Angelica Lopez hopes to use Miss Grand International crown to touch lives

Faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of posting a “three-peat” for the Philippines at the Miss Grand International pageant, Reina Filipinas Angelica Lopez remains steadfast in her quest for the crown. Fueling her drive is her desire to be of service to others.

“I have always believed that joining a pageant, I should serve a purpose to everyone else. And that’s why I’m here, kasi (because) I really want to be that inspiration and source of hope to everyone else out there,” she told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview before she flew to Thailand for the international competition.

Lopez is hoping to become the third Filipino woman in as many years to receive the Miss Grand International pageant’s “golden crown,” and inherit the title from reigning queen Emma Tiglao of the Philippines, who in turn received the crown from another Filipino woman, Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza.

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“I want to touch the lives of a lot of people out there, and to really showcase who I am as a person, my personality, my characteristics, and to turn my purpose into power,” Lopez said.

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READ: Emma Tiglao to Miss Grand International candidates: ‘Be competitive, but be kind’

The Palaweña contender has also shunned naysayers who doubt that she will be able to accomplish what many believe is an impossible feat of posting a third straight win for the Philippines.

“I am very much intentional with everything that I do. It’s not only for my own gain but for the people who are there to support me, the people I support, and the people that I hope to inspire in the future,” Lopez said.

She said hopes to take advantage of the global platform that the Miss Grand International pageant could offer her if she wins. She plans to raise awareness on the plight of underprivileged children, something that hits close to home as someone from humble beginnings.

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“I know it myself. I understand the feeling of growing up in a household with your mom and your dad really doing their best to make ends meet, just to provide for their kids,” Lopez shared.

The Filipino contender is up against 76 other aspirants from around the world to fight for the crown that Tiglao currently holds. The new queen will be known at the end of the Grand Final at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 10. /edv