Winwyn Marquez, Dia Mate welcome Beatriz Mclelland to Reina Hispanoamericana fam

August 26 ------ Francesca Beatriz Mclelland had a “star-studded” coronation as Reina Hispaoamericana Filipinas, as host Maria Gigante put it, at the 2025 Miss Grand International Philippines pageant. No less than reigning Reina Hispanoamericana Dia Mate, the second Filipino woman to win in the Latin-dominated pageant, placed the crown on Mclelland’s head at the ceremonies held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez was also at the competition as one of the judges and went onstage to help Mate crown Mclelland as 2025 Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas.

Joining Mate and Marquez in welcoming Mclelland to the “Reina” family onstage were 2019 Reina Hispanoamericana quinta finalista (fifth runner-up) Katrina Llegado and 2022 Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas Ingrid Santamaria.

The moment saw five Reina Hisanoamericana Filipinas titleholders gathered together on stage, making Mclelland’s coronation the biggest assembly of predecessors to join a newly-crowned queen that evening. Reigning Face of Beauty International Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano of the Philippines crowned her national successor Nikki Buenafe Cheveh, while Michelle Arceo was crowned as Miss Tourism World Philippines by 2023 Miss Tourism World first runner-up Justine Felizarta.

Anita Rose Gomez was crowned as Miss Asia Pacific International Philippines by reigning Miss Asia Pacific International Janelis Leyba from the United States. But while Mclelland did not receive the Miss Grand International Philippines title, something her fellow candidates were aspiring to win, she may be just as happy as Tiglao with the pageant’s outcome.

McLelland had not been subtle in declaring her desire to compete in the Latin-dominated Reina Hispanoamericana pageant based in Bolivia. “I have dreamed that since my first pageant with ALV, actually,” Mclelland told INQUIRER Entertainment, referring to the Miss World Philippines pageant in 2022, where Santamaria won the Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas title.

Source: inquirer.net