After months of preparation, a new set of beauty queens were crowned at last night’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant. This year, the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe crown went to Rachel Peters of Camarines Sur.
The Filipino-British entrepreneur was crowned by 2016 winner Maxine Medina. Before the event, Rachel was named as one of the frontrunners, along with Katarina Rodriguez and Mariel De Leon.
Rachel also won Best in Swimsuit, and impressed everyone with her response in the Q&A portion. She was asked, “If you were invited to speak [in the ASEAN Summit,] what would have been your message to the leaders?”
Her response was nothing short of insightful: “I believe that one of our biggest problems that our country faces today is divisiveness—in politics, in religion, and also in culture. And I believe that is something that is the same across the world. That is something that I want to address. I believe if people could learn to tolerate each other’s differences and respect each other’s opinions then we will be a stronger nation and world.”
An outpour of support and congratulations came from netizens. Most commended her Q&A performance.
Congratulations, Rachel Peters! #MissUniverse #BbPilipinas2017 pic.twitter.com/d0hfZsGwgf
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) April 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/superxelnella/status/858835086589997056
https://twitter.com/HecklerForever/status/858725372006850560
https://twitter.com/Lundiing/status/858736712968798208
Rachel Peters will strut her way to Ms.Universe stage like a walk in the park. Face, body, personality and Q&A : BIG CHECK. #BbPilipinas2017 pic.twitter.com/rTSZ6Yl4YI
— ً (@heymundster) April 30, 2017
As the new Bb. Pilipinas winner, Rachel will represent the country in the next Miss Universe pageant.
Meanwhile, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa relinquished her Bb. Pilipinas-International crown to Mariel De Leon, who is the daughter of actor Christopher De Leon. Models Katarina Rodriguez and Chanel Olive Thomas won Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental and Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational, respectively. Chanel was also named Best in National Costume.
Elizabeth Clenci won Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International, while pilot Nelda Ibe was named Bb. Pilipinas-Globe.
Congratulations to our new queens! #BbPilipinas2017 pic.twitter.com/IuCNvGMAfn
— Binibining Pilipinas (@RealBbPilipinas) April 30, 2017
We’re excited to see what’s next for these beauty queens. We wish them the best of luck in their upcoming competitions!
Photo courtesy of Bb. Pilipinas’ Facebook page
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