MANILA, Philippines–Even after 2013 Miss World Megan Young passes on her crown to the new winner in December, she will continue her charity work with the Miss World Organization.
Julia Morley, president of the global pageant, confirmed this in a press conference at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) pediatric ward in Manila on Tuesday.
“Once a Miss World graduates, on her second year she continues to do work for the organization. By that time, she has fully understood ‘beauty with a purpose,’” Morley explained.
“Beauty with a purpose” is the Miss World mantra and is also the name of the group’s charity.
But not all Miss World winners are asked to continue working with the organization. Young’s stint with the organization was reportedly extended two more years, a rare occurrence.
When she won the international title in Indonesia last year, Young promised to be “the best Miss World ever.”
Event coordinator Steven Roddy told the Inquirer that Young’s reign had so far been “one of the best” so her extension did not come as a surprise.
“Megan is doing a great job so far. I say ‘so far’ because her work does not end when she crowns her successor,” Morley said, adding, “We are honored to have her in the Miss World family.”
But Morley said Young might pursue other interests while working with the Miss World organization.
“Megan will be a big star someday. She will be in Bollywood,” she said.
“I still want to pursue acting, but I want to do more workshops. I know I need that. I also want to continue my hosting,” Young told the media, adding that she was “open” to prospects of a Hollywood career.
The London-based Morley is in the country to inspect the new PGH wing being built to accommodate more children.
The wing, funded with a donation from Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp., will take in patients with cancer and blood diseases.
Through Miss World’s Beauty with a Purpose program, Sta. Elena’s CEO Alice Eduardo turned over P5.8 million to PGH Medical Foundation to construct the hematology and oncology isolation ward.
During the press conference on Tuesday, Eduardo gave an additional $20,000 (almost P1,000,000) for equipment for the ward.
“I prayed for a $20,000 donation, and here it is. God answered my prayer,” exclaimed a visibly surprised Morley.
This year’s Philippine candidate to the 2014 Miss World pageant is German-Filipino Valerie Weigmann from Albay province. The 24-year-old fashion model and TV host has advocated for the welfare of Filipino indigenous tribes even before she joined the national search.
Weigmann is hoping for a back-to-back victory when she competes against more than 120 beauties in the 2014 Miss World pageant in London on Dec. 14.
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