Miss World's Tour of the Philippines

Miss World's Beauty With A Purpose team touched down in the Philippines late last week for a short but packed visit to a country with one of most loyal pageant fan bases in the world. Miss World CEO, Julia Morley, was joined by the reigning Miss World, Stephanie Del Valle from Puerto, and Mister World, Rohit Khandelwal from India. They were assisted on their mission by the Continental Queens of Beauty from Indonesia, Kenya, the United States of America, Australia, Belgium and the Dominican Republic. Another special guest who flew in from South Africa was Chief Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela. 

The tour started with press conference where Julia Morley spoke of the work she has done through Beauty With A Purpose over the year. She conveyed to the press that it has brought her great joy in life and that it's her desire to let the young men and women who compete in her system experience much of the same. 

The team visited the Jose R Reyes Memorial Hospital where it was announced that the Miss World Philippines Organization has pledged their support to not only renovate the children's ward, but also to raise funds for its expansion. They also visited the Tuloy Foundation, a charity that has been supported by BWAP for many years. 

There was also some glitz and glamour as the team were guests on GMA's most popular daytime show. One of the highlights was, of course, attending the crowning of the first Miss World Philippines under the directorship of Arnold Vergafria. Last year's winner, Catriona Gray crowned Laura Lehmann as her successor at the conclusion of the event. Mrs. Morley was also honoured for all the great work she has done in her career during the telecast. 

Another highlight followed the very next day when Gray took the team to her Beauty With A Purpose project - a school that was set up in Smokey Mountain. She explained the devastating events of fire which broke out in the slum, causing many families to be displaced. Morley pledged to provide computers and LED screens for the school to support Gray's efforts to make a difference in this community. 

The tour came to a conclusion in a special event to which Senator Manny Pacquio invited the team to the Senate of the Philippines for an official recognition of the work done by Beauty With A Purpose in the Philippines and around the world. 

Photos courtesy of the Miss World Organisation and Rappler!