Stefanowitz Out From Binibining Pilipinas 2017 Final 40 Candidates

Just a few minutes after news broke that former Miss Earth Air 2012 Stephanie Stefanowitz made it to the Top 55 of this year's Binibining Pilipinas 2017 screening, a lot of pageant fans got excited about the idea of another successful back-to-back-crossover win from Miss Earth Philippines to Binibining Pilipinas title. The last time it happened was in 2001 courtesy of Carlene Aguilar.

However, in the next twenty-four-hours, pageant fans' excitement turned into disappointment upon not seeing Stefanowitz' name in the list of Final 40 candidates. How did that happen? What are the underlying reasons why Stefanowitz' sure-win Binibining Pilipinas 2017 crown-bid ended that early. Pageant fans thought of the politics going on inside Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., the organization behind the Binibining Pilipinas pageant as the main reason. Why? Stefanowitz and most of Miss Earth Philippines beauties are from Kagandahang Flores (KF) camp. On the other hand, it's arch-rival beauty camp Aces and Queens led by Jonas Gaffud is behind Megan Young's Miss World 2013, Pia Wurtzbach's Miss Universe 2015, and Kylie Versoza's Miss International 2016 win. Some of these Aces and Queens beauties sat as members of the Binibining Pilipinas 2017 screening committee. Oh, did I say I smell politics during the deliberation?

Well, anyways, here's the list of the Final 40 candidates of this year's Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

1. Ana Patricia Asturias

2. Leitz Camyll M. Ang

3. Jessica M. Ramirez

4. Dane Felisse R. Marasigan

5. Mae Lanie Chan

6. Arienne Louise Braga Calingo

7. Maria Gail Devora Tobes

8. Gabriela Patricia M. Ortega

9. Katarina Sonja A. Rodriguez

10. Joselle S. Mariano

11. Kristi Rose D. Cequeña

12. Rachel Peters

13. Maria Camille P. Manalo

14. Jennyline Carla F. Malpaya

15. Vanessa N. Saliba

16. Juliana M. Kapeundl

17. Ma. Bejieleen T. Nama

18. Thoreen D. Halvosen

19. Sarah Jireh C. Asido

20. Arah A. Salientes

21. Beatrice O. Valente

22. Mae Liezel J. Ramos

23. Larah Grace Lacap

24. Clarice Marion E. Villareal

25. Chanel Olive V. Thomas

26. Nelda C. Ibe

27. Christagale Borja

28. Ruffa Nava

29. Angelique Celine L. De Leon

30. Jamaica Elysse D. Ambal

31. Karla May R. Manongsong

32. Dindi Joy Pajares

33. Kimberly L. Pajares

34. Maria Angelica A. De Leon

35. Sirene Sutton

36. Charmaine F. Elima

37. Jehza Mae Huelar

38. Elizabeth Durado Clenci

39. Kristel N. Guelos

40. Sammie Anne L. Legaspi

It seems that controversy always hounds the Binibining Pilipinas pageant every year. There's no way of knowing what else will shock or excite the pageant fans as the events unfold in this year's edition of the pageant. 

Stephany Stefanowitz, A Binibining Pilipinas 2017 Candidate

The month-long preparation for the Binibining Pilipinas 2017 Pageant screening is close to its end. From 95 hopefuls, the number was trimmed down to 55 as of Monday, February 27, 2017. Another round of screening, this time more on the communication skills of the candidates will be conducted to further downsize the number to forty --  the usual number of contestants in the finals.

While the mix is composed of new faces and pageant repeaters, one thing that got the pageant fans excited is Stephany Stefanowitz who once wore a Miss Philippines sash in an international competition, specifically Miss Earth 2012.

Miss Earth 2012 First Runner Up Stephany Stefanowitz

Stefanowitz was a front-runner in the Miss Earth 2012 pageant and was just a step closer towards being crowned the winner. She is the second Miss Earth Philippines titleholder to transition from Miss Earth to Binibining Pilipinas, the first being Carlene Aguilar who was the first Miss Earth Philippines (2001) and eventually Binibining Pilipinas World 2005. 

Still a long way to go before the pageant finals, but as early as now, pageant fans are excited with the turn-out of events in this year's edition of the most prestigious national pageant in the country, the Bb. Pilipinas.

Here are the rest of the this year's hopefuls for one of the Binibining Pilipinas 2017 crowns.

