Karen Gallman hurdles first cut, enters Top 20 of Miss Intercontinental

Filipino-Australian beauty queen Karen Gallman cleared the first round of elimination during the 47th Miss Intercontinental finals night. 

Karen secured a place in the Top 20, joined by delegates from Ethiopa, Ghana, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Mexico, USA, Paraguay, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Karen Gallman makes the first cut! #MissIntercontinental Top 20 | @gmanews pic.twitter.com/34dFTUCpse

— Aya Miura (@ayaruim) January 26, 2019

Karen has won three other special awards in separate pre-pageant events: Standout Beauty, Media Favorite, and Body Beautiful. 

The Miss Intercontinental coronation night is being held for the first time in the Philippines, although Japan is the official host country.

Outgoing queen Veronica Salas Vallejo of Mexico, who also served as a judge, will be crowning her successor tonight, January 26. — with reports from Jessica Bartolome / AT, GMA News