Ecuadorean crowned as Miss Global 2016, PH bet 2nd

Ecuadorean crowned as Miss Global 2016, PH bet 2nd
By JAY PATAO

Photos by Edmund Chua

MISS Ecuador Angela Bonilla Zapata, 24, was crowned as Miss Global 2016 at the 4-hour grand finals held at the Philippine International Convention Center that began Saturday night (September 24) and concluded at past midnight Sunday.

Bonilla, a 24-year-old, 5’8” beauty queen and model from San Miguel de Urcucui, Imbabura, Ecuador, bested 38 other delegates worldwide including first runner-up Camille Jensen Hirro, 28, from Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines.

When asked during the final question round “who makes the better beauty pageant judge – a man or a woman?” Bonilla replied: “I think both men and women are capable of taking the responsibility to decide in a beauty pageant. I believe in equality so both men and women are capable.”
Bonilla became the fourth woman to be crowned as Miss Global, succeeding Jessica Peart of Australia, who won the title last year, also in Manila. A Social Communications student of the Technical University of Loja in the province of Imbabura, Angela has represented Ecuador in various international pageants including the 15th Miss Earth Pageant in Vienna, Austria last December that was won by the Philippines’ Anglia Ong. Aside from the coveted title, Angela also won as Miss Photogenic, Best in Swimsuit and Miss Lady Grace.

Hirro, a Broadcast Communications cum laude graduate of UP-Diliman and a speech writer for politicians, also won as Best in Evening Gown, Best in Ethnic Costume, Darling of the Press and Miss Fashion.

The other runners-up were: Caitlynn Henry, 18, from Gold Coast, Australia, 2nd; Nikola Bechynova, 21, from Prague, Czech Republic, 3rd; and Britt Roselyn Camillo Rekkedal, 26, a Filipino-Norwegian from Oslo, Norway, 4th,

Rounding up the top 10 finalists were the delegates from India, China, Netherlands, Canada and Kenya. The first cut of 20 semi-finalists also included Misses Ukraine, Russia, Trinidad & Tobago, Cambodia, Chile, Iran, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Botswana and Sweden.
The pageant was hosted by Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova, Miss Philippines Earth 2013 Angelee de los Reyes, Bobby Yan and Derrick Monasterio.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, who momentarily stole the spotlight upon his arrival, was among the judges.

The US-based Miss Global Pageant states its mission as “to provide an international platform to unify and empower women from all over the globe.” It also distinguishes itself as the only pageant open to single mothers from 18-35 years old.