Just as I predicted, Francielly Ouriques of Brazil outperformed 41 other delegates to win Miss Asia-Pacific International 2017 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila. She was crowned by last year’s Tessa Le Conge of the Netherlands.

Her court includes 1st Runner-Up Acacia Walker of New Zealand (who gave the Brazilian a big run for the win going into the final deliberation), 2nd Runner-Up Valeria Cardona of Honduras, 3rd Runner-Up Morgan Doelwijt of the Netherlands and 4th Runner-Up Ilene de Vera of the Philippines.

It was really tight between Francielly and Acacia since the former had limited facility in English as compared to the latter’s fluid articulation of thoughts. But since this pageant focuses less on endless speaking engagements and more on beauty tourism/cultural diversity, the kind-hearted South American lass nosed out the Kiwi in the endgame.

Congratulations to all winners!