Filipina Wins Miss Tourism Int’l Title
By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
Manila Bulletin
January 1, 2013
MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippines continued its winning streak in
international beauty pageants after Miss Philippines Rizzini Alexis Gomez was
crowned 2012 Miss Tourism International during a New Year's Eve pageant held in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This was the second time that the Philippines captured the title, initially won by Ma. Esparanza Manzano in 2000, in the beauty contest, which is the most extensive pageant that promotes the tourism industry.
Gomez, 22, a registered nurse, bested 55 other global beauties for the coveted title. At the same pageant, the Cebuana beauty, who stands 5’10”, also won Best In Evening Gown. Gomez is the daughter of former basketball player Roel Gomez of Alaska. She is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday.
Other winners were Miss Venezuela Marieles Alejandra Perez (Miss Tourism Global), first runner-up; Miss Australia Monika Rodulovic (Miss Tourism Metropolitan), second runner-up; Miss Paraguay Lourdes Rolon (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan), third runner-up; and Miss Malaysia Jun Yong Wan Jun (Darling of the Year), fourth runner up.
With two winners from the Philippines, the country now ties for the most number of wins with India (2001, 2008) and Poland (1998,1999).
Gomez earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2012 Miss Tourism International when she was crowned 2012 Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism. She also bagged the Best In Swimsuit, a major special award, in the same national beauty contest.
Earlier, Gomez also joined the 2012 Miss Philippines World beauty pageant, won by Queenrich Rehman, who made it to the semis of the 2012 Miss World beauty contest held in Ordos, China.
Other Philippine representatives who placed in the Miss Tourism International contest in recent years were Barbara Salvador (third runner-up, 2010), Sherilynne Reyes (third runner-up, 1995), Mellany Montemayor (second runner-up, 1998), Racquel Uy (first runner-up, 1999), and Maria Riza Martinez (fourth runner-up, 1994).
Introduced in 1994, the Miss Tourism International beauty contest is operated by its president and franchise owner Datuk Danny Ooi. While the pageant is usually held in Malaysia, the contest has been staged in China in 2006. No contest was held in 1996, 1997 and 2007.
Gomez’s victory capped a successful year for Filipinos in international beauty contests in 2012. Last week, Janine Tugonon won first runner-up in the 61st Miss Universe beauty contest held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Other winners were Kevin Balot, Miss Tourism Queen International; June Macasaet, 2012 Manhunt International, both crowned in Bangkok,Thailand; Andrew Wolff, 2012 Mr. World, first runner-up, in London; Elaine Kay Moll, 2012 Miss Supranational, third runner-up, in Poland; Stephanie Stefanowitz, 2012 Miss Earth, first runner-up, in Manila; and Ayellee Marie Dasalla, 2012 Miss Humanity International, second runner-up, in Barbados. Nicole Schmitz also placed in the semis of the 2012 Miss International beauty contest in Japan.
This was the second time that the Philippines captured the title, initially won by Ma. Esparanza Manzano in 2000, in the beauty contest, which is the most extensive pageant that promotes the tourism industry.
Gomez, 22, a registered nurse, bested 55 other global beauties for the coveted title. At the same pageant, the Cebuana beauty, who stands 5’10”, also won Best In Evening Gown. Gomez is the daughter of former basketball player Roel Gomez of Alaska. She is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday.
Other winners were Miss Venezuela Marieles Alejandra Perez (Miss Tourism Global), first runner-up; Miss Australia Monika Rodulovic (Miss Tourism Metropolitan), second runner-up; Miss Paraguay Lourdes Rolon (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan), third runner-up; and Miss Malaysia Jun Yong Wan Jun (Darling of the Year), fourth runner up.
With two winners from the Philippines, the country now ties for the most number of wins with India (2001, 2008) and Poland (1998,1999).
Gomez earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2012 Miss Tourism International when she was crowned 2012 Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism. She also bagged the Best In Swimsuit, a major special award, in the same national beauty contest.
Earlier, Gomez also joined the 2012 Miss Philippines World beauty pageant, won by Queenrich Rehman, who made it to the semis of the 2012 Miss World beauty contest held in Ordos, China.
Other Philippine representatives who placed in the Miss Tourism International contest in recent years were Barbara Salvador (third runner-up, 2010), Sherilynne Reyes (third runner-up, 1995), Mellany Montemayor (second runner-up, 1998), Racquel Uy (first runner-up, 1999), and Maria Riza Martinez (fourth runner-up, 1994).
Introduced in 1994, the Miss Tourism International beauty contest is operated by its president and franchise owner Datuk Danny Ooi. While the pageant is usually held in Malaysia, the contest has been staged in China in 2006. No contest was held in 1996, 1997 and 2007.
Gomez’s victory capped a successful year for Filipinos in international beauty contests in 2012. Last week, Janine Tugonon won first runner-up in the 61st Miss Universe beauty contest held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Other winners were Kevin Balot, Miss Tourism Queen International; June Macasaet, 2012 Manhunt International, both crowned in Bangkok,Thailand; Andrew Wolff, 2012 Mr. World, first runner-up, in London; Elaine Kay Moll, 2012 Miss Supranational, third runner-up, in Poland; Stephanie Stefanowitz, 2012 Miss Earth, first runner-up, in Manila; and Ayellee Marie Dasalla, 2012 Miss Humanity International, second runner-up, in Barbados. Nicole Schmitz also placed in the semis of the 2012 Miss International beauty contest in Japan.
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