In a keenly contested competition, ladies of diverse backgrounds from across the globe gave their graceful best at the Miss Tourism Metropolitan International 2016, last week, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Making her community and country proud, Janela Joy Cuaton, the 19-year-old alumna of Philippine School of Doha (PSD), pulled off a thriller to claim a spot in the winners’ list.
The Philippines sustained its impressive record in the international pageants after Mutya ng Pilipinas 2015 Janela Joy Cuaton won first runner-up and bested other aspirants for the crown, taking home the country’s victory in ceremonies held in Phnom Penh, last Friday. Splashes of creativity, innovative costumes and unique talents filled the night as each contestant showcased the rich cultural appeal of their country in the competition.
Her hands clasped over her chest upon her proclamation as the first runner-up, an emotional Cuaton couldn’t help her tears from trickling down her cheeks as the previous year’s winner placed the crown on her head. After the coronation, Cuaton, who has lived in Doha for years, said, “I cannot believe this moment right now. I am ecstatic and happy. I did not go on this journey alone. I had a lot of love from the people around me. This moment only happens in dreams. Thank you, Cambodia. Thank you, Miss Tourism Metropolitan International.”
Even in the 2015 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant, Cuaton clearly was a crowd favourite aided by a massive support base around her. Her latest triumph, therefore, did not come as a surprise to many, as she received the biggest support from the audience, both in Qatar and in the Philippines. Her road to Mutya was well-supported and endorsed by the Philippine Embassy in Doha and PSD. A consistent achiever at PSD, the 19-year-old alumna saw PSDians unite behind her, whom they lovingly refer to as ‘one of their own’, in every special activity of the pageant leading up to the grand coronation night. The number of her supporters grew as she embarked on her journey to the Miss International crown.
When asked about the promotion of Cambodian culture, Cuaton said that she would promote Cambodia’s passion by creating a marketing campaign that would raise curiosity and be able to showcase the beauty and fashion of Cambodia. People must remember that the real treasure of Cambodia is its people, its undeniable spirit, and its warm smile, she said. With her winning the international crown, Cuaton is expected to work on projects that foster international understanding around the world. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Amanda Charleen was crowned this year’s Miss Tourism Metropolitan International by Uganda’s Sheila Kirabo. The second runner-up was Cambodia’s Hang Manita, the third runner-up was Raquel Maria Guevara Avila of Costa Rica, and the fourth runner-up was Zijun Jia of China.
Dr Alexander S Acosta, PSD Principal, told Community, “Janela is PSD’s pride in the limelight of pageantry. She has the confidence and determination, and she is strong-willed. I believe that Janela will devote herself to international cultural understanding. She is very sensitive to other cultures that she knows how to expand her horizons, tolerate differences, and appreciate diversity. All of these factors enable her to achieve global recognition.”
Miss Tourism Metropolitan International was created by Cambodia’s Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi to provide a platform for aspiring beauty queens to “enhance their self-development skills”. Cuaton’s inclusion gave the overseas contingent a tough competition, pointed out Don John A Vallesteros, Researcher and Link Moderator, PSD. “The event attested that PSDians are proficient at competing with their counterparts,” Vallesteros said, “This substantiates that PSDians are not caged in academics but they are also thought to think beyond their boundaries of knowledge. This also immortalises the motto of the school, which is PSD is simply the B.E.S.T.”
The jury panel of the 10th Miss Tourism Metropolitan International World Final 2016 pageant consisted of eminent personalities who judged the various contestants on their confidence, looks, and personality. Apart from the title holder and runner ups, some special award winners were also announced. Special Awards were awarded under the following categories to the following contestants: Best in National Costume – Miss Indonesia Valerie Krasnadewi; Miss Good Luck - Miss Malaysia Xandria Ban; Best in Talent - Miss Netherlands Kimberly Anna Helena; Miss Friendship - Miss South Africa Neena Macaire; and Miss Photogenic - Miss Thailand Amanda Charleen.