By JAY PATAO
JESLYN David Santos, 23, from the Philippines, was crowned as Miss United Continents 2016, besting 27 other delegates worldwide at the international pageant held at Palacio de Cristal in Guayaquil, Ecuador Saturday night (yesterday morning PH time).
Santos, a native of Hagonoy, Bulacan, became the first Asian delegate to win as Miss United Continents, now in its 4th edition and the 11th since it was founded as Miss American Continents in 2006.
Santos, a 5’7” Mass Communications graduate of Bulacan State University, became covered her face and became very emotional when she was announced as the eventual winner, edging Miss Denmark Mette Riis Sorensen who placed second.
Wearing a royal blue Cathy Capistrano serpentine gown, Santos succeeded Nathalie Lago from Brazil. She wore a Sinulog-instired national costume by Lemuel Rosos.
The other finalists were: Lopamudra Raut of India, 2nd runner-up; Taynara Gargantini of Brazil, 3rd runner-up; Cynthia Lizeth Duque of Mexico, 4th runner-up; and Rita Silvestre of Panama, 5th runner-up. The delegates from Colombia, Dominican Republic, South Africa and Thailand rounded up the top 10.
Proceeds from the ticket sales of the coronation night will go to the Red Cross Organization in Guayas for the benefit of the earthquake victims of Manabi last April.
Jeslyn was a contestant of Bb. Pilipinas in 2014 and 2016. She also represented the Philippines at the inaugural Miss World Peace pageant in Hong Kong last year where she finished as a top 10 finalist.
Pageant trainer John de la Vega, the discoverer-mentor of Jeslyn and Philippine licensee to the Miss United Continents tilt, watched the Internet live stream of the finals and was very happy when Jeslyn was finally crowned as winner. “I am so happy and proud of Jeslyn. I cannot thank everyone enough, especially all the people who have supported us in helping Jeslyn bring pride and honor for the Philippines once more. Her determination and desire to make us proud finally paid off. Mabuhay ang gandang Pilipina!” De la Vega said in his home in Quezon City moments after Jeslyn won.
Jeslyn arrives in Manila on Tuesday September 27 where she will meet the press and feted with a victory party on Saturday.
Interestingly, Jeslyn won as Miss United Continents in Ecuador a few hours after Ecuador’s Angela Bonilla won as Miss Global 2016 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.
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