Miss Universe Philippines 2021 candidate tests positive for COVID-19

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — A candidate in the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 beauty pageant has tested positive for COVID.

Gianne Kryssee Asuncion, who represents the province of Cagayan, revealed in a post on social media on Sunday that she contracted the virus, according to the Cagayan provincial information office.

CPIO chief Rogie Sending said Asuncion’s post came after beauty pageant officials announced the top 50 candidates in the runway and video challenges on the same day.

Asuncion is one of the candidates to be interviewed virtually by the judges of the Miss Universe Philippines for the selection of the final top 30, who will compete at the coronation night on Sept. 25.

“I was speechless for days. With the discovery of being COVID-positive with pneumonia, I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t know what’s the next thing that could happen,” Asuncion said.

Asuncion, who is recovering in a hospital, assured her followers that she is taking the necessary precautions to recover from the disease.

“But you see, this fear of the unknown can’t stop me. It might be hard, but all I know is I will heal. I will get better. Tuloy ang laban,” she said.

Cagayan recorded 3,871 active infections, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 27, 104.