Former Asia’s Next Top Model Season 2 finalist Filipina Katarina Rodriguez leaves Sanya, China empty-handed after failing to make it through to the Top 30 finalists list of Miss World 2018.
Katarina competed in the international pageant for about a month, finding herself among the Top 32 of the competition’s Top Model challenge and Top 20 of the ‘Head to Head’ challenge. However, she lost her chances at bagging the Talent competition and Beauty With A Purpose project awards after being disqualified for not following the guidelines. Upon hearing about the news days before the finale of the pageant, she states, “It hurt me that I did not qualify for BWAP more than anything else has in the past because I wanted the world to see what war and violence does to real life people,” referring to her project to help out the children of Marawi, adding, “I meant no disrespect and wish I had known.”
During the coronation night last Saturday, December 8, twenty-six-year-old Vanessa Ponce de Leona ended up taking the top title and was crowned by predecessor India’s Manushi Chhillar. Winning this prestigious title was a first for Vanessa’s country, Mexico.
Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan from Thailand finished first runner-up, while Miss World Uganda Quinn Abenakyo placed third. Rounding out the top twelve included Belarus, France, Scotland, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Mauritius, Uganda, Nepal, and New Zealand.
The only Filipina to have ever won the coveted Miss World title was Megan Young, who was crowned in 2013.
Besides her stints as a model, Katarina had also previously landed first runner-up in international pageant Miss Intercontinental earlier this year. She was also recently part of show The People’s Queen, which is hosted by Rappler writer Voltaire Tayag and Miss Supranational USA director Cecilio Asuncion.