PH wins 1st Miss Intercontinental crown after 47 years

By: Robert R. Requintina

Updated January 27, 2019, 8:33 PM

The Philippines made another pageant history when Bb. Pilipinas Karen Gallman won the elusive Miss Intercontinental crown, the first for the country in 47 years, in the pageant held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City which started Saturday night and ended early Sunday morning.

Gallman, 26, of Ubay, Bohol, won over 84 other candidates for the crown. She had earned the right to represent the Philip­pines in the international competition after she won Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental last March 18, 2018.

ANOTHER PINAY BEAUTY QUEEN – Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman waves a small Philippine flag after winning the title Sunday, the first ever for a Filipina.
ANOTHER PINAY BEAUTY QUEEN – Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman waves a small Philippine flag after winning the title Sunday, the first ever for a Filipina.

It was the second time for Gallman to join the Bb. Pilipinas pageant, the first time being in 2012 when she was a finalist.

Just like reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray, Gallman is an Australian-Filipino beauty. She is also the last Binibini among the current batch of winners to compete in an international contest.

During the final question-and-answer portion of the Miss Intercontinental 2018 pageant, the contestants were asked: “How do you define success?”

Gallman answered: “For me, success is not just about winning in life but setting goals and achieving your dreams and working hard for everything you want, and always looking up to God and being thankful for everything. For me that is success.”

Other winners last Sunday were: Miss Costa Rica Adriana Moya Alvarado, 1st runner-up; Miss Slovak Republic Laura Longauerova, 2nd runner-up; Miss Colom­bia Hillary Hollmann, 3rd runner-up; Miss Vietnam, Ngan Anh Au Le, 4th runner-up; and Miss Ethiopia Bella Lire Lapso, 5th runner-up.

Candidates who finished in the Top 20 semifinals were from Ghana, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Mexico, USA, Paraguay, and Ecuador.

From top 20, the number narrowed down to six: Ethiopia (Continental Queen, Africa), Philippines (Continental Queen, Asia and Oceania,) Slovak Republic (Continental Queen, Europe), Costa Rica (Continental Queen, North America), and Colombia (Continental Queen, South America). Miss Vietnam was awarded the people’s choice.

At the MOA, in full force to congratulate Gallman were Binibining Pilipinas Chari­ties, Inc., chair Stella Marquez Araneta, her husband Jorge Araneta, president and CEO of Araneta Group; BPCI Executive Committee Vice Chair Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo, Raymund Villanueva, and Betsy Westendorp de Brias.

During the pageant’s preliminaries, the 5’6” tall beauty queen picked up two special awards — Media’s Choice and Standout Beauty.

Gallman was trained with the Kagan­dahang Flores beauty camp of Rodgil Flores. The beauty queen is engaged to her long-time boyfriend Ian Galton.

Before Sunday, no Filipino had won this international competition. The highest placement of a Filipino contestant in Miss International was 1st runner-up, won by Katarina Rodriguez (2017) and Christi Lynn McGarry (2015).

In September, 2018, Miss Gallman was appointed by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as one of the country’s peace ambassadors.
The new beauty queen considers peace, education, and children’s welfare as the causes she’s most passionate about.

https://entertainment.mb.com.ph/2019/01/27/ph-wins-1st-miss-intercontinental-crown-after-47-years/