Cinderella "Cindy" Faye Obeñita was just crowned Miss Intercontinental 2021!
The 25-year-old government employee, host, and model from Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental, competed against 70 candidates in the competition held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Here's a glimpse of Cindy's winning moment alongside Mexico's Paulina Uceda Escorcia who placed first runner-up.
"From wildcard to Miss Intercontinental 2021! Your Cinderella story is truly inspiring," wrote the Binibining Pilipinas organization on its Facebook page. "Thank you for raising our flag, Cindy!"
Cindy is bringing home the Philippines' second Miss Intercontinental crown. The first crown belongs to Karen Gallman, who won in 2019.
Cindy was asked the following in the Q&A portion:
"As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English is important for Miss Intercontinental? Why or why not?"
Here's her winning answer:
"As an ambassador, I don't think that speaking a specific language is very important here in Miss Intercontinental or any pageant at all. As long as that woman is a woman of power and grace, commitment, and intelligence, no matter what language she speaks, and that woman is actually a woman of style and substance, then she can win any pageant or any endeavor she is into."
"Also, it's very important—I have learned actually here in Miss Intercontinental—that a woman should possess [the] power of substance. And I believe I am that woman. Because that is the essence of a modern-day Miss Intercontinental, we are living in a world that's very hard to survive. And as Miss Intercontinental, I would like to be that source of hope, that source of inspiration on the true power of beauty. And that is felt in the kindness of our hearts and definitely [in] the sincerity of our loving actions."
Well said!
Congratulations, Cindy!