Thai bet crowned Miss Asia Pacific International

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—Thailand has inched closer to the Philippines’ Miss Asia Pacific International record by claiming its fourth victory in the global pageant at the competition held Saturday night.

Sasiwararin Atsawahirankarn bested 37 other aspirants at the culmination of the grand coronation night held at the Mactan Expo in Lapu-Lapu City and inherited the crown from last year’s winner, Isabela Fernandes of Brazil.

Now with four victories, Thailand is just a crown away from the Philippines’ five-win haul in the pageant’s various iterations in its 58-year history.

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Siriporn Savanglum claimed Thailand’s first victory in 1978 when the pageant was still called Miss Asia. The country scored its second victory in 1988, with Preeyanuch Panpradub’s coronation as Miss Asia Pacific, followed by Worarat Suwannarat in 1997.

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The Philippines’ five winners were Miss Asia titleholders Maria del Carmen Ines Zaragoza (1982) and Gloria Dimayacyac (1983), Miss Asia Pacific winners Lorna Legaspi (1989) and Michelle Aldana (1993), and Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel.

PH bet 3rd runner-up

Gabrielle Galapia fell short of her attempt to post the Philippines’ sixth victory and settled for the third runner-up spot. She earlier received both the best in swimsuit and best in evening gown awards.

Completing the royal court were first runner-up Gia Angelique Franceschi from Costa Rica, second runner-up Nompumelelo Malindi from South Africa, and fourth runner-up Itzel Idolina Silva Borbon from Mexico.

This is the second consecutive year that the province of Cebu hosted the Miss Asia Pacific International competition. During the three-week pageant season, the delegates visited the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Danao, Carcar, and Naga, and the Municipalities of Alegria, Argao, Badian, Bantayan, Cordova, Madridejos, Moalboal, Sibonga, and Santa Fe.

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Back in Sasiwararin’s home country, two other nations also starting with “T” claimed victories in separate pageants on Saturday evening. Jihan Dimachk from Tanzania was crowned Miss Grand International, while Dilhan Divrilki from Turkiye was proclaimed Mister Global.

The Philippines’ Angelica Lopez finished in the Top 25 of Miss Grand International, while MJ Ordillano was second runner-up at Mister Global. —CONTRIBUTED INQ