Courtside reporter, model shine in ‘Mutya’ pageant
A sports reporter and a fashion model were crowned titular queens of the “Mutya ng Pilipinas 2016” pageant held at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City last Saturday night.
Ganiel Akrisha Krishnan, 21, a court-side reporter for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines from Manila, was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia-Pacific International 2016, while Justin Mae San Jose, 19, a fashion model from Southern Tagalog, won Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2016.
Krishnan is a third year mass communication student
at the Far Eastern University (FEU).
Before she joined Mutya ng Pilipinas, Krishnan competed in the 2016 Miss Manila beauty pageant where she won second runner-up.
“We want to thank the City of Manila who supported Ganiel in the competition. They are here in the pageant now. Most especially, I would like to thank her parents for allowing her to join again in the pageant,” said Oli Sara, who manages Krishnan.
Sara said that Krishnan’s parents had second thoughts about their daughter competing in the pageant again because it might affect her studies. But they still allowed her anyway, he said.
Krishnan is also affiliated with the ABS-CBN Sports Division. The beauty queen from FEU also won Best in Talent for singing. She likes pop and jazz genres and has no boyfriend.
Earlier, Krishnan was also named “Darling of the Press” by members of media who attended the event.
Meanwhile, this year’s Mutya-Tourism International titleholder was born and raised in Doha, Qatar.
San Juan is a fashion model who later pursued her studies at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. She won the pageant’s top special awards — Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown.
Many of the special awards, including those from the sponsors, were either won by Krishnan or San Jose. They will soon represent the Philippines in prestigious pageants abroad later this year.
Both candidates were trained under the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp under pageant guru Rodgil Flores.
Michelle Thorlund of California won Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Community.
First runner-up honors went to Ashley Nicole Singh of Central Luzon, who also won the Viva Discovery of the Year, while Lynette Bradford of Melbourne was second runner-up.
During the question-answer portion, Krishnan was asked about her thoughts on inner beauty. The half Indian-Filipino queen said: “In today’s world, people objectify beauty through good-looking people but I guess let us be reminded that inner beauty can last for years unlike beauty of the face.”
San Jose was asked about her thoughts on tourism. She said: “We all know how important tourism is in every country especially in the Philippines. It will help save our country and pull a high standard of living on how it will affect the country. The important thing is how it will reflect to the other countries like me I’m a living proof of beauty, charm and warmth of my region Calabarzon.”
Winners of special awards presented during the pageant were Thalia Joyce Coronico, People’s Choice; Rex Nicdao, Designer’s Award; and Jannie Loudette Alipo-on, Navotas City.
Other candidates who finished in the Top 10 were Marielle Cartagena, Jannie Loudette Alipo-on, Mayu Murakami, Joanna Rose Tolledo, and Dianne Irish Joy Lacayanga.
Thirty candidates from here and Filipino communities abroad competed at the 48th year of the Mutya ng Pilipinas contest, one of the most enduring local beauty pageants.
Crowns bashed One of the highlights of the night was the presentation of the new crowns for the winners which was jeered by many pageant fans instead of cheered.
Fans said that the crowns or the two major title holders were too big and too embellished.
“Mukha siyang kaldero (It looks like a pot)!” a pageant fan in the audience commented, as the crowns were placed on the heads of the winners.
Another patron said: “Para syang malaking paso at kulang na lang lagyan ng halaman (It looks like a big pot that lacks flowers). What were the designers of the crowns thinking?”
In video presentation at the beauty pageant, it said that the two major crowns are worth more than 1200,000 each.