Former Miss International feels bashers affected Maxine's performance

Did bashers affect Philippines bet Maxine Medina's performance at the Miss Universe competition?

It sure looked that way for Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago.

"I felt like the more na na-pressure si Maxine, the more siya na kinabahan. But I know she's very sure of herself eh. It's just that the people questioning her makes her question heself. I feel like dapat binigyan natin siya more ng tiwala," she told GMA News.

When asked whether the criticism that Medina received over her English and communication skills affecter her, Santiago replied in the affirmative.

"I feel like it. Because ako mismo naaapektuhan ako as a friend. Imagine her and her family," she said.

Amid the bashing, Medina employed an interpreter on standby for her question and answer stint during the pageant, the first Filipino beauty queen to use one. But she still answered the question in English.

In a separate interview on GMA News, Medina said she felt like she gave the correct answer. —JST, GMA News