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09/11/2018
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By: Robert R. Requintina
Published November 9, 2018, 12:46 PM
Reigning Miss World Philippines Katarina Rodriguez is all set to compete in the 68th Miss World beauty contest in Sanya, China as she shares to the rest of the world that the Philippines is the world’s best-kept secret.
“My country is rich in biodiversity with pristine bodies of waters and the greenest land, each region and island connecting you with the magical experience,” says Rodriguez, in
the introduction video for the pageant which was unveiled before she left for the pageant, during press sendoff for her at Anabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City Thursday night.
A total of 120 candidates are vying for this year’s blue crown in the longest-running pageant in history which will be held on Dec. 8. So far in 67 years, the Philippines won the Miss World title once when actress Megan Lynne Young was crowned in Indonesia in 2013.
Aside from helping a nongovernment organization in the campaign against HIV-AIDS, the beauty queen is supportive of “Save the Children Lahat Dapat” which calls for immediate and heightened action against child malnutrition.
Asked why she chose to support the campaign, Rodriguez says: “I made a promise to myself, however, and that was that I needed to make something of myself to make my future children proud. I promised I would give back to this world and help it in any way I could as I strongly believe that it’s my responsibility. I promised I would work specifically with children, before I have my own, because they are the future of our world. As much as we’ve heard it before over and over, it’s the truest thing, our youth are what will transform our world.”
The 25-year-old beauty queen from Davao admits that preparing for the pageant was never easy. But she promises to do her best to bring home the crown for the Philippines once again.
“Every Filipina who has participated in this journey has been so helpful. They taught me so much. They taught me patience, kindness and generosity. I think becoming Miss World Philippines will be the coming of age for me to becoming a woman. It’s not easy because you have to work hard, break some connections because when you go out to represent your country, you need to put your best foot forward. You need to showcase the best version of yourself. You need to be prepared with anything that comes your way. You have to think three steps ahead. I promise to bring home the crown. Regardless I already feel like a winner because of the support of the Filipinos,” says Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also says that it was just recently when he realized why some people want to take photos with her after she won Miss World Philippines 2018. “At first I didn’t understand why they want a picture with me. And then I realized, I am a symbol. That’s how I understand the responsibility of being a Miss World Philippines.”
At the press sendoff, Rodriguez also recalls meeting President Duterte for the first time recently. “He’s a hypnotizer the moment he speaks. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera that time.”
Born in Orlando, Florida, Rodriguez first rose to prominence when she joined cycle 2 of Asia’s Next Top Model in 2014 and came in second place.
Rodriguez is a graduate of business management and philosophy from the De La Salle University. On April 30, 2017, she was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental. Then in January, she won first runner-up at the 46th Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant held in Egypt. She believes that she still has an unfinished business in pageant so she decided to join Miss World Philippines contest, rival of Bb. Pilipinas pageant.
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