The highs and lows of the Miss World Philippines 2024 pageant
The Miss World Philippines 2024 pageant concluded with Baguio’s Krishnah Gravidez as the newly crowned queen.
The coronation night on Friday, July 19 celebrated not only Filipina beauty but the Filipino culture in general by putting the spotlight on musical artists, designers, and more in the local scene.
Let's take a look back at some of the recently concluded event's most memorable moments, including its highs and lows.
LOW: An hour-long delay
The finals night was set to begin at 8:00 p.m., but the program only started an hour later at 9:00 p.m.
“I went to watch last night’s Miss World PH. The homage to OPM was great but I wish it would start on time,” digital writer and former entertainment reporter Alexa Villano wrote in a post on X.
HIGH: Local talents took center stage
True to its promise, the MWP organization gave local acts their time to shine at the event in-between segments. There were performances by up-and-coming P-pop groups like BILIB and KAIA, beloved pop-rock group The Juans, singer-songwriter Johnoy Danao, as well as the Philharmonic Orchestra.
HIGH: Billy Crawford and Maria Gigante as hosts
Filipino actor and singer Billy Crawford and Universal Woman 2024 titleholder Maria Gigante did great as co-hosts during the event.
They lit up the evening with their lighthearted banter and spontaneous singing session as they led the candidates through their initial Q&A session.
Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2021 Emmanuelle Vera and actor Teejay Marquez also did their job well as anchor hosts.
LOW: Technical difficulties
While the overall event went smoothly, a couple of technical difficulties were also encountered.
At some point, Teejay was seen speaking with his microphone turned off. There were also multiple instances where either the judges or the anchor hosts were not well-lit for a couple of seconds before the spotlight finally found their place in the audience area.
The organizers' chit-chats were also heard in some parts of the livestream.
HIGH: A display of Filipino fashion
The MWP stage showcased the beauty of Filipino culture by featuring dresses made from local threads. The opening segment featured the 33 contestants in captivating dresses made from abaca fabric woven by the indigenous people of Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
The evening gown segment was also a big high as this year's bets walked the runway in their modern Filipiniana attires ranging from sleek, classic designs to bedazzled and structured ensembles.
HIGH: Miss World 2023 titleholder Krystyna Pyszková's appearance
Miss World 2023 Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic flew to the Philippines to attend the local competition.
She had her own moment in the middle of the program, where she imparted a short message before the crowning of the pageants’ winners.
When asked what it takes to win the Miss World crown, the queen emphasized one's sincere heart and willingness to serve.
"Definitely one of the most important qualities is to be ready to work because the queen will travel, definitely the good heart is most important because what you're doing needs to be sincere, needs to come within you, through you, and you need to have your purpose in life because purpose is happiness," she said.
LOW: Program ended at almost 2:00 a.m.
Miss World Philippines trended back in 2021 when the pageant ran for six hours, with fans describing it as the "longest-running" tilt in history. This year's edition had little improvement as it lasted five hours: from 9:00 p.m. of July 19 to almost 2:00 a.m. of July 20.
It became the subject of memes for its length anew. A social media user, for one, joked that the winner could go straight to a 5:00 a.m. talk show after being crowned. Check out other reactions to the coronation night and Krishnah Gravidez's win here.
Krishnah Gravidez of Baguio was named as Miss World Philippines, succeeding Gwendolyne Fourniol. She was followed by Tarlac Province's Jasmine Omay and Pampanga's Sophia Bianca Santos, who were crowned First Princess and Second Princess, respectively.
The event was hosted by Billy Crawford and Universal Woman 2024 Maria Gigante, with Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2021 Emmanuelle Vera and actor Teejay Marquez serving as anchor hosts. Special performances were given by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Johnoy Danao, KAIA, and BILIB. Check out the highlights of the competition here.