Twenty six-year-old North Cotabato native Mary Jean Lastimosa bested 39 other Binibining Pilipinas candidates to represent the country in this year's Miss Universe.
During the highly anticipated but dreaded question and answer portion, reigining Miss Universe Gabriela Isler asked the Davao-based entrepreneur: "What is the greatest advantage of being a woman?”
"The greatest advantage of being a woman is being able to compose ourselves. Just like here, we’re standing in front of thousands of people not knowing if they're cheer for us. But we try to compose ourselves, we keep the emotions and show the beauty that is in us. And tonight, thousands of people are here, celebrating the beauty of a woman," she answered.
Joining Mary Jean in the winners' circle is 24-year-old Bianca Guidotti who shall represent the Philippines in Miss International. Cebuana beauty, 24-year-old Kris Tiffany Janson, is the country's representative to the Miss Intercontinental; Yvethe Santiago is heading to Miss Supranational; while Parul Shah is competing in Miss Tourism Queen International.
Laura Lehman and Hannah Ruth Sison are First and Second Runners-up, respectively.
Expectations are high for this year's titlist following the country's impressive finish in the international beauty pageants last year. It can be recalled that the Philippines brought home three titles in 2013: Miss Supranational (Mutya Johanna Datul), Miss World (Megan Young), and Miss International (Bea Rose Santiago).
TOP 15 (In no particular order)
Bb 11 Laura Lehmann
Bb 1 Julian Aurine Flores
Bb 22 Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti
Bb 3 Joanna Romero
Bb 25 Mary Jean Lastimosa
Bb 8 Pia Wurtzbach
Bb 4 Parul Shah
Bb 23 Nichole Marie Manalo
Bb 16 Zahara Soriano
Bb 35 Yvethe Marie Santiago
Bb 14 Emma Mary Tiglao
Bb 20 Kenneth Santiago
Bb 13 Kris Tiffany Janson
Bb 27 Hannah Sison
Bb 19 Mae Liezel Ramos
Bb 1 Julian Aurine Flores
Bb 22 Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti
Bb 3 Joanna Romero
Bb 25 Mary Jean Lastimosa
Bb 8 Pia Wurtzbach
Bb 4 Parul Shah
Bb 23 Nichole Marie Manalo
Bb 16 Zahara Soriano
Bb 35 Yvethe Marie Santiago
Bb 14 Emma Mary Tiglao
Bb 20 Kenneth Santiago
Bb 13 Kris Tiffany Janson
Bb 27 Hannah Sison
Bb 19 Mae Liezel Ramos
Source: ph.celebrity.yahoo.com, March 30, 2014
Mary Jean Lastimosa. Photo by Francis
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