Philippines wins Miss International 2013

Miss Philippines, Bea Rose Santiago (23, from Masbate City), scored another Grand Slam title for her country by bagging the Miss International crown during the 53rd edition of the pageant held at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall in Tokyo on December 17th.

Santiago, who dedicated her victory to the survivors of typhoon Yolanda, was crowned by Miss International 2008 Alejandra Andreu of Spain.

Last year’s Miss International, Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan, was not allowed to attend the finals due to her involvement in a media scandal which includes harrassment accusations to powerful people in the business. She was not able to crown her sucessor.

The 1st runner-up was Miss Netherlands (Nathalie Den Dekker) and the 2nd runner-up was Miss New Zealand (Casey Radley). Colombia and Hungary completed the Top 5.

Contestants from Brazil, Ecuador, Gibraltar, Iceland, Lithuania, Russia, Puerto Rico, Spain, Thailand and USA were part of the Top 15 semi-finalists.

Not a single black delegate reached the semi-finals.

New Zealand won Miss Friendship, Macau was awarded Miss Internet, Lithuania was elected Miss Photogenic and Aruba walked away with the award for Best National Costume.

This was the second international crown for the Binibining Pilipinas Gold (50th anniversary) class.  Mutya Datul won the Miss Supranational competition in Belarus last September, while Ariella Arida was 3rd runner-up in Miss Universe.  The country also won the Miss World crown with Megan Young.

It is also the 5th Miss International crown for the Philippines.