If looks could kill, Cebuana beauty queen Nicole Borromeo played the role of a hushed markswoman who hit the biggest shot of her life when few saw it coming.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t pull it off. But barely past her teens, a little skepticism among the harshest of critics could be expected.
However, the Cebuana stunner is no pageant amateur. Borromeo has represented the Queen City in national pageants like Miss Millennial Philippines 2019 (winner) and Miss Teen Philippines 2019 (2nd runner-up). She was also crowned Reyna ng Aliwan 2019 and Sinulog Festival Queen 2019.
On Aug. 1, almost a couple of hours past midnight, Borromeo continued on with her winning streak and presented Metro Cebu with a beautiful surprise when she was crowned as Binibining (Bb.) Pilipinas International 2022.
The Binibining Pilipinas 2022 Coronation Night was held on July 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Araneta City, Quezon City. Bb. Pilipinas is an annual national beauty pageant that aims to crown representatives to compete in the “Big Four” of international beauty pageants. The most renowned of these is Miss International. The following three are Miss Grand International, Miss Intercontinental and Miss Globe.
Fans who were glued to their screens were hopeful that candidate #23 (Borromeo) would get the win. The competition was fierce, and all other 39 beautiful hopefuls definitely brought something to the table.
When announced that Borromeo was part of the Top 12, she shared about Typhoon Odette affecting her hometown and what she hopes to see in the country in the next six years. “Last December, I experienced the worst typhoon in my life. Homes were destroyed and I hope, I wish, that in six years, not only are we going to get more resilient housing but also a more united nation.”
In the closing minutes, special awards were first handed out. The winners were Angono’s Nicole Budol (Bb. Shein, Bb. Pizza Hut, Bb. Kumu, Jag Queen, Bb. Silka and Bb. World Balance), Iloilo City’s Karen Laurrie Mendoza (Bb. Moist Diane Shampoo), Tacloban City’s Chelsea Fernandez (Bb. Ever Bilena) and Samar’s Gabrielle Camille Basiano (Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown).
During the final Question and Answer segment, guest panelist, actor Donny Pangilinan asked Borromeo: “On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate yourself as a responsible Filipino citizen and why?”
“As a responsible Filipino citizen, I’d like to give myself a good 8, because I know that there’s always room to improve. There’s so much I don’t know but there’s so much I’m willing to learn. And I hope to do that with you,” replied the interior design student.
The final set of awardees are as follows: The 2nd runner-up Stacey Gabriel (Cainta, Rizal), 1st runner-up Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal), Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Roberta Angela Tamondong (San Pablo City), Bb. Pilipinas Globe Chelsea Fernandez (Tacloban City), Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Gabrielle Camille Basiano (Eastern Samar) and Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo (Cebu).
Sincere as she is alluring, a new Cebuana queen has arrived.
Borromeo will be competing in the 61st Miss International Pageant in 2023.