There’s nothing new anymore about established beauty queens crossing over to other national beauty pageants and winning a second title to their names. The likes of Catriona Gray, Carlene Aguilar, Katarina Rodriguez, Kirby Ann Basken (from Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific 2006 to Miss Universe Norway 2007) and Leren Mae Bautista fall under that category – even the subject of our blog entry for today.

But what really makes Christi Lynn McGarry more unique compared to the rest? I can name two (2):

1) She was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific 2010 but was sent instead to Miss Intercontinental 2010 in the Dominican Republic after the original Mutya ng Pilipinas Intercontinental 2010 Carla Lizardo could not fulfill the overseas mission. She placed in the Top 15 and was named Continental Queen of Asia Oceania. In the same year, she was appointed to represent the Philippines in Top Model of the World where she also finished in the Top 15.

2) When Christi suited up for Bb. Pilipinas 2015, she wanted so much to win any of the titles at stake except for Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental for obvious reasons. But as fate would have it, she earned the right to represent us in Miss Intercontinental for a second time. The only difference is that she performed better by grabbing 1st Runner-Up honors to Valentina Rasulova of Russia and claiming the Continental Queen of Asia Oceania sash once more.

Christi’s pageant career is colorful to say the least. Maybe the hues are not as bright as, say competing in either Miss Universe or Miss International. But all things being equal, her share of achievements cannot be sneered upon. Here is someone who vied twice for the same international pageant crown, made a creditable mark at first and returned as a more polished and prepared fighter five years later. All #ForThePhilippines.