NAGMULA sa Ecuador ang 23-anyos na modelo at cosmetologist na nagsusulong ng environmental education sa mga eskuwelahan ang kinoronahang Miss Earth 2016 sa pageant na ginanap sa SM Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City nitong Sabado ng gabi.

Tinalo ni Katherine Elizabeth Espin ang 82 iba pang kandidata mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo sa taunang environment-driven beauty pageant. Pinahanga niya ang judges sa final question-and-answer portion ng patimpalak nang tanungin siya: “If you were selected as Miss Earth 2016, what would be your program to protect Mother Earth from climate change?”

Ang sagot ni Espin: “I truly believe in the 5 Rs, which is re-think, reduce, (reuse), recycle and respect. Because I believe that as human beings, if we apply that to our everyday lives, we can make a change, and we will reduce the problem that we just mentioned. If we apply that to our everyday lives, I believe that we can save the place we live in which is our Mother Earth.”

Hangad din niyang maisulong ang kanyang adbokasiya tungkol sa environmental education sa mga paaralan, partikular na sa elementarya.

“I chose this because I believe that the best age to teach a person to have environmental conscience is at an early age because on their growing years they will learn to have respect towards the environment which will help to the future generations. I truly believe that there should exist on every academic pensum an environmental class and I will work hard on it to make it possible,” ani Espin.

Si Espin ay beterana na sa mga beauty pageant at sumali na rin sa Miss Bikini Universe noong 2013 at Top Model of the World, na itinanghal siyang 1st runner up noong 2015. Siya ang ikalawang Miss Earth titleholder mula sa Ecuador, kasunod ni Olga Alava, taong 2011.

Si Miss Colombia Michelle Alejandra Gomez ang kinoronahang Miss Earth-Air; si Miss Venezuela Stephanie Landaeta ang Miss Earth-Water, at Miss Earth-Fire si Miss Brazil Bruna Zanardo.

Napabilang din sa Top 15 ang mga kandidata mula sa Korea, Northern Ireland, England, Vietnam, Russia, Mexico, Macau, South Africa, Australia, Sweden, United States at Italy.

Bigo namang makapasok sa semifinals round ang pambato ng Pilipinas na si Imelda Schweighart. 

Ilang linggo bago sumapit ang finals, umeksena sa mga balita si Schweighart nang banggitin niya ang diktador at Nazi leader na si Adolf Hitler kay Miss Austria. 

Samantala, humakot din ng special awards si Espin, kabilang ang Darling of the Press — tie sila ni Schweighart — Best In Resorts Wear, at Best In Long Gown.

Si Miss Mongolia Enkhbor Azbileg ang tinanghal na Miss Talent; Miss Congeniality si Miss Bahamas Candisha Rolle; Miss Vietnam Nguyen Thi Le Nam En; Photogenic; Team Africa, Eco-Tourism and Environmental Conference; at Miss Macau SAR China Clover Zhu, Miss Versailles; Miss Moldova Tatiana Ovcinicova, Best Eco-Beauty Video; at Miss Wales Charlotte Hitchman, Miss Eco-Warrior. (ROBERT R. REQUINTINA)