The Philippines' Camelle Mercado was crowned Miss Continentes Unidos (Miss United Continents) 2022 on Sunday, besting two dozen other delegates from countries with Spanish heritage.
The 26-year-old the second Filipina to win the crown in the Ecuador-based pageant, after Jeslyn Santos in 2016. Mercado succeeded Ainaris Cadavid of Colombia.
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In the final speech round, Mercado spoke fluently in English and Spanish to stress the importance of international unity in rising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We must come together despite our differences through love and embracing cultural awareness. Through unity, we have surpassed the nightmare of this pandemic. And it is evident that we can triumph any trials that may come including war," she said.
Founded in 2006, Miss Continentes Unidos aims to promote unity and camaraderie among nations around the world. The pageant has been broadcast annually from the Municipality of Guayaquil in Ecuador, except during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
While the pageant is based in Ecuador and is dominated by candidates from former Spanish colonies, it is also open to non-Spanish nations. Other participating countries over the past years include France, Japan, India, and South Africa.
In 2017, the Philippines also stood out among Spanish-speaking nations in the world of pageantry when Teresita Ssen "Winwyn" Marquez won Reina Hispanoamericana, a pageant that celebrates Spanish heritage, language, and culture.
Marquez made history for winning the Reina Hispanoamericana title in the Philippines' first try in the pageant.
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