MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines asserted its dominance in the Miss Eco International pageant when Kathleen Paton scored the country’s second victory in ceremonies staged at Triumph Luxury Hotel in Egypt, on March 17 (March 18 in Manila), just four years after Cynthia Thomalla became the first Filipino woman to bring home the crown.

Paton’s triumph sustained the Philippines’ consistent placement in the pageant’s final two since it joined the competition in 2018. Current Miss Globe Maureen Montagne was first runner-up in the 2019 Miss Eco International, while Kelley Day duplicated the feat in the global tilt’s 2020 edition held in 2021. The organizers moved the staging of the 2020 edition because of the COVID-19 pandemic. No official 2021 contest was conducted, and the competition this year is considered the 2022 installment.

To make up for the gap between the 2020 and 2022 editions, pageant owner Amaal Rezk conferred the 2021 Miss Eco International title to 2020 winner Gizelle Mandy Uys from South Africa.

“As you all know, the Miss Eco International is under the umbrella of the United Nations. We received a report from the UN that [Uys] is the best Miss Eco queen during the eighth year, so we also give her the title Miss Eco International 2021,” Rezk said.

The winners of the Miss Eco International pageant are given the opportunity to serve under the United Nations as environmental ambassadors.

The Aklan-born Paton earned her spot in the Top 21 by bagging the best eco video award. When she cracked the Top 10, she discussed the Filipino people’s plight for access to clean water.

“I believe it is a right for every single human being,” she said.

For the final round of questions with the Top 5 delegates, Paton was asked if titleholders like her should remain neutral on controversial social issues.

“As a leader, and as someone who is very influential in society, we sometimes have to use our voice in a very neutral state of mind because we have a very influential position. But in doing so, we also need to use our voice in order to motivate other people to stand up for what is right, and I think that takes a lot of good moral compass,” she responded.

Finishing second in the competition was Chloe Reweghs from Belgium, followed by Jessy Peralta from the United States. Spain’s Lucia Morales finished fourth, while Malaysia’s Prasana Shri rounded up the final five.

This is Paton’s second global title. She was crowned Miss Teen International in 2017.