GABRIELLE Camille Basiano will be back to her school books after finishing first runner-up in the recently concluded Miss Friendship International 2019 in Chengdu, China.

“I’ll be back to Asian Development Foundation College in Tacloban City. I have a one year contract so I can’t join any pageants for the meantime,” Basiano told SunStar Philippines.

“I just want to thank everybody who supported me. I want to thank all the people who motivated me and the people who helped me throughout the pageant. To the people who prayed for me,” added the 21-year-old beauty queen.

A tourism student, Basiano’s dream of representing the Philippines in an international pageant came into reality when she was crowned Ambassadress of the World-Philippines last June 22.

The title allowed her to represent the country in Miss Friendship International last July 27.

During the pageant, Basiano shared the spot with Lorena Rodrigues of Brazil, with Kosovo’s Emilia Dobreva crowned as the Miss Friendship International 2019.

Basiano started winning in beauty pageants at 17 when she was crowned Miss Asian Development Foundation College.

In 2017, she was adjudged Mutya ng Prisaa (Private Schools Athletic Association) Region 8 and third runner-up in the Mutya ng Prisaa Nationals.

Also, she won as Miss Silka Leyte and Robinsons Tacloban Supermodel 2017.

Standing 5’9, Basiano was a Top 15 finisher in Miss Earth Philippines 2018.

“My advocacy is beauty and unity in diversity. It is about seeing and appreciating our cultural, physical and other differences. And using it to empower one another,” Basiano said earlier.

The Tacloban native also hopes to become a businesswoman and flight attendant someday. (SunStar Philippines)