KAREN GALLMAN IS FIRST FILIPINA MISS INTERCONTINENTAL PAGEANT WINNER

47 years after its inception, a Filipina contestant was crowned Miss Intercontinental.  Filipina Australian beauty Karen Gallman became the first Filipina to win the competition which was held at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines this past weekend.

“It means a lot to me. This is the first time the Philippines has won Miss Intercontinental so I am very happy I could do this for the Philippines. I am speechless. I can’t stop smiling. I am just so grateful,” she said in an interview after her coronation at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Gallman thanked her supporters via her Instagram account and also dedicated her crown to the Philippines.

With her Miss Intercontinental win, Gallman hopes to be a great role model for young women. She added that she wants to be voice for those that cannot be heard and would like to be an inspiration to others. Like current Miss Universe winner, Catriona Gray, one of Karen Gallman’s main goals is to fight for better education for children living in poverty and are from the rural areas of the Philippines.

CATRIONA GRAY'S MISS UNIVERSE MEDIA TOUR COMMENCES

Filipino Australian Catriona Gray started her 2019 Miss Universe media tour in New York yesterday making numerous television appearances including Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Ryan. Appearing nothing short of beautiful inside and out, Gray spoke to host Ginger Zee about her mother’s premonition that she would win Miss Universe in a red gown, her talents as a singer and of course, her advocacy in helping children from impoverished areas, including working with an organization in the Philippines called, Young Focus Philippines. At the end of the interview Zee was definitely impressed, saying “Well, obviously you’re perfect, and that’s why you won Miss Universe!”

Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest welcomed Catriona Gray with open arms and also took the time to greet Gray a happy birthday, asking what she did to celebrate, as well as talk about her upbringing in the Philippines and moving to New York only 4 days ago which prompted Kelly Ripa to ask Gray what she thought about winter, and if she has a coat.

Gray confessed to going out with at least a minimum of 3 layers and jokingly said she sometimes looks like a siopao when she goes out. See Catriona Gray’s interview on Live with Kelly and Ryan below.