Philippines' Tracy Maureen Perez lands at Miss World 2021 top 12

MANILA, Philippines — Miss Philippines Tracy Maureen has been called as the fourth semi-finalist at this year's 70th Miss World competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She, however, failed to make it to the top 6.

Perez returned to Puerto Rico for the Miss World 2021 coronation that was postponed last year due to the pandemic. She joined 39 other candidates that make up the Top 40 – consisting of 25 chosen by the judges and 15 fast track winners.

During the Question and Anwer portion when she was called as semi-finalist, Tracy was asked, "How can you use your journey to inspire others?"

Tracy answered: 

"If I told any of you my life story, my experiences, you will also probably wonder, how in the world did she get here? Well, you know what, I am so much bigger and so much stronger than all of the unfortunate things that happened to me, and I know in my heart that all those experiences led me to this day to this very stage and I want people to see me, to see themselves in me and to be reminded that what we go through in life should not dictate where we’ll ever be."

She got her semi-final placements by being a finalist in these Miss World fast-track events: Beauty with a Purpose, Head to Head Challenge.

Before her pageant journey, Tracy was working in Sales and Operations and as a model and has ambitions to be an entrepreneur, after completing her Degree in Industrial Engineering. Her interests include hiking, cooking, swimming and playing badminton and volleyball. She also has a passion for folk dancing and singing. Her favourite film is "The Avengers."

Tracy's personal story of being brought up by a single mother inspired her to start her Beauty with a Purpose project "Para Kay Nanay: A Single Mother's Journey to Love." She started a program to empower all single parents. The program provides training in computer skills and financial training to ensure they have better job opportunities. The program also provided a safe space and community for the single mothers where they can talk about their struggles and feel that they are not alone.

Born as a premature baby at six months, Tracy was raised by a single mom, who died when she was 17 years old.

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