MANILA, Philippines — Miss Philippines Earth 2022 candidate Michele Angela Okol revealed on Thursday that she was disqualified from the pageant because of her height.

In an Instagram post, Okol announced she will “no longer be able to push through with this journey.”

“My family, team, and I have worked hard to build up all the materials and requirements for this pageant since earlier this year. However, we seem to have forgotten about one factor—my height,” she wrote.

“I was told that my height does not fit their pageant’s standards and that their organization would get bashed if they let someone below 5’4” push through the top 20 hence, being grounds for disqualification,” Okol added.

“Had we been measured earlier on and that this was the case, it would have been much easier to figure out what to do since we’ve already prepared all that was sent as requirements for both our online and face-to-face competition,” she continued.

Okol, who hails from Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, said she holds nothing against the Miss Philippines Earth Organization, saying she is still “grateful” for the opportunity given to her.

“To all Surigaonons and my supporters, this is not the end. After all, when one door closes, another one opens,” she said.

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