Fil-Belgian Louise Theunis was named Miss Bikini Philippines 2019 besting 17 other candidates at the Grand Coronation Night held the AFP Theater, Quezon City, Thursday night.
Roberta Angela Tamondong, a 17-year-old 5-foot-9 11th Grader of San Beda University and reigning Bb. Quezon City 2019, finished as first runner-up, while Kim Velasco, a 22-year-old 5-foot-5 commercial model from Lucena City, was second runner-up.
Theunis, a 21-year-old 5-foot-5 Magna cum Laude BS Pharmacy graduate at Cebu Doctors’ University and 2018 Pharmacist Licensure Examination topnotcher, won a cash prize of P300,000.00. A semi-finalist at Miss World Philippines 2019, Theunis grew up in Zamboanga City but moved to Cebu to take her Pharmacy course. She also won the Hiyas Nan Carrascal 2019, a local pageant in Surigao del Sur.
Miss Bikini Philippines, formerly presented by Slimmers World International, was revived this year under ProMedia production headed by CEO Paul Izon Reyes and Lahaina Mondoñedo, National Director and Head of Operations.
Miss Earth 2018 Nguyen Phuong Khanh, the Brand Ambassador of Miss Bikini Philippines, sat among the panel of judges.
* * *
Miss U Singapore 2019 trained in the PH
Miss Universe Singapore 2019 Mohanaprahba Selvam adds to the growing list of Miss Universe delegates who trained under the expertise of international beauty queen-maker Jonas Antonio Gaffud.
The half-Indian Selvam, a 24-year-old Bachelors in Science (Biomedical Science) graduate stayed in the country for several days to improve on her ‘pasarela’ catwalk skills, posing and self-confidence guided by Gaffud who serves as creative consultant of Miss Universe Singapore brand.
Selvam will also wear a national costume designed by the award-winning Filipino designer Manuel Cinco, inspired by the national flower of Singapore, Vander Miss Joaquim.
“I like to thank Jonas and his team for everything. I really listened to them and I learned so much. Things that I will take with me everywhere,” Selvam said before she took her flight to Atlanta, Georgia, the same flight taken by Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados early Tuesday morning.
“The one kind/good thing that I have done this year is to show more gratitude to our pioneer generation. Over the years, I have realised the sacrifice they have endured to make ends meet for their family and the hard work that they put in to become the role model that they are now,” Selvam posted on Instagram.
Selvam aims to become only the third Singaporean delegate to enter as a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe history after Kathy Lee Lee Beng’s Top 12 in 1983 and Marion Nicole Teo’s Top 10 in 1987 when Singapore hosted the pageant.