How Anna Lakrini’s Miss Supranational dream took shape

May 22 ------ Former Binibining Pilipinas queen Anna Valencia Lakrini revealed that the thought of competing in the Miss Supranational pageant started while she was representing the Philippines in The Miss Globe contest in 2023. The Filipino-German beauty queen, model, and nutritionist shared this when she met journalists and online content creators at the Brittany Hotel at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. 

“I actually started with the idea of joining Miss Supranational when I got the second runner-up at The Miss Globe,” Larkini responded when INQUIRER.net asked when the thought came first. “One of my closest friends was actually Miss Poland. And she told me, ‘Anna, why don’t you join that pageant in Poland?’ And it was back then when I had this dream of mine to join Miss Supranational,” she continued. 

The Miss Supranational pageant was established in Warsaw, Poland, in 2009. The current franchisee in the Philippines is Empire Philippines, organizer of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant and owner of The Miss Philippines brand.  

Lakrini, who will represent Germany in the 2025 Miss Supranational pageant, earned her ticket to the international tilt when she won in the Queens of Germany contest in April. “Miss Supranational was the title I was aiming for, it was the highest crown in Queens of Germany. And I’m very proud that I got the highest crown,” she shared. Aside from Lakrini, the Queens of Germany Organization also proclaimed the German representatives to Miss International, The Miss Globe, Miss Aura International, Miss Charm, and Miss Cosmo pageants. Lakrini joined the Bb. Pilipinas pagent twice before she was able to compete in an international contest. The first time was in 2022 when she finished in the semifinals. 

At the recent gathering, Lakrini was joined by former Filipino delegates to the Miss Supranatianal pageant, 2021 finalist Dindi Pajares, 2023 runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, and 2024 Miss Supranational Asia and Oceania Alethea Ambrosio. Also at the event were Miss Supranational Japan 2024 Yuki Sonoda, a Filipino-Japanese actress and model, and 2023 Miss International third runner-up Nicole Borromeo who competed with Lakrini in the 2022 Bb. Pilipinas pageant. “I’m overwhelmed. I’m so thankful for all the support from my queen sisters, from my Supra sisters, from my team that is here. I know I might be representing Germany but I still have a Filipino heart,” Lakrini told INQUIRER.net in an interview. She has a full-Filipino team behind her in her quest for the Miss Supranational crown. Currently under the Manila-based Reign Project Management, Lakrini also tapped a Philippine-based glam squad for hair, makeup, and wardrobe, and tapped pasarela trainor Ian Mendajar and interview coach Kali Navea-Huff. 

Lakrini is not the first Filipino representative to crossover to another pageant representing a different country. Kirby Ann Basken ws Miss Philippines in the 2006 Miss Intercontinental pageant, then carried Norway in the 2007 Miss Universe contest while still reigning as Mutya ng Pilipinas. Several other Filipino pageant contestants also competed for another country in the international arena. Miss Universe Philippines alumnae Victoria Vincent and Christina Chalk represented New Zealand and Great Britain, respectively, at the 2024 Miss Universe pageant. 

Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2012 Katrina Dimaranan was carrying the United States when she finished as first runner-up in the 2018 Miss Supranational pageant. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re someone who’s competing again, whether you are someone who’s already a pageant veteran, or someone who’s already starting,” Lakrini addressed those who sneer at veterans and crossover queens. “I think it’s about your capabilities of being pageant queen, your willingness, and your empathy and the passion you put into it,” she continued. 

Lakrini will be joined by The Miss Philippines-Supranational 2025 Tarah Valencia in the 2025 Miss Supranational pageant in Poland next month. The new winner will be crowned on June 27 (28 in Manila) 

Source: inquirer.net