FORMER Miss Philippine Youth International Rikki Dela Peña, 24, has been bestowed a new title, Miss Philippines – Face of Tourism 2022, at the Mr. and Miss Philippine Youth 2022 finals held at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RBCB Plaza in Makati City last Sunday.
Rikki, who graduated with a degree in Business Administration (major in Management) at the University of Asia and the Pacific, is also the owner of Moderno fashion eyewear. She was announced and crowned by Gerald D. Ortiz, founder of Mr. and Miss Philippine Youth Organization.
“No words could express my gratitude for being appointed as Miss Philippines – Face of Tourism 2022,” said Rikki after her coronation. “I am beyond excited to open this new chapter in my life. Big thank you to the whole organization for trusting me.”
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Two Binibining Pilipinas titlists, Gabrielle Basiano (Intercontinental) and Chelsea Fernandez (Globe) are gunning for record feats: back-to-back wins in the finals of their respective pageants within 24 hours in venues not far away from each other.
Basiano, 24, will gun for the second straight win for the Philippines at the 50th Miss Intercontinental finals to be held tonight (early tomorrow morning PH time) at Meraki Resort, Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, hoping to succeed Cagayan de Oro’s Cindy Obeñita who won the pageant last year, also in the same venue.
An outright win by Basiano will only be the second back-to-back victory in the tilt’s 50-year history; the first was achieved by Germany in 1992-1993. A total of 71 delegates worldwide are entered this year.
Meanwhile, tomorrow night (early Sunday morning PH time), Chelsea Fernandez, 23, will also aim for an unprecedented back-to-back win at The Miss Globe finals to be held at the Opera & Ballet Theatre in Tirana, Albania. Chelsea is hoping to top the field of 53 entrants and succeed compatriot Maureen Montagne who won last year, also in Albania.