Angelique De Leon
Rachel Peters
Beatrice Valente
Henna Kaizelle Cajindig
Nelda Ibe
Angelika Dela Cruz
Michelle Guianan
Maria Gail Tobes
Charmaine Elima
Jamaica Ambal

Henna Santos
Thoreen Halversen
Felysse Marasigan
Sarah Acid
Kimberly Pajares
Christa Borja
Kristie Rose Sequena
Larah Grace Lacap
Mae Lanie Chan
Jannie Ali-poon

Joanna Intal
Camille Manalo
Jeanena Mae Rafer
Katarina Rodriguez
Catherine Cudiamat
Elizabeth Clenci
My Howell
Jennyline Carla Malpaya
Jean Tumang
Stephany Stefanowitz

Clarice Villareal
Kristel Guelos
Gillian Elaiza Colcol
Outgoing Arrah
Dindi Pajares
Julian Kapuendel
Jehza Huelar
Maria Angelica De Leon
Sarah Margarette Joson
Gabriela Ortega

Camille The Leitz
Sirene Sutton
Sarah Bona
Ruffa Nava
Ana Patricia Asturias
Benjielyn Nama
Joselle Mariano
Paulyn Cordero
Sammie Ann Legaspi
Chanel Olive Thomas

Calingo Aryan
Jessica Mae Ramirez
Mae Ramos
Vanessa Saliba
Carla Manongpong

Hopefully, this year's edition would be spared of controversy hounding the pageant in the past like disqualification of a front-runner a few days before the pageant finals. 

Kenya At Its Best

Kenya may be a small country in the continent of Africa. However in the world of pageantry, it made sure it gets distinguished on the winners map. Well, not only that it holds the record of the only African titleholder in the Miss Earth history courtesy of Winfred Omwakwe in 2002, Kenya made a remarkable achievement of a back to back finals placement in 2016 Miss World and Miss Universe pageants. Oh, did I say that Misses Kenya are the last African woman standing in both pageants?

Whilst Kenya was introduced to the Big Four (4) pageants in as early as 1960 (Miss World) it's annual representation have been on and off. But the recent back-to-back placement of Misess Kenya is a blunt warning from them that in the next few years, Misses Kenya would be a force to reckon with.

Let's take a look at history as to how Kenya fared in the Big Four pageants from the get-go. The order is based on the highest placement a Miss Kenya has ever achieved in Big Four pageants.

Miss Earth 2002 Winfred Omwakwe

Among the Big Four pageants, it's only in Miss Earth that Kenya consistently sends out a representative. Since its inception in 2001, Kenya only missed representation in 2008 and 2013. As to its highest placement thus far? Oh, it's the take-over win of Winfred Omwakwe from the dethroned winner Dzejla Glavovic from Bosnia Herzegovina. While technically tied with Tanzania's Miriam Odemba (Miss Earth Air 2008) in terms of highest placement for Africa in Miss Earth, her assumption of the crown, title and responsibilities from the dethroned winner made her as the only Miss Kenya to hold a Big Four title and the only African titleholder in the history of Miss Earth.

Miss Kenya International 2015 (2nd Runner Up) Eunice Onyango

Kenya only managed to send three representatives to the pageant since it started in 1960. It debuted in 2006, missed the following years and returned in 2010. It skipped the succeeding four years thereafter and came back with a bang in 2015. Eunice Onyango's almost-skin-head appeal gave the mestiza frontrunners a run for their money. Eunice set a record of the highest placement from Kenya in the Miss International pageant as Second Runner Up and by far the highest placement for Africa since Tunisia's Ibticem Lahmar's First Runner Up win in Miss International 1996. Considering Miss International's alleged discriminatory standard in choosing its winners - with no African titleholder in 56 years -- the organization must have seen something different in Onyango or Kenya for that matter which made her the only African representative to achieve a Top 5 placement in the new millenium.

Miss World Kenya 2016 (4th Runner Up) Evelyn Njambi Thungu

Whilst African beauties always do good in the Miss World stage -- or perhaps because of the Miss World platform perceived to be favoring candidates from third-world countries -- Miss World Kenya 2016 Evelyn Thungu gave a stellar performance alongside frontrunner Catriona Gray from the Philippines. As a matter of fact, prior to Puerto Rico's Stephanie Del Valle announcement as the eventual winner, it was with Thungu that pageant fans saw a threat to Gray for the crown.  

As to its placement history in Miss World, Kenya first sent its first representative in 1960. However, it was only in 1984 that a Miss Kenya placed in the Top 15 courtesy of Khadija Adam Ismail who was also conferred the Continental Queen for Africa title.  It also emerged as Continental Queen for the years 1988, 1990, and of course in 2016.

Miss Universe Kenya 2016 (Top 6) Mary Esther Were

Kenya first sent Susan Waruguru Kahumba as its first representative to the Miss Universe pageant in 1987. It skipped representation for a number of years, but  in those years where there was a representative, a Miss Kenya was hardly noticeable. Oh, not in the case of Evelyn Were who would have advanced to Top Three and eventually snagged the title of Miss Universe 2016 alongside Haiti's Raquel Pellisier had she not buckled during the question and answer portion in the Top 6. She was asked a very challenging question, a politically-flavored one which is always critical and again challenging considering the twenty-second time allowance. On a personal note, she was able to pull off a very good answer which should have qualified her in the Top 3. 

Overall, Misses Kenya have shown a promising improvement in their performances in the Big Four pageants. They are starting to make their presence felt. If their now-you-see-me-now-you-don't representation gets addressed by their national franchise-holders, the world won't be surprised if another Big Four pageant crown would be put into their representative's head.