Davao beauty Katarina Rodriguez wins Miss World Philippines 2018

MANILA, Philippines — Katarina Sonja Rodriguez, a Filipino-American beauty from Davao City, was crowned as Miss World Philippines 2018 on October 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Katarina, an MTV video jockey and model who placed third at “Asia’s Next Top Model” season two and first runner-up at Miss Intercontinental 2017, will represent the Philippines at the upcoming Miss World 2018 in Sanya, China.

Katarina, who was born in Orlando, Florida to Filipino parents hailing from Manila and Davao, bested other 40 candidates at the Miss World Philippines 2018 pageant, including Miss Earth Air 2017 and former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Kim De Guzman; Century Tuna Superbods 2018 winner Maureen Montagne; and singer Alyssa Muhlach, daughter of former basketball star Paul Alvarez and ex-actress Almira Muhlach.

Apart from the top spot, Katarina also won special awards such as Best in Long Gown, Miss Resorts World Manila, Miss Bench Body, Beach Beauty Challenge, Miss Bluewater Day Spa, and Miss Cosmo Skin. She was also among the seven finalists for the Top Model award.

During the final question and answer portion, Katarina was asked: “(There are people who) believe that beauty pageants are a form of women exploitation. What can you do to change their opinion?”

“I'd like to think that one should live by example. And I actually would like to admit that I was one of those before, until I learned more about what beauty pageants are about,” she said.

“One thing I can tell you is that you may think it's very competitive but it's not. You understand beauty pageants when you know that it is actually not competitive against other women. It's actually competitive towards yourself. And in a sense, it's all about woman empowerment. And you can feel that in this group of girls… each girl knows that we are all individually beautiful.”

Katarina succeeds Miss World Philippines 2017 Laura Lehmann, who finished at the top 40 of Miss World 2017.

If successful, Katarina will become the Philippines’ second Miss World titleholder after actress Megan Young snagged the country’s first Miss World crown in 2013.