Palawan’s Angelica Lopez, new Bb. Pilipinas International
PALAWAN’S Angelica Lopez was crowned Bb. Pilipinas International 2023 at the conclusion of the live Binibining Pilipinas 2023 pageant at the Smart Araneta Coliseum late Sunday night.
Anna Lakrini of Bataan was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Globe. First runner-up was Katrina Anne Johnson of Davao del Sur and second runner-up was Atasha Reign Parani of Cavite. The four girls bested 36 other contestants.
In the official profile of candidates, Lopez, 22, listed her mother and manager as her role models. Her interests include human behavior, music, arts, inspirational books, philosophy of life, documentary series and beauty pageants.
For her advocacy, she said she is “in pursuit of inspiring, empowering and educating the less fortunate children to be resilient and limitless amid life challenges.”
In the question-and-answer portion, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan asked Lopez, “What makes you a Binibini who walks the talk and who is beyond mere self-promotion?”
The beauty queen answered, “I stand here tonight because it is my mother that instilled in me the values and the morals that I’m using to be the woman that I am today. A woman who has strength, courage and tenacity. The strength to decide for herself what she wants, really works hard to achieve it, to have the courage to face the obstacles of life, and tenacity to hold onto her wisdom of choice. And I believe it is always a dream come true to be here. And that is why I am a Binibini that I’m always meant to be.”
While in previous years there were four or five crowns at stake, the franchise for Miss Intercontinental is now with Mutya ng Pilipinas while Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. let go of Miss Grand International. Miss Supranational is now also with a different organization.
Miss Universe has been taken over by the Miss Universe Philippines Organization with Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2011 and Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup as national director.
Miss International was not held for two years because of the pandemic.
Borromeo and Bb. Pilipinas-Globe 2022 Chelsea Fernandez did their farewell walk, while Roberta Tamondong, the last Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International, shared her experience the past year as well.
Darren Espanto sang the Binibining Pilipinas theme at the opening of the event while Vice Ganda performed her latest single, “Rampa,” during the swimsuit parade of candidates. She revealed it was inspired by the Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant. Performing during the intermission was the boyband Alamat.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves and Miss Universe 2014 top 10 MJ Lastimosa hosted the event.