MANILA, Philippines — There is no back-to-back win for the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant after Gazini Ganados bowed out early in the crowning ceremony Monday.
Ganados, who is eyeing the country’s first back-to-back Miss Universe crown, failed to make it to the Top 10.
The 10 candidates who advanced in the competition were USA, Colombia, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Peru, Iceland, France, Indonesia, Thailand, and Mexico.
Ganados was among the wild card candidates who earlier entered the pageant’s Top 20.
During her opening speech, she talked about her advocacy for the elderly including her work in an organization dedicated for their welfare and that she is fighting against ageism.
“It is rightful for us to remember that they were the ones who paved the way for us and we should reciprocate that love and no one should ever be left behind,” Ganados said.
The speech was what concerned Ganados prior to the competition, as earlier admitted in a video posted by the Miss Universe organization.
“I’m thinking all about, you know, the speech that we’re gonna do. What I’m scared the most is to not be able to share my emotions or my feelings in English language,” Ganados said.
The 23-year-old Filipino-Palestinian beauty from Cebu would have been Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s successor as Miss Universe.
The Miss Universe 2019 pageant is still ongoing in Atlanta, Georgia, as of this writing.