Ilene de Vera - Valeriai Cardona - Vuong Thanh Tuyen - Miss Asia Pacific evening gown tilt - 25 Nov 2017 — Valeria Cardona of Honduras (center) gets the Best in Evening Gown award on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Asia Pacific International. To her left is Ilene De Vera of the Philippines, who placed second, and to her right is Vuong Thanh Tuyen of Vietnam who finished third. (Photo by ARMIN P. ADINA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Honduran student and TV presenter Valeria Cardona was the big winner in the 2017 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant’s evening gown competition staged at Movenpick Resort and Spa Boracay on Saturday night.

Not only did the 19-year-old beauty win the coveted “Best in Evening Gown” award, she was also proclaimed Miss Movenpick Resort and Spa Boracay.

Cardona bested 41 other delegates with her shimmery form-fitting gown with cutouts and a low back.

Mutya ng Pilipinas Ilene De Vera finished second.

She placed third in the swimsuit competition held Nov. 21 at the Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa in Puerto Princesa City.

Vietnam’s Vuong Thanh Tuyen finished third in the gown contest.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Louisa Brown received the most votes from her fellow contestants and was proclaimed Miss Congeniality.

The 2017 Miss Asia Pacific International coronation night will be staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City on Nov. 29. /atm