On the heels of the disappointing loss at Miss World 2016, a rather unexpected shake-up of the Miss World franchise in the Philippines happened. Cory Quirino, a famous wellness guru and a granddaughter of former president, calls it quits. The franchise has been awarded to a certain Arnold Vegafria.
Cory Quirino has been responsible for promoting Miss World in the Philippines – a nation known to be Miss Universe obsessed. In her first year as National Director, the Philippines almost won the Miss World crown and in 2013, Cory delivered to the Philippines an elusive title – its first ever Miss World crown.
Cory was first approached by no less than Julia Morley in a dinner. When she was offered the franchise, Cory hesitated because she lacked the experience to handle beauty pageants. She however managed to stage a spectacular national pageant and she is well known for tapping local designers to design gowns for her candidates.
The pageantry community however is awash with speculations on why Cory decided to quit. “I have decided to relinquish the license of Miss World Philippines for both personal and business reasons,” she said in a text message sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Thank you for supporting me all these six years, and for being part of our challenges and victories. I will never forget you.”
READ Cory Quirino’s policy of Filipino First
Rumors however are swirling that the defeat of Catriona Gray at Miss World 2016 pushed Cory to make the heartbreaking decision. Eyewitnesses said that Cory appeared depressed after the results came in and that there was a strong feeling that there a big injustice was meted against the Philippine candidate. Cory’s presence in the Philippine pageantry scene will be severely missed and she will be leaving a spectacular legacy.
With the Miss World franchise now under the hands of a different organization, the future of the Philippines in the pageant will be uncertain. It seems that the strain in the relationship between this pageant crazy nation and the world’s oldest and largest major international pageant will simply continue.
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