Beauty queen Imelda Schweighart resigned last Monday afternoon from her duties and responsibilities as Miss Philippines-Earth after a fan video showed her bashing newly crowned Miss Earth Katherine Espin from Ecuador.
This is the first time that a reigning Miss Philippines-Earth resigned from her duties in the 16-year history of the pageant.
Sources said that Carousel Productions, organizer of the annual pageant, accepted the resignation of the Filipino-German beauty queen who was accompanied by her mother Annabeth Bautista and her trainer Rodgil Flores of the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp in a meeting with Lorraine Schuck, Executive Vice President for Carousel Productions.
Bautista said that she only wanted to protect her daughter from the bashing she received from social media.
“It was a voluntary resignation,” said Schuck, who accepted her voluntary resignation at 5:52 p.m. Monday.
Kiara Giel Gregorio, who is based in the United Kingdom and won as Miss Philippines Air 2016 in June, is expected to assume the duties as Miss Philippines Earth 2016.
Schweighart, 21, has already apologized to Espin for her negative comments, in an interview on CNN Philippines.
“If it’s a crime to tell the truth, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend Miss Ecuador… I don’t know her enough but she was my roommate,” the beauty queen from Palawan said.
Schweighart revealed that it was Espin who told her that she underwent cosmetics surgery.
“You put a side of a person’s integrity out there. What is that? Hindi makabayan ‘yon,” she added.
“Honestly, I’m not bitter. I’m just offended. Why? Because the gown that I was supposed to wear was given to Ecuador.
I was fitted the gown. I was just so offended. That time, I’m still in the heat of the moment, the gown that was placed in Miss Philippines’ cubicle was taken. That box, my gown named after me… I wasn’t able to wear it. Even Miss Guam made me borrow her gown… because I have nothing to wear,” the Filipino-German beauty queen said.
In video that went viral after the coronation night last October 29, Schweighart said: “Yung nanalo peke ilong, peke baba, peke boobs! Miss Earth, dapat natural.”
“I was talking to my supporters, thinking I would be comfortable with them… They went there to support me, they know what I have been through, the hurt I have been through in this pageant,” said Schweighart who failed to qualify in the Top 16 of the pageant.
“Akala ko lang they would understand , but someone took a video from afar and posted [it] online, a side of me that everyone has,” she added. “It was supposed to be private, but they put it out in public.”
ESPIN REACTS
Espin said that she respects the decision of Schweighart to give up her crown.
“I believe that each one of us has her own decision towards life, whether you want to do something or not. She is a woman; she has dreams. If she decided this, it’s her decision. She’s a grown up already and she knows what best for her,” Espin said, in an interview on ABS-CBN.
“I’ve heard some rumors, some things that aren’t going on. I don’t know why it’s happening but I respect her as a woman and I will eventually clarify all the rumors, we will clarify so there will be no misunderstanding,” Espin added.
Espin also said she is excited to start her reign as Miss Earth 2016.
“I am very committed to work as Miss Earth. I have so many projects in mind,” she said. “I really want to dedicate the whole year on working for the environment. I will leave everything else in my life and just focus on my reign as Miss Earth.”
