Herlene Nicole "Hipon Girl" Budol said Tuesday she would compete in the Miss Planet International 2022 in Uganda, promising fans that she would take her unconventional approach to pageantry on the global stage.
Budol, who finished 1st Runner-up at Binibining Pilipinas 2022, shared as appointment as the Philippine representative to Miss Planet International on her Facebook page. Her manager, Wilbert Tolentino, is the local franchise holder of the competition.
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Miss Planet International, according to its website, advocates for the preservation of the planet and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. The competition in Central Africa will be the second edition of the pageant, which is run from Cambodia.
It joins competitions with "international" in its name, after Miss Grand International, and more recently, Miss Aura International and Miss Heritage International. There is however, just one Miss International, which will hold its 60th edition in December, also with the UN SDGs advocacy.
The top crown in Binibining Pilipinas is for Miss International. Colombian-born Stella Marquez-Araneta, who runs Binibini, is the first ever Miss International. Traditionally, the BBP runners up don't compete in a specific pageant unless appointed by Araneta.
With Budol's management holding the franchise to Miss Planet International, this means it's not officially with Binibining Pilipinas. Budol racked up sponsor awards during the Binibini finals but was one notch short of the four crowns at stake -- International, Intercontinental, Globe and Grand International.
Budol was an unconventional Binibini who parlayed her viral fame as a regular on Willie Revillame's variety show to be among the frontrunners in the country's oldest and most prestigious pageant.
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