MANILA, Philippines—Naelah Alshorbaji of Parañaque City was crowned 2021 Miss Philippines Earth in a virtual pageant beamed on Sunday, chosen from a field of sixty-six aspirants.

This year’s final contest is the second virtual edition conducted by organizer Carousel Productions in the pageant’s 21-year history.

It was first held virtually last year because of the restrictions resulting from the quarantine measures imposed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

But if in the 2020 edition the organizers were still able to screen applicants physically, this year’s edition was e totally virtual, with the selection of official delegates also conducted online.

Host Robi Domingo presents 2021 Miss Philippines Earth Naelah Alshorbaji (center) and her court (from left) Miss Fire Roni Meneses, Miss Water Rocel Songano, Miss Air Ameera Almamari, and Miss Ecotourism Sofia Lopez Galve./SCREENSHOT

The 66 candidates participated in a series of online preliminary competitions from the comfort of their own homes.

After months of competitions, Alshorbaji inherited the Miss Philippines Earth crown from Roxanne Allison Baeyens, who was crowned Miss Earth-Water in the international Miss Earth pageant’s 2020 edition, also conducted virtually.

She will now represent the Philippines in the 2021 Miss Earth pageant, and try to become the fifth Filipina to bag the international title.

The national pageant also crowned “elemental queens”—Miss Philippines-Air Ameera Almamari of Atimonan, Quezon; Miss Philippines-Water Rocel Angelah Songano of Iloilo City; Miss Philippines-Fire Roni Meneses of Mandaluyong City, and Miss Philippines-Ecotourism Sofia Lopez Galve of Tanay, Rizal.

Since 2001, the Miss Philippines Earth pageant has been promoting environmental awareness, with the winners becoming spokespersons for the planet’s protection.

This year, the candidates shared their own environmental projects and also showcased the various tourist destinations in their areas which served as the backdrop for their participation in numerous preliminary competitions.

This year’s panel of judges is composed of Carousel Productions Executive Vice President Loraine Schuck, model Michael Seifert, TV host Marc Nelson, broadcaster Kim Atienza, 2018 Miss Earth Nguyen Phuong Khanh, and reigning Miss Earth Lindsey Coffey.