Nicole Borromeo made Filipinos proud as she finished 3rd runner-up at the Miss International 2023, which held its coronation night in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, October 26.
Venezuela’s Andrea Rubi was proclaimed the pageant winner, with Sofia Osio Luna of Colombia as 1st runner-up and Camila Diaz Daneri of Peru as 2nd runner-up.
Bolivia’s Hayes Schutt is 4th runner-up.
Borromeo won the Bininining Pilipinas Miss International title in 2022. However, she only got to compete in the Tokyo-based Miss International contest this year after the pageant was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.
This is the Philippines’ highest placement in the pageant since Ahtisa Manalo finished as 1st runner-up during the Miss International 2018 coronation night.
Kylie Versoza won the Miss International crown for the Philippines in 2016.
Filipinos are ecstatic over Borromeo’s placement — especially after Philippine delegate Nikki de Moura of Cagayan de Oro ended her Miss Grand International 2023 journey on Wednesday, October 25 unplaced.
Some pageant enthusiasts noted that 2023 may be the Philippines’ “runner-up year” in the beauty pageant circuit after Pauline Amelinckx finished first runner-up at the Miss Supranational pageant in July.
Runner up year yata tayo?? Hahahahahahaa.
Congrats! Nicole Borromeo! Miss International 3rd Runner Up!#MissInternational2023
— Prince Zabala (@akoangprinsipe_) October 26, 2023
Others remain hopeful, saying that Nicole may not be destined to win the Miss International crown because she is “meant for the Universe” — implying that she may have a strong chance of winning the Miss Universe pageant if she joins.
“Nicole Borromeo gave us an exceptional performance. I believe that this crown is not for her—maybe, she is meant for the UNIVERSE,” one X user said.
“Nicole Borromeo for the Universe na ba to?” said another.
Pinoys who watched Borromeo’s Miss International performance were impressed with her answer during the pageant’s Q&A. She was asked what she has done to further the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) initiative.
The World Health Organization described SDG as goals that “aim to transform our world. They are a call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity. It is critical that no one is left behind.”
Borromeo answered: “As someone who experienced the wrath of natural disasters, home is everything. I have worked tirelessly with Habitat for Humanity under the SDG goal number 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities.”
She added, “It is through this volunteer work that I could see in the faces of the children how much they wanted to help, how much they wanted to be a part of the future. Because when it comes to sustainability, we must keep in mind that it’s not only for the next generation but to include them in the process.”
“She has given the hardest question but delivered the best answer,” an X user commented.
One viewer even gushed: “The calm, elegance and class Nicole Borromeo is radiating right now quietly whispers one word: Queen.”
Pageant fans who feel the Philippines deserves better during this year’s “pageant season” won’t have to wait for long for the next chance to get vindication. Michelle Dee will represent the country in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant next month in El Salvador. —Chuck Smith
