mutya ng Pilipinas Alyssa Redondo/ARMIN P. ADINA

Mutya ng Pilipinas Alyssa Redondo is not only aiming to post the Philippines’ third victory in the Miss Intercontinental pageant; she is also hoping to sustain the Philippines’ placement streak in the international competition.

Since Mutya ng Pilipinas Koreen Medina’s third runner-up finish in 2013, the Philippines has consistently scored placements in the international pageant, which has now run to 10 straight editions of the competition.

“I think the Philippines has always been known as a pageant powerhouse. Other than that, it’s our heart. What we love to talk about, and how we care for people, it’s not just about winning. It’s something deeper than that; it’s beyond our appearances,” Redondo told INQUIRER.net at her send-off party held at Chef Jessie’s Place in Makati City.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time. You know it’s a big responsibility being able to represent the Philippines. But I’m so grateful because of the support that I have,” continued the 23-year-old vocational nurse from California.

Redondo said she was only made aware of the Philippines’ decade-long placement streak just recently, and it has made her even more nervous. “But I’ll use that as motivation; use it as my fuel to do better and do my best to represent the Philippines,” she said.

Since its inception in 1971, the Miss Intercontinental pageant has only crowned two Filipino queens, Binibining Pilipinas titleholders Karen Gallman and Cinderella Faye Obeñita, who were crowned in 2018 and 2021, respectively. Redondo hopes to become the country’s third winner.

Veteran pageant mentor Rodgil Flores trained Redondo for the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant held in September and is also on top of her preparations for the international competition. Gallman, the first Filipino woman to score an Intercontinental victory, was one of his wards.

The 2024 Miss Intercontinental pageant’s coronation show will be held at the Sunrise Remal Resort in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, on Dec. 6 (Dec. 7 in Manila). Reigning queen Chatnalin Chotjirawarachat from Thailand will relinquish her title to her successor.