KINORONAHANG Miss World Philippines 2017 ang dating courtside reporter para sa Ateneo Blue Eagles sa University Athletic Association of the Philippines sa pageant sa ipinalabas ginanap sa SM Mall of Asia sa Pasay City at ipinalabas sa GMA-7 noong Linggo ng gabi hanggang mag-uumaga kahapon.
Tinalo ng paborito ng masa na si Laura Lehmann ang 34 na iba pang kandidata sa paligsahan na nasa ilalim na ngayon ng pamamahala ng talent manager na si Arnold Vegafria. Kinoronahan si Laura ni Miss World Philippines 2016 Catriona Gray at ng kasalukuyang Miss World Stephanie del Valle ng Puerto Rico.
Si Lehmann ang magiging kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa Miss World 2017 beauty pageant sa China sa Nobyembre 18. Sa ika-66 na taon nito, ang Miss World contest ang pinakamatagal na beauty pageant sa kasaysayan.
Naging paborito rin ng masa ang Kapuso star na si Teresita Sen “Winwyn” Marquez, anak ng nina Alma Moreno at Joey Marquez, na nagwagi naman ng titulong Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas. Makikipagtunggali siya sa Reina Hispanoamericana contest sa Bolivia.
Ang iba pang nagwagi ay sina Cynthia Tomalla, Miss Eco Philippines; Sophia Senoron, Miss Multinational Philippines; Glyssa Perez, 1st Princess; at Zara Carbonell, 2nd Princess.
Sa question-and-answer portion ng pageant, tinanong si Laura Lehmann ng, “There are people who believe pageants don’t provide the opportunity to empower women. What would you say to them?”
“To anyone who don’t believe in pageants, I would ask them to take a look at the girls tonight because we have lawyers, architects, women of substance who are here not only because of what they look like but because of what’s in their hearts, what’s in their mind, and because what they’ve brought forth beauty with a purpose,” sagot ni Laura.
“They’re helping represent the Philippines and become the best version of the Filipina and for me that’s something only to celebrate.”
Tinanong naman si Wyn ng, “How can you convince the judges that you are worthy of becoming Miss World Philippines 2017?”
“I live a life of substance and meaning and that is through service. I uphold social awareness and I treasure empathy. I am here ready to give my whole self and to give a win win situation to the organization to the advocacy that I believe in. I will continue to live a beautiful life with determine and passion for my advocacy as well,” sagot ng aktres at bagong beauty queen.
Fast-track winners
Ang fast-track winners na nagpatuloy sa Top 15 ay sina Wyn, Beauty at Best in talent; Glyssa Perez, Sports challenge; Thomalla, Top model; at Laura, Multimedia.
Ang iba pang semi-finalists ay sina Zara Carbonell, Ella Lubag, Gabriela Ortega, Cristina Coloma, Hena Cajandig, Chelse Anne Manalo, Sheila Marie Reyes, Noelle Uy-Tuazon, Jona Sweett, Sophia Senoron at Janela Joy Cuaton.
Ang mga nagwagi ng special awards ay sina Tomalla, Miss Photogenic, Best In Long Gown, at Ms Blue Water Day Spa; Cuaton, Best Skin; Lehmann, Ms Cosmo Skin at Ms BYS; Marquez, Miss Bench Body at Miss Savoy Hotel Boracay; Petez, Ms Fila; at Zalora People’s Choice Kathryn Cudiamat.
* Sports at pageants
Inilarawan ni Laura ang kanyang sarili bilang tomboy habang lumalaki, dahil naglaro siya ng rugby at softball. Ang kanyang pinakamalaking karangalan sa sports ay nang maging miyembro siya ng Philippine Softball Team na pumangalawa sa US sa World Series ilang taon na ang nakalilipas.
Ngunit natigil ang kanyang karera sa sports nang tumanggap siya ng scholarship sa Occidental College sa US, ang paaralang pinagtapusan ni ang dating US President Barrack Obama. Nag-aral din siya ng psychology, neurological science at Spanish sa ibang bansa. Ang beauty and brains titleholder ay produkto rin ng exclusive at international schools.
Lumahok si Laura sa 2014 Bb. Pilipinas beauty contest at naging first runner-up. Mula sa pamilya ng mga Atenista, nagdesisyon siyang mag-aral ng Psychology sa Ateneo de Manila University sa Quezon City.
Ayon sa ilang report, nais ni Lehmann na muling lumahok sa Bb. Pilipinas pageant ngunit nagdesisyon na sumali sa Miss World Philippines contest ngayong taon.
Karelasyon ni Lehmann, 23, si GlobalPort Batang Pier guard Von Pessumal.
New crown
Idinisenyo ni Miss World 2013 Megan Lynne Young , ang kauna-unahang Miss Worl titleholder mula sa Pilipinas, ang bagong korona ng Miss World Philippines.
“We’re part of the team that finalized the crown so I’m really happy with the (outcome). I think it symbolizes the Philippines in such a beautiful way,” aniya.
“The pearls are representing the Pearl of the Orient and the sapphires representing the seas around our country.
We’re a country full of islands. Those two specific traits of the crown really make it something different,” lahad ni Young.
Ang Miss World Philippines 2017 contest ay dinaluhan nina Miss World Organization chairman Julia Morley at Chief Mandela, chief of the Royal House of Mandela at honorable member ng Parliament of South.
Bukod kay reigning Miss World Stephanie del Valle ng Puerto Rico, ang iba pang titleholders sa entourage ay sina Miss World Caribbean Yaritza Reyes, Dominican Republic; Miss World Asia Natasha Manuella, Indonesia; Miss World Americas Audra Mari, United States; Miss World Europe Lenty Frans, Belgium; Miss World Africa Evelyn Njambi, Kenya; Miss World Oceania Madeline Cowe, Australia; Mr. World Rohit Khandelwal, India; at Beauty With A Purpose officials Scott at Gina Holmes.