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Samantha Bernardo to represent Philippines at Miss Grand International
Binibining Pilipinas on Tuesday confirmed that Samantha Bernardo would represent the Philippines at the Miss Grand International 2020 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, next month.
“Binibining Pilipinas officially confirms the selection of Samantha Bernardo as the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Grand International 2020 pageant this March 27, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand,” said the statement shared on the organization’s Facebook page.
The statement said that the pageant organization would be extending its “full support in her quest to win the first MGI crown for the country.”
Binibining Pilipinas also expressed regret for reigning Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2019 Aya Abesamis “for being unable to join MGI 2020 due to the age limit caused by the delay of the MGI contest because of the COVID pandemic.”
Posted by Bb. Pilipinas (Official) on Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Despite the age limit, Binibining Pilipinas reassured that Aya “remains as our Binibining Pilipinas - Grand International 2019 and will pass on her crown during Binibining Pilipinas pageant in April.”
Last January, Binibining Pilipinas opened its pageant season with a national costume exhibit.
After postponing its pageant last year due to the pandemic, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) announced on social media last week that it would push through with its activities this year.
While BPCI lost the Miss Universe franchise in 2019—Gazini Ganados was the last Bb. Pilipinas Universe crowned under its helm—it continues to have the Miss International, Miss Globe, Miss Intercontinental, and the Grand International beauty pageants under its belt.
Samantha won second runner-up in the Miss Universe Philippines 2019 pageant, while the supposed representative Aya was the 1st runner-up.
In January 2020, Aya was introduced as the new Bb. Pilipinas Grand International, replacing Samantha Lo.
Samantha Lo officially signed off as the titleholder in November 2019 after a grueling journey to represent the Philippines in the pageant in Caracas, Venezuela.
She was held in Paris, France, and deported for allegedly using a fake passport.
She then went on to represent the country in Venezuela but failed to advance to the semifinals. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News
