Miss Tourism International 2013/2014 Angeli Dione Gomez (center) is flanked by fellow winners at the end of the pageant coronation night held at the Marriot Hotel and Spa in Putrajaya.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported that a Filipina emerged victorious for the second straight year at the Miss Tourism International pageant held on December 31, 2013 at the Marriot Hotel and Spa in Putrajaya.
Twenty year old Angeli Dione Gomez bested 59 other contestants from around the world to win the title. She was crowned by Miss Tourism International 2012/2013 and fellow Filipina Rizzini Alexis Gomez.
Rounding up the top five are Thailand’s Sunidporn Srisuwan (Miss Tourism Queen of the Year), first runner-up; Australia’s Sarah Czarnuch (Miss Tourism Metropolitan), second runner-up; Dominican Republic’s Michelle Alexis Torres (Miss Tourism Global International) third runner up and Malaysia’s Thaarah Ganesan (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International), fourth runner-up. Vietnam’s Phan Hoang Thu was named Ms. Southeast Asia.
“Ms. Gomez’s victory in the Miss Tourism International pageant is a perfect way to cap the country’s impressive streak in the pageant scene and is wonderful news to start the new year. The Embassy extends our congratulations and wishes her well during her reign as Miss Tourism International,” said Embassy Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Medardo Macaraig, who was present during the coronation night.
During the coronation night, the field was reduced to 20 delegates, where the contestants competed in the evening gown. It was then reduced to 10 for the interview portion.
The candidates were asked how they will promote world peace. During her turn, Ms. Gomez said that she will promote tourism, as this would involve people-to-people movement and communication, which will make each one understand cultures, beliefs and traditions.
This is the third time that the Philippines captured the title in the international beauty contest, which is the most extensive pageant that promotes the tourism industry. In 2000, Ma. Esparanza Manzano of Quezon City won the title.
The Miss Tourism International pageant began in 1994 in Kuching, Sarawak with candidates from 20 countries. The title is now franchised in over 80 countries worldwide.
The pageant aims to provide Malaysia with a homegrown title and an opportunity to gather beauty queens from around the world to indulge in the sights, sounds and scents of Malaysia. Throughout its history, Miss Tourism International has gathered more than 500 delegates in Malaysia.
With this victory, the country tops the list for the most number of wins in the pageant, followed by India (2001 and 2008) and Poland (1998 and 1999).