The power of positivity propelled a Dutch woman to the top of the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant in Puerto Princesa City on Wednesday night, and her fellow candidates validated this disposition with their vote for her as Miss Friendship.

Tessa Helena Le Conge of the Netherlands should have no fear getting any unfavorable reaction from the 39 other delegates she bested in the pageant’s final ceremonies, staged at the Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa. These are the same ladies who picked her as the most amiable in the lot.

READ: Tesa Helena Le Conge of The Netherlands wins Miss Asia Pacific Int’l pageant

“I really did not expect it,” Le Conge, a communication adviser and trampoline gymnast from the Netherlands, said of her twin victories.

“They’re so nice. I’m so happy they think I’m friendly,” Le Conge told the Inquirer after her coronation.

And her answer to the contest’s final question attested to her congenial nature.

When asked how she plans to influence people to see beauty in diversity, the Dutch lady said: “I think nowadays it’s sad to see so much negativity in the world, because you see people don’t really respect each other. I would like to show people what you can do with a good light in your heart.”

With this answer, Le Conge earned the responsibility of promoting the pageant’s new advocacy, which it adopted for its revival this year after a decade-long hiatus.

READ: Oldest int’l beauty pageant returns after decade-long hiatus

The last time the global tilt was held was in 2005 in China.

Miss Asia Pacific International Inc. President Jacqueline Tan-Sainz expressed excitement for the successful restaging of the oldest international pageant based in Asia. Her family acquired the competition in 2011, along with the national Mutya ng Pilipinas search.

“I’m very proud of our winners. She has a very good personality, and she possesses beauty all over. Our runners up are all fitting of their positions, too,” Sainz said.

She also revealed that Le Conge “will be going around promoting our advocacy, finding uniqueness in every individual. We want to feature women empowerment, to know that every woman is unique in her own way. I want her to be an ambassador of that.”

Sainz added: “She’ll be going around the Philippines to visit a lot of cities. The first stop will be in Manila, and then go around Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to promote the advocacy of the Miss Asia Pacific International, because we’re back.”

Along with the opportunity to travel to the Philippines and different parts of the globe, Le Conge also earned $10,000 with her new title.

Mutya ng Pilipinas Ganiel Akrisha Krishnan, meanwhile, finished third.

“I’m extremely happy. Thank you to all who supported me. Miss Asia Pacific International second runner up is the Philippines!” she exclaimed.

“I worked really hard to make my fellow Filipinos proud, and I’m so happy that we got a crown for it,” continued the Far Eastern University student.

Edging her out of the second top spot is Chawanya Thanomwong from Thailand, who was also won Best in Swimsuit. Miss Photogenic and Best in Talent Felicia George from Cook Islands was third runner-up.

Rounding up the Top 5 is fourth runner-up Soyeon Kim from Korea, who was also proclaimed Miss Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa.

Ana Lucia Leiva from Peru was voted as “People’s Choice.” Jose Stephanie Fernandez from Colombia won Best in Evening Gown, while An Nisaa Meidina of Indonesia received Best in National Costume award.

Veteran pageant host Marc Nelson facilitated the ceremonies, together with 1993 Miss Asia Pacific Michelle Aldana and 2002 Mutya ng Pilipinas Kristine Caballero-Aplal.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer was a media partner of the 2016 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant. RAM