A PSYCHOLOGIST from Hong Kong was crowned Miss Global 2018 during a pageant held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City which started Monday night and ended early Tuesday morning.
Sophia Ng bested more than 40 candidates in the international pageant that caters to single mothers and single women. She was crowned by Barbara Vitorelli from Brazil who relinquished her title.
Ng is the former winner of Miss Asian America 2018 beauty pageant. She has a passion to help children with depression.
The beauty queen from Hong Kong also said that it was a last-minute decision for her run in the Miss Global contest. She added that she will not pursue other pageants such as Miss Chinatown or Miss America because there’s so much preparation for these prestigious beauty contests.
Other winners were: Miss Canada Amber Bernachi, 1st runner-up; Miss Uzbekistan Tamila Khodjaeva, 2nd runner-up; Miss Haiti Seydina Allen, 3rd runner-up; and Miss USA Pamela Lee Urbina, 4th runner-up.
During the final question and answer portion, the top 5 candidates were asked a common question: “Should you win tonight, what is the first thing that you will do as the new Miss Global?”
Ng answered: “Iwould eat McDonald’s French fries. Jokes aside, Iwould use the Miss Global platform to further what Iam doing. Iam a psychologist and Iam really passionate about removing the stigma from mental health. In Hong Kong, Iam all about educating the masses, talking about my experience as a therapist, my experience as having had depression, and sharing and inspiring others to tell them that it is not okay not to be okay but also to offer them solutions is something that Iwould continually do. Thank you.”
Earlier, Ng also said that she idolizes reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray of the Philippines for her passion on education and advocacy to help the poor children.
Miss Philippines Eileen Gonzalez failed to crack the Top 21 of the sixth edition of the beauty contest.
The top 21 semifinalists competed in swimsuit, evening gown, and question-and-answer rounds.
Winners of special awards include: Miss Czech Republic, Lady Grace Special Award; Miss Brazil, Grace Frias Designer Award; Miss Uzbekistan, Talent; Korea, Miss Enterprise; Miss Mexico, Fitness Special Award; Miss Laos, Miss Fashion; Miss Indonesia, Photogenic; and Miss Netherlands, Miss Congeniality.
This is the third time that the international beauty pageant was held in Manila, the first being in 2015 and 2016.
“We are honored to host Miss Global to the Philippines once again. We know how much Filipinos love beauty pageants and with Miss Global coming to the country once again, we do not only extend our support for the competition but we are also able to showcase what the country has to offer,” said Pauline Sofia Laping, CEO and national pageant director, Miss Global Philippines. (ROBERT R. REQUINTINA)
