The crowns of Miss Supranational (top) and Miss Grand International
Miss Supranational (which started in 2009) and Miss Grand International (which had its inaugural pageant last 2013) are – in comparison – the two youngest international beauty competitions that have been recognized by many. Nationally, these two franchises have been picked up by BPCI. And from the time they became part of the titles at stake in Bb. Pilipinas, their relative popularity soon followed.
Miss Supranational
The Philippines did not participate during the first and second stagings of Miss Supranational. It was only during the third outing when a Filipina representative – Lourenz Grace Remetillo – was part of the roster, albeit with less funfare or media mileage. But when BPCI started to field delegates in 2012, the blossoming partnership began with Elaine Kay Moll placing 3rd Runner-Up. It got even better the following year when Mutya Datul was crowned winner. From there, all the Bb. Pilipinas Supranational titleholders went to Central/Eastern Europe and placed either in the Top 10 or Top 20/25 in alternating fashion – from 2014 to 2019. Quite a respectable record, I must add.
2011 unplaced Lourenz Grace Remetillo
2012 Third Runner-Up – Elaine Kay Moll
2013 Winner – Mutya Johanna Datul
2014 Top 20 – Yvethe Santiago
2015 Top 20 – Rogelie Catacutan
2016 Top 25 – Joanna Eden
2017 Top 10 – Chanel Olive Thomas
2018 Top 10 – Jehza Mae Huelar
2019 Top 25 – Resham Ramirez Saeed
Below is a video of the full show in Minsk, Belarus when our very own Mutya Johanna Datul was crowned Miss Supranational 2013 – the first Filipina and first Asian to achieve the honor.
Miss Grand International
The Philippines’ relationship with Miss Grand International can be compared to a “love-hate” affair of sorts. We all know that its first two editions were still under John dela Vega who was able to prepare Ali Forbes all the way to a very good finish during the inaugural edition. It was only in 2015 when BPCI sent its first appointed delegate in the person of Parul Shah who placed 3rd Runner-Up. That started Top 5 placements that would stretch to 2016 with Nicole Cordoves getting 1st Runner-Up and 2017 when Elizabeth Clenci sustained a 2nd Runner-Up finish. After that, something turned sweetly sour. In the process, the missions of both Eva Psychee Patalinjug and Samantha Ashley Lo can be considered fleeting to say the least. But to be fair, our participation last year was saddled with a number of controversies that cannot be directly blamed to pageant owner Nawatt Itsiragrisil.
2013 3rd Runner-Up Ali Forbes
2014 unplaced Kimberly Karlsson
2015 3rd Runner-Up Parul Shah
2016 1st Runner-Up Nicole Cordoves
2017 2nd Runner-Up Elizabeth Clenci
2018 unplaced Eva Patalinjug
2019 unplaced Samantha Lo
Below is a video of our best performance courtesy of Nicole Cordoves who placed 1st Runner-Up during the 2016 edition held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
How about you, dear readers? What are your personal assessments of our participation in both pageants?
Back in 2016, Riana Agatha Pangindian was still a 19 year-old pageant newbie who joined Bb. Pilipinas mainly for the experience. And what a journey she fondly relishes from that stint. An inclusion in the Top 15 was almost unexpected – given that she had to battle with the likes of Maxine Medina, Kylie Verzosa, Nicole Cordoves, Jennifer Hammond, Nichole Manalo and Joanna Eden who went home with the crowns. But she was actually part of that essential cut. 
Instead of pushing herself into joining more beauty contests after that experience, Riana opted to finish her studies first. She graduated June of last year and took the board exams. She is now licensed to teach Biological Science. Her plan is to return to pageantry one more time before she finally focuses on becoming a full-time Educator. Her personal advocacy is actually inspired by her profession:
Quite a number of pageant fans are encouraging Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2016 and Miss Grand International 2016 1st Runner-Up Nicole Cordoves to join Miss Universe Philippines 2020. And for good reasons at that. She has the command of communication that can comfortably blend with the new direction the Miss Universe Organization is heading to after the victory of Zozibini Tunzi last month. On top of having a mind of her own, she can also be a physical standout, having already proven herself during the international competition held in Las Vegas.
1) Given that Nicole has already built a lucrative hosting career on TV and in an assortment of beauty pageants both national and provincial (not to mention her pageant coaching gigs), giving them up temporarily might prove difficult. You see, joining a national competition that could run for a minimum of 2-3 months would mean turning down offers to do hosting/mentoring (unless she wants to moonlight as such while fulfilling the demands of being an Official Candidate once more).
