A standout
OUT of the more than 85 beauties from all over the world that are competing in this year’s Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant, the country’s representative, Karen Gallman, proved herself among more prominent picks winning the Media’s Choice and Standout Beauty awards during preliminaries held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay, recently.
This bodes well for Gallman, who is aiming to become the first ever Filipina to win the Miss Intercontinental title.
The Philippines came close to winning the plum in the last few years with some of our representatives almost always landing at the top 3.
Though Jennifer Hammond only landed at the Top 15 in 2016; Katarina Rodriguez almost won the title, claiming the first-runner up spot in 2017.
Other Filipinas who did well in the pageant include Christi Lynn McGarry who also claimed first runner up position in 2015, and Kris Tiffany Janson, who landed second runner up in 2014.
We caught up with Gallman prior to the preliminaries and she told us how eager she is to win the crown.
“Of course, that is the main goal, that’s why I’m doing everything I can to prepare myself well and go all the way in winning the title,” she said.
Gallman, a Filipino-Australian who spent her formative years in Bohol, faced criticism for her lineage, with some insisting she is not a fitting representative for the country being of mixed heritage.
This is nothing new, of course, with many other beauties competing in pageants receiving the same denigration.
Gallman, on her part, is taking it all in stride.
She said, “I respect the opinion of my critics but I’d rather focus on my goal and that is to make the country proud.”
The sporty 25-year-old whose hobbies include trekking added, “I do hope they realize I actually spent a huge chunk of my life here, though. More, I could actually speak Visaya and Tagalog much as I could also converse in English. I know the language, I know the culture, what more could they ask for?”
This is the first time the Miss Intercontinental pageant is being staged here.
This year’s organizers, Miss Intercontinental Japan, decided to give priority to the country owing to the many pageant fans around these parts clamouring for them to do so.
Miss Intercontinental Japan COO Kumi Miyamae said, “We couldn’t have picked a better spot. We feel so much love here and we aim to give it back to fans by giving them a spectacular event, something that Miss Intercontinental is known for.”
Miss Intercontinental Organization (MIO) CEO Detlef Tursies added, “We have a wonderful batch of contestants this year and Manila is just a wonderful place more than apt for the kind of event we are presenting this year.”
Tickets for the other preliminary events including the swimsuit competition (Jan. 16); the evening gown competition (Jan. 17); and the national costume competition (Jan. 19), all of which are to be held at Okada Manila, are now available via missintercontinentalareserve@gmail.com.
The coronation night, to be held Jan. 26 at the Mall Of Asia Arena, will be aired on ABS-CBN.