Catriona & other ‘Crossover’ queens

The beautiful journey of reigning Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray is aptly described as “from World to Universe.” In 2016, she competed in the Miss World pageant where she finished among the Top 5, losing to Puerto Rico’s Stephanie del Valle Diaz. This year, she’s competing in the Miss Universe pageant in a yet unannounced venue (maybe in the Philippines for the fourth time?). Catriona is said to have “made history” as the first-ever Filipina to compete in the two prestigious pageants.

Catriona is not alone. There are other “crossover” queens.

According to Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas, first on the Honor Roll was Great Britains’s Aileen Chase who was a 1951 Miss World fourth runner-up and also competed in the 1952 Miss Universe pageant but didn’t place; both were inaugural editions.

“Recent crossover beauty who made a remarkable finish was Olivia Jordan Thomas of USA,” noted Celso. “She was second runner-up to our very own 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach. Prior to that, Olivia was a Top 20 in 2013 Miss World won by another Filipina, Megan Young.”

And more:

• 1971 Miss Universe Georgina Rizk of Lebanon was a 1970 Miss World candidate. (Bb. Pilipinas Vida Doria was voted by the international press as 1971 Miss U’s Miss Photogenic. Miss R.P. Minerva Cagatao was a Top 15 in 1970 Miss World.)

• 1989 Miss Universe Angela Visser of Holland was a 1988 Miss World candidate.

• 1992 Miss Universe Michele McLean of Namibia was a Top 5 in 1991 Miss World.

• 1999 Miss Universe Mpule Keneilwe Kwelagobe of Botswana was a 1997 Miss World candidate. (Philippine bet Miriam Quiambao was Mpule’s first runner-up.)

While we are at it, Funfare requested Celso to make a list of local “crossover queens.”

• 2018 Bb. Pilipinas winners who were products of other national pageants were: Bb. Pilipinas International Ma. Ahtisa Manalo was 2014 Miss Teen Earth Top 10 and 2017 Reyna ng Aliwan Festival second runner-up. Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Eva Psychee Patalinjug was crowned 2014 Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International. First runner-up Vickie Marie Rushton won as 2011 Mutya ng Asia International while second runner-up Samantha Mae Bernardo was a Top 13 semi-finalist and Miss Talent in 2013 Miss World Philippines (won by Megan Young).

• 1969 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Gloria Diaz was one of the seven finalists in 1969 Quest for a Model search won by Maricar Azaola.

• 1970 Bb. Pilipinas International Aurora Pijuan finished first runner-up to 1966 Miss Teen Princess of the Philippines Mary Jane Madamba.

• 1970 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Simonette delos Reyes and 1970 (first) Miss Young Philippines Cita Avecilla were among the 1969-70 Manila’s Five Prettiest by Bachelors Club. (The other three were Marissa Gonzales, Cita Barretto and Elizabeth Jalbuena.)

• 1971 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Vida Doria and 1974 Miss Maja Pilipinas Pacita Guevarra were candidates in 1969-70 Miss Republic of the Philippines won by Liza Miro.

• 1971 Bb. Pilipinas International Evelyn Camus was among the 1967-68 Manila’s Five Prettiest by Bachelors Club. (The other four were Monina Arnaldo, Isabel Preysler, Connie Gonzales and Margarita Sison.)

• 1971 Miss Young Philippines Maricar Zaldariaga was among the 1971-72 Manila’s Five Prettiest by Bachelors Club. (The other four were Marianne dela Riva, Baby Corcuera, Emmeline Veloso and Malu Leuterio.)

From left: 1989 Miss Universe Angela Visser of Holland, 1999 Miss Universe Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana, 2015 Miss USA Olivia Jordan

• 1972 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Armi Barbara Crespo was Mutya ng Mindanao (third runner-up) to 1971 Mutya ng Pilipinas Carolyn Masibay.

• 1977 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Anna Lorraine Kier was 1976 Miss Teenage Philippines winner.

• 1977 Miss Maja Pilipinas Annabelle Arambulo was 1976 Filipina Maid of Cotton winner.

• 1978 Bb. Pilipinas International Luz Policarpio was 1975 Filipina Maid of Cotton winner.

