Karen Gallman becomes first Filipina to win Miss Intercontinental crown

“And the new Miss Intercontinental is… PHILIPPINES! Congratulations Karen Gallman!! Welcome to the family.” (Photo: @missintercontinentalorg/Instagram)

Twenty-five-year-old Karen Gallman makes Philippine pageant history last Sunday, January 27 as she bested out more than 80 other contestants by winning the top crown of Miss Intercontinental 2019, being the first from the country to win the title in 47 years.

During the final question and answer portion, Karen was asked to define success, which she answered, “For me, success is not just about winning in life but setting goals — smaller goals — and achieving your dreams and working hard for everything you want and always looking up to God and being thankful for everything. For me, that is success.”

Gallman shares after being crowned that she was “very happy [she] could do this for the Philippines,” stating that “it means a lot to [her]” because “this is the first time the Philippines has won Miss Intercontinental.” In her words, “I am speechless.

I can’t stop smiling. I am just so grateful.” Karen also elaborates on her gratitude for the Filipino pageant fanatics, saying, “I have such an amazing support system and I am so grateful for each and one of them who came out here tonight to cheer me on. It gave me more confidence on stage when they were waving their flags and screaming Philippines.”

At interviews, Gallman further promotes her advocacy in improving education in the Philippines’ rural areas, sharing, “You know, so many young girls look up to beauty queens. For me, I want to be a great role model for these young women and girls.

I also want to be a spokesperson for the marginalized and the voiceless.

I want to inspire a lot of people out there. Hopefully, I can do that with this crown.” Shealso voiced out her desire to visit the pageant’s headquarters in Panama during her reign.

In the top five with Gallman during Miss Intercontinental 2019 were first runner-up Adriana Moya Alvarado from Costa Rica, second runner-up Laura Longauerova form the Slovak Republic, and Hillary Hollman of Colombia, Ngan Ang Au Lee of Vietnam, and Bella Lire Lapso of Ethiopia as second, third, fourth, and fifth runners-up respectively.