By Drew Francisco
Roxanne Allison Baeyens of Baguio City was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2020 in a virtual pageant – a first in Philippine pageant history – held July 5.
The 23-year-old Filipino-Belgian model and artist bested 32 other delegates for the right to represent the Philippines in the next edition of the Miss Earth pageant. She succeeded last year’s titleholder Janelle Tee who placed in the Top 20 of Miss Earth 2019.
Her elemental court included Patrixia Shirley Santos of Daraga Albay (Miss Air), Gianna Llanes of Mandaluyong City (Miss Water), Shane Quintana Tormes of Atimonan, Quezon (Miss Fire), and Ilyssa Marie Mendoza of the Filipino Community of Melbourne, Australia (Miss Eco-Tourism).
The rest of the Top 10 included the representatives of South Cotabato, Iloilo City, Quezon City, City of Manila, and General Santos City.
Baeyens also bagged the Darling of the Press and Eco-Video awards, while Lallo, Cagayan’s Lyka Chamberlaigneh Lagasca won the Eco-Angel award. Atimonan, Quezon’s Tormes was named Miss Hana Shampoo.
No stranger to pageants, Baeyens previously won Face of Tourism Philippines 2019. Later that year, she represented the Philippines in the Miss Tourism and Culture Universe competition in Myanmar where she finished first runner-up.
Miss Philippines Earth is the first national pageant in the Philippines to push through amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Aside from the virtual finals, all of the pre-pageant activities were also done virtually and remotely, including the all-important pre-judging segments (beauty of figure, beauty of face and poise, and intelligence). Missosology.Org
