Ana Maria Ciritel from Romania (center) poses with her Best in Swimsuit runners-up Klyza Castro from the Philippines (left) and Eoanna Constanza from the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Armin P. Adina / Contributor)

MANILA, Philippines — With the conclusion of its last preliminary competitions, the 2019 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant has completed its list of eight delegates who earned automatic spots in the Top 25 ahead of the final contest next week.

Eoanna Constanza from the Dominican Republic and Ana Maria Ciritel of Romania advanced to the next round of the competition when they topped the evening gown and swimsuit competitions, respectively, in an auxiliary event staged at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila on Saturday night.

Constanza also finished third in the swimsuit competition, with Mutya Pilipinas Klyza Castro in second place.

Part Filipino contenders, meanwhile, bagged podium finishes in the evening gown competition. Canada’s Jessica Cianchino placed second, while Australia’s Anjelica Whitelaw was third.

Constanza was also one of the three delegates proclaimed as Miss Metro Esthetico, along with Castro and Namibia’s Ashleigh Kleintijes.

Eoanna Constanza from the Dominican Republic (center) bags a Top 25 spot with her red gown. With her are ‘Best in Evening Gown’ runners-up Anjelica Whitelaw from Australia (left) and Jessica Cianchino from Canada. (Photo by Armin P. Adina / Contributor)

Cianchino was hailed Miss Photogenic, while Whitelaw was Miss Zen.

Castro received the Miss Pyoor Essentials title.

Several other delegates took home special titles.

Spain’s Chaiyenne Huisman was Miss Fashion India, France’s Heidi Loyer was Miss Zanea, Latvia’s Elena Remuar was Miss Stronghold Insurance, and the Netherlands’ Caro Boonen received the “Miss Amazing by Choice” title from Train Station.

Both Castro and Cianchino have also earned spots in the Top 25.

Eoanna Constanza from the Dominican Republic is the night’s big winner, bringing home the Best in Evening Gown award, finishing third in the swimsuit competition, and receiving the Miss Metro Esthetico title. (By Armin P. Adina / Contributor)

During the national costume competition on Friday, the pageant organizers proclaimed five continental ambassadors who each gained a slot in the semifinals.

Castro was proclaimed Queen of Asia, while Cianchino was Queen of the Americas.

German-Filipino Denisse Nicolle Ligpitan, who is representing Germany, has advanced to the Top 25 when she bagged the Best in National Costume award.

The other continental queens who also earned spots in the next round of competition were Cameroon’s Michele-Ange Minkata (Africa), Belgium’s Lauralyn Vermeersch (Europe), and New Zealand’s Chelsea Martin (Oceania).

The continental queens were chosen based on the delegates’ “Beauty in Diversity” advocacy videos sent prior to their arrival in the Philippines.

The 51-year-old Manila-based global tilt has adopted “Beauty in Diversity” as its main advocacy and has launched the “#LoveTheDifference” campaign for this year’s edition of the international competition.

The 2019 Miss Asia Pacific International will stage its coronation ceremonies at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City on Oct. 9.

Reigning queen Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel from Sultan Kudarat, the first Muslim woman and fifth Filipino woman to win the title, will relinquish her crown to her successor.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a media partner of the 2019 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant.

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