Philippine bet lands on Top 11 in Beach Fashion competition
MANILA -- The Philippines' Megan Young was named Monday as one of the finalists in Miss World's Beach Fashion competition, which marked a unique, more "conservative" tweak, amid protests in the pageant's host country this year.
The 23-year-old actress was among the 11 candidates who clinched a spot in the Beach Fashion finals, whose winner will be named during the pageant's coronation night on September 28.
Joining Young as a finalist are the contestants of France, Indonesia, Jamaica, Spain, China, Ghana, Ukraine, Italy, Brazil and Moldova.
 |
| The Philippines' Megan Young (left), along with the delegates of Ukraine (center) and Spain (right), are among the Top 11 finalists of Miss World's Beach Fashion competition. Photos from the pageant's official Facebook page |
The preliminary competition, which was held in Nusa Dua in Bali, Indonesia, saw the 125 competing beauties parade in a one-piece bathing suit and a sarong instead of the usual bikini as pageant organizers avoid "being disrespectful" considering the contest's venue.
Protests in Muslim-majority Indonesia continued Tuesday, with mounting calls for Miss World to cancel its finals night altogether as pageant organizers admitted difficulties to move the culminating event from Java to Bali.
Megan as early favorite
Preliminary competitions nonetheless pushed through as planned in Nusa Dua, with a golf tournament held last Sunday, and a sports challenge on Monday before the Beach Fashion eliminations.
Young, along with her fellow Beach Fashion finalists, are set to have a photo shoot to decide the winner of the major award.
According to Miss World Philippines head Cory Quirino in a text message to ABS-CBN News, the Kapamilya actress has also been chosen to be among the nine candidate-spokespersons for the pageant.
Young's apparent early-favorite status in Miss World comes on the heels of another victory for the Philippines in an international pageant. Last week, Filipina beauty Mutya Datul bested 82 other candidates to be crowned Miss Supranational 2013.
