Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant rallies support for Iona Gibbs in Miss Intercontinental ‘People’s Choice’ voting

MANILA, Philippines—The Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant is calling on all Filipinos to show their support for Iona Gibbs, the country’s representative in the 2023 Miss Intercontinental pageant, by casting their votes in the international tilt’s online poll.

“Mga kababayan (compatriots), online voting has officially begun! [Philippine flag emoji][red heart emoji],” the national pageant organization said in a social media post, directing netizens to visit www.missintercontinental.choicely.com to cast their votes for the Mutya queen.

“Every vote counts at this year’s Miss Intercontinental competition! With the chance to secure an automatic spot in the Top 7, let’s show the continents our fiery Filipino love,” the Mutya ng Pilipinas organization continued.

The Miss Intercontinental organization announced the official start of the online poll on social media, and disclosed what the poll toppers may gain. “Join us as we kick off the exhilarating journey towards the Miss Intercontinental Finale! Tomorrow, the Online-Voting begins, and your participant can make all the difference,” the organizers said.

The winner of the “People’s Choice” award, to be determined through the fan votes, will automatically earn a spot in the Final 7, where the winner of the “Power of Beauty” award will also be included. The five remaining spots will go to the top finishers from the five continental groups during the onstage competition. “This is a chance for your country to shine and showcase its beauty and talent on the grand stage,” the Miss Intercontinental organization said.

The lady who will rank second in the online poll, meanwhile, will earn a guaranteed spot in the semifinals. “Your vote can be the game-changer that sets them on the path to victory,” the global pageant organization declared.

Gibbs will try to score the Philippines’ third Miss Intercontinental victory, and the first win for Mutya ng Pilipinas in the said global tilt. The two Filipino winners, Karen Gallman (2018) and Cinderella Faye Obeñita (2021), were fielded by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc, which held the franchise from 2014 to 2022.

When Gibbs was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas in December last year, nobody knew which international pageant she would be sent to. But the national pageant organization announced in February that it had reacquired the franchise for the Miss Intercontinental pageant and would send her to the 2023 competition.

The last Mutya ng Pilipinas queen to represent the Philippines in the Miss Intercontinental pageant was Koreen Medina, who finished fourth in the 2013 edition held in Germany.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant is targeting a grand-slam in 2023, after its first two international delegates this year both brought home global titles—Miss Environment International Shannon Robinson and Miss Chinese World Annie Uson.

The 2023 Miss Intercontinental pageant will proclaim a new queen in a competition to be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Dec. 15 (Dec. 16 in Manila). Reigning queen Nguyen Bao Ngoc will relinquish her title to her successor.