Despite the controversies that have engulfed it over the years, Miss Philippines Earth remains one of the most anticipated national pageants in the country.
With 40 candidates representing the country’s 14 regions including Metro Manila, this year’s pageant promises to be another nail-biter when the coronation night concludes this Saturday, July 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Recently, mySlim dietary supplement presented 10 of the Miss Philippines Earth candidates during “a sneak peek at the favored frontrunners” event held at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City. Any of the 10 girls should represent the country well in the coming Miss Earth pageant won last year by Ecuador’s Katherine Espin.
Six candidates, however, stood out as most likely to be in contention not only for the coveted Miss Philippines Earth crown, but also for the titles of Miss Philippines Air, Miss Philippines Water, Miss Philippines Fire and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism.
Jessica Rose McEwen #4
New Zealand
The 20-year-old AB Communication student’s family tree has its roots in Floridablanca in Pampanga. Jessica was born and raised in New Zealand but has been living in the Philippines since she was 9. No stranger to pageants, she has competed in Mutya ng Pilipinas and Miss World Philippines.
If she wins, Jessica intends to pursue her unique environmental advocacy called “1 Dream, 7.5 Billion; Replenishing Gaea.” “It’s all about creating a better dream of replenishing our Earth to its former beauty. This can only be done if the entire population comes together to make an effort to make the dream a reality,” she pointed out.
Anna Krishia Antonio #6
Porac, Pampanga
Easily one of the bubbliest personalities among the candidates, the 22-year-old Executive Search consultant once had a stint as a staff member of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, which made her more aware of national concerns including those involving the environment.
Anna Krishia said coming from a broken family has only made her stronger and she has been doing everything to make her mother proud. If she wins, she hopes to be instrumental in “educating the business community on proper waste management and plastic reduction through the human resources department.”
Samantha Viktoria Acosta #7
Pulilan, Bulacan
Voted Darling of the Press during the initial press presentation of the candidates, the 18-year-old Entrepreneurial Management student has emerged as another heavy favorite. Even while still young, Samantha already took lessons on voice, guitar, swimming, taekwondo, and personality development.
If she wins, Samantha hopes to push for Green Time, an environmental awareness campaign aimed at the youth. “The program encourages them [the youth] to allot at least 5 minutes of their time every day to do something meaningful for the environment,” she noted.
Sadrine Stoelzaed #17
Puerto Princesa City
With her recent win in the pageant’s evening gown competition, the 24-year-old flight attendant has emerged as an instant favorite. One of the prettiest faces in the pageant, she loves challenges, having once taken a bungee jump off a cliff in Danao, Bohol. She joined the pageant “to help combat climate change and save mother earth.”
Sadrine is not daunted by the fact that she’s also representing the hometown of last year’s winner Imelda Schweighart, who resigned in the fallout of her controversial pronouncements following her loss in the Miss Earth pageant. Should she win, Sadrine will certainly help in erasing the memory of last year’s debacle.
Marie Sherry Ann Tormes #22
Mandaluyong City
Sherry Ann is the only other candidate to win a special award so far after being adjudged Miss Earth Philippines Hannah’s 2017 in an earlier pre-pageant event. Blessed with one of the most impressive physiques, she is also considered as one of the strongest catwalk presences among this year’s batch.
Pageant pundits are predicting she will at least likely get the Miss Congeniality special award. But given how Sherry Ann confidently sashays and blows everyone away, it’s pretty obvious that she did not join this competition just to make new friends.
Karen Ibasco #23
Manila
Considered a dark horse, the 26-year-old physicist and college instructor nonetheless proved to be the most articulate among the ladies presented in the mySlim event. A contestant in last year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant, Karen once dreamt of becoming a doctor to help cure the sick but is glad that she is now doing this in her capacity as a medical physicist.
And because of her profession, Karen’s advocacy is focused on “the conservation of energy and to embrace renewable and sustainable sources of energy in exchange for fossil fuel, which contributes to a huge percentage in global warming.”