Winning habit Miss Intercontinental Karen Gallman in regal form. BRUCE CASANOVA

On the heels of recently proclaimed Miss Universe Catriona Gray, Philippine bet Karen Gallman clinched the country’s first Miss Intercontinental title at the conclusion of the 47th edition of the international beauty pageant held last Saturday night, 26 January, which extended past midnight, 27 January, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The 26-year-old Filipino-Australian Gallman, the last to compete among last year’s batch of Binibining Pilipinas queens, is a former London-based trade analyst

She bested 82 other contestants from five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

Wearing a glittering black ball gown created by designer Arielle Agasang, Mexico’s Veronica Salas, then reigning Miss Intercontinental, crowned Gallman.

Before Gallman’s scintillating victory, the Philippines’ closest wins were the runner-up placements of Katarina Rodriguez in 2017 and Christi Lynn McGarry in 2015 and a second runner-up finish by Kris Tiffany Janson in 2014.

The 26-year-old Filipino-Australian Gallman, the last to compete among last year’s batch of Binibining Pilipinas queens, is a former London-based trade analyst.

She was an early favorite, along with the candidates from Paraguay, Germany, Costa Rica and United States at the start of the two-week pageant competitions held in various places in the Philippines.

A week leading to the coronation night, the pre-pageant activities were held at Okada Manila.

The Grand Ballroom was transformed into a runway where the ladies strutted during the swimsuit competition and the Philippine Designer’s Evening Gown Fashion Show on 16 January.

They also showed elegance during the Evening Gown Competition and Philippine Designer’s Filipiniana Fashion Show on 17 January. The Crystal Corridor of Okada Manila became the venue for the national costume competition on 19 January.

At the conclusion of each pre-pageant activity, the winners were declared.

the Filipino-Australian bested 82 other contestants from five continents. Best in swimsuit was clinched by Miss Paraguay Gabriela Natasha Soley Sawkiw, Best in Philippine Designer’s Evening Gown by Miss Belarus Karolina Vladimirovna Chernoshey with a gown by Chico Estiva, Miss Fiber Health Body Beautiful and Media Favorite by Gallman, Best in Evening Gown by Miss Germany Olivia Mölle with a creation by Filipino designers Francis Deney Ruiz Sunga and Richard Gibas Tumibay under their fashion label Thread by Far Fashion Couturiers, Best in Philippine Designer Filipiniana by Miss Argentina Celina Villalobos Fuchs with a creation by Maricris de la Peña and Best in National Costume by Miss Peru Giuliana Valenzuela.

Gallman’s national costume is inspired by Moryonan or the Moriones Festival, a Lenten tradition in the island of Marinduque. The mythical Meranaw bird motif Sarimanok was also added to the whole ensemble to make it more dramatic.

During the coronation night, hosted by Filipino-American performer Billy Crawford, the ladies were introduced from each continent wearing their national costumes in an opening number.

Inspired by Moryonan or the Moriones Festival, a Lenten tradition in the island of Marinduque. From 83 ladies, contestants were narrowed down to the top 20. They were Miss Ethiopia Bella Lire Lapso and Miss Ghana Engracia Afua Kaley (Africa); Miss Japan Akari Maeda, Miss Malaysia Scarlett Megan Liew, Miss Myanmar Nang Mway Phoung Loong, Miss Philippines, Miss Thailand Ingchanok Prasart and Miss Vietnam Ngân Anh Lê Âu (Asia and Oceania); Miss Czech Republic Veronika Volkeova, Miss Germany Olivia Möller, Miss Hungary Gréta Muszka, Miss Netherlands Michelle Van Sonsbeek, Miss Slovak Republic Laura Longauerová and Miss Ukraine Kseniya Fesenko (Europe); Miss Costa Rica Adriana Moya, Miss Mexico Ivanna Lobato and Miss USA Marianny Egurrola Daza (North America), and Miss Paraguay Gabriela Natasha Soley, Miss Colombia Hillary Hollmann del Prado and Miss Ecuador Nina Suleyka Solórzano (South America).

The 20 competed in swimsuit and evening gown portions, after which they were trimmed to the top six. They were Miss Ethiopia (Continental Queen Africa), Miss Philippines (Continental Queen Asia), Miss Slovak Republic (Continental Queen Europe), Miss Costa Rica (Continental Queen North America), Miss Colombia (Continental Queen South America) and Miss Vietnam (People’s Choice).

The six finalists went on to answer the final question to determine this year’s titleholder. The same question was asked to each of the six finalists: “How do you define success?”

Both Miss Slovak Republic and Miss Philippines nailed the question-and-answer portion.

Gallman defined success as not just about winning in life: “It is about setting goals, achieving your dreams, working hard for everything you want and always looking up to God and be thankful for everything. For me, that is success.”

The crowd gave her a thunderous applause and cheers after her impressive delivery and confident response.

The ladies then appeared wearing shimmering gold gowns while being serenaded by a guest performer as the rest of the ladies appeared onstage, also in gold shimmering gowns, after the performance.

Sponsor and special awards were given to Miss Myanmar (Miss Ultra V), Miss Indonesia Aluna Rifani (Miss H&H Salon), Miss Argentina Celina Villalobos Fuchs (Miss Photogenic and Miss Sunrise Resort), Miss Panama Arleen Paola Cobas Lukowsky (Miss Simpatia) and Paraguay Gabriela Natasha Soley (Miss Playa Calatagan).

Karen Gallman is the first Filipina Miss Intercontinental. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BINIBINING PILIPINAS/BRUCE CASANOVA The reigning Miss Intercontinental Veronica Salas of Mexico made her farewell walk before the winners were announced.

Miss Ethiopia was declared fifth runner-up, Miss Vietnam fourth runner-up, Miss Colombia third runner-up, Miss Slovak Republic second runner-up, Miss Costa Rica first runner-up and Miss Philippines as Miss Intercontinental 2018.

Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. top executives Stella Marquez-Araneta and husband Jorge Araneta and Conchitina Sevilla-Bernardo witnessed the crowning live at the arena together with Binibining Pilipinas 2018 second runner-up Samantha Bernardo, Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2018 Michelle Gumabao and Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational 2018 Jehza Huelar, who all cheered as Gallman was being crowned.

Miss Intercontinental began in 1971 as a concurrent tourism event on the island of Aruba. Starting as a teen pageant, it became an annual event after it attracted strong television ratings following its debut in Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital. This is the first time for the Philippines to host the Miss Intercontinental pageant.