MISS Earth Puerto Rico Nellys Pimentel, 22, from San Juan, was crowned as the 19th Miss Earth, besting 84 other beauty delegates worldwide in a coronation pageant held at Cove Manila, Okada Manila in Parañaque City that commenced promptly at 4:00 PM and ended two hours later and moments after sunset, capturing the orange sky of Manila Bay through the posh entertainment venue’s glass-and-steel dome.
Standing 5’8, Nellys succeeded Nguyen Phuong Khanh of Vietnam, last year’s winner, to become Puerto Rico’s first Miss Earth titleholder. Puerto Rico now joins Brazil, Venezuela and the Philippines as the only countries to have won all for major global pageants, known as the Big Four, namely: Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth.
Nellys, who was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico to parents who are from the Dominican Republic, became the 10th major world beauty queen of the Caribbean island-country that has also won 5 Misses Universe, 2 Misses World and 2 Misses International.
The new Miss Earth is a graduate of Psychology and is currently pursuing a second degree in Marketing.
Nelly’s court of “elements” include: Part Ethiopian Emanii Davis, 25, from Georgia, USA, Miss Air; Klara Vavruskova, 20, from the Czech Republic, Miss Water; and Alisa Manyonok, 24, from Belarus, Miss Fire.
Miss Philippines Earth Janelle Lazo Tee, 27, made it to the first cut of 20 semifinalists. The Philippines holds the record for the most wins in the advocacy-driven pageant with victories in 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
The pageant was hosted by James Deakin while the panel of judges included, among others, theater actor-singer Leo Valdez, Philippine theater icon Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Bantay-Bata 163 CEO Ernie Lopez, Carousel Productions EVP Lorraine Schuck and international R & B singer Shontelle who also performed on stage.
The pageant was aired live by FOXlife and replayed last night (October 27) on ABS CBN.