• 1979 Bb. Pilipinas International Melanie Marquez was 1977 Filipina Maid of Cotton third runner-up to Bernadette Santos.

• 1983 Bb. Pilipinas Cita Capuyon was a 1982 Mutya ng Pilipinas semi-finalist and Best in Swimsuit and 1982 Philippine Press Photography fourth runner-up.

• 1984 Miss Young Philippines Rachel Anne Wolfe was 1983 Mutya ng Pilipinas second runner-up.

• 1988 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Perfida Limpin was adjudged Best in Swimsuit in 1986 Mutya ng Pilipinas.

• 1988 Bb. Pilipinas International Anthea Robles was a 1987 Supermodel Philippines finalist.

• 1992 Bb. Pilipinas World Marilen Espino was 1988 Supermodel of the Philippines winner and won second runner-up in the 1988 Ford Supermodel of the World.

• 1994 Bb. Pilipinas World Cara Subijano was 1991 Supermodel of the Philippines winner and 1994 Bb. Pilipinas International Alma Concepcion was 1992 Miss Hawaii Tropic Philippines winner.

• 1996 Bb. Pilipinas World Daisy Reyes was 1995 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Expo International and won fourth runner-up in 1995 Miss Expo International held in Ecuador.

• 1997 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Abbygale Arenas was 1992 Supermodel of the Philippines winner.

• 2002 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Karen Loren Agustin and 2006 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Lia Andrea Ramos competed in 2001 Miss Global Queen Philippines (won by Johanna Paula Abinuman).

• 2002 Bb. Pilipinas International Kristine Alzar was 2000 Mutya ng Pilipinas Top 10 semi-finalist.

• 2005 Bb. Pilipinas World Carlene Aguilar was 2000 (first) Miss Philippines Earth winner and 2000 Miss Earth Top 10 semi-finalist.

• 2007 Bb. Pilipinas International Nadia Lee Shami was 2005 Miss Philippines Earth-Air (first runner-up to Genebelle Raagas).

• 2008 Bb. Pilipinas International Patricia Fernandez was 2006 Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up.

• 2010 Miss Universe Philippines Venus Raj was 2008 Miss Philippines Earth-Eco Tourism (fourth runner-up to Karla Henry).

• 2013 Miss Universe Philippines Ariella Arida was 2012 Miss Philippines Earth candidate.

• 2013 Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Mutya Johanna Datul was 2012 Mutya ng Pilipinas Top 10 semi-finalist.

• 2013 Bb. Pilipinas Tourism Joanna Cindy Miranda was a 2008 Miss Philippines Earth candidate.

• 2014 Miss Universe Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa was 2008 Reyna ng Aliwan winner.

• 2014 Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Parul Shah was a 2008 Turismo Pilipina candidate. 

• 2014 Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Yvethe Marie Santiago was a 2009 World Miss University candidate held in South Korea.

• 2015 Bb. Pilipinas International Janicel Lubina was 2013 Miss World Philippines first runner-up (to Megan Young), 2013 Slimmers World Miss Bikini Philippines winner and 2012 Miss Scuba International Top 5 held in Indonesia.

• 2015 Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Christi Lynn McGarry was 2010 Miss Asia Pacific International winner but competed in the 2010 Miss Intercontinental in Dominican Republic where she was one of the Top 15 semi-finalists. In 2015, she vied for the Miss Intercontinental crown in Germany where she placed first runner-up, making her the only Filipina to compete twice in the same worldwide pageant.

• 2015 Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Rogelie Catacutan was 2011 Reyna ng Aliwan winner.

• 2016 Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves was 2014 Miss Chinatown Philippines winner.

• 2017 Miss Universe Philippines Rachel Louise Peters was 2014 Miss World Philippines Fourth Princess while 2017 Bb. Pilipinas Globe Nelda Ibe was Second Princess (to Valerie Weigmann).

• 2017 Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Chanel Olive Thomas was 2015 Miss Earth Philippines-Air (first runner-up to Angelia Ong).

• 2017 Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Rodriguez was 2014 Asia’s Next Top Model second runner-up to Sheena Liam of Malaysia.

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