College student hopes to sustain Philippines’ impressive Miss Progress International record

MANILA, Philippines—Ever since Jedaver Opingo became the first Filipino woman to clinch the Miss Progress International crown, the country has been placing prominently in the global tilt’s roster of winners. A college student from Pampanga hopes to continue the winning streak in the competition next year.

Nine months ahead of the scheduled contest, the Philippines has already chosen its representative to the 2023 Miss Progress International pageant, 21-year-old Selin Hernandez, who studies business management at the Far Eastern University.

Hernandez officially received her national title from Zea Awatin, who captured the Miss Progress-Human Rights crown in September, in an intimate gathering at Ambrosia Manila at Uptown Parade at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on Dec. 21.

Aside from Opingo and Awatin, two more Filipino women clinched titles in the global tilt—2018 Miss Progress Environment Sarah Bona, and 2019 Miss Progress Human Rights Sarah Margarette Joson.

The international pageant organization did not mount any contest in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means the country has placed in all the four recent editions of the competition, with Opingo being the lone Filipino woman to bring home the top title.

Hernandez said she wants to be the second Miss Progress International winner from the Philippines, and revealed that she has been wanting to take part in the Italy-based pageant after bagging the Miss Teen Hope International crown in 2018.

After capturing the international crown, Hernandez took a break from pageantry to focus on modeling and her studies. But the dream of one day joining the Miss Progress International pageant did not escape her, she said. She became active in community work, and initiated the collection of reading materials and school supplies for distribution to young indigenous children in far-flung areas.

Hernandez said she could be the youngest participant in the global tilt when the pageant rolls out next year, but said she has already evolved from her Miss Teen Hope International days.

“I will resume my training after the holidays,” she promised. Hernandez revealed that she needs to undergo an intensive regimen this early, months ahead of the competition, because she will be having her internship in the United States from May to August.

The 2023 Miss Progress International pageant will take place in Puglia, Italy, in September next year.  /ra

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