Pauline Amelinckx (right) receives the ‘Woman of Substance award from reigning Miss Supranational Andrea Aguilera./SCREENSHOT FROM MISS SUPRANATIONAL FACEBOOK VIDEO
By: Armin P. AdinaI NQUIRER.net
Pauline Amelinck received the “Woman of Substance” award from the Miss Supranational organization during the finals of The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration last month, the third time that the international pageant has bestowed such a distinction.
“It is a small token to show our respect to Pau-Pau for her dedication, speaking out against body shaming and her #FromTheGroundUpCSI project, which focused on the importance of #environmentalprotection through education,” the Miss Supranational pageant said on social media. The two previous recipients of the award were Jesica Fitriana from Indonesia, and Dr. Julita Kitwe Mbangula from Namibia.
Fitriana was second runner-up in the 2019 Miss Supranational pageant. Then-reigning queen Anntonia Porsild from Thailand bestowed the recognition to her in a trip to Indonesia to see the project initiated by the Indonesia beauty in Bogor in West Java, creating safe spaces for children infected with HIV/AIDs by their parents.
Mbangbula, a physician, finished in the Top 24 of last year’s competition. She was recognized for her medical outreach programs, social welfare initiatives, and health education programs online and in disadvantaged communities. The organization awarded her during the 2023 Miss and Mister Supranational Namibia pageant in March.
Amelinckx finished strong in the 2023 Miss Supranational pageant in Poland in July, placing second to Ecuador’s Andrea Aguilera. The reigning queen flew to the Philippines and personally handed over the trophy to the Filipino beauty during the final competition show of The Miss Philippines at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Oct. 24.
“My Pau-Pau, for me it is an honor to give you this third-ever Woman of Substance award. Because of your dedication, for never giving up, for working so, so hard for your community, you deserve it. Pau-Pau, we, our Supra family, we are so proud of you. We love you so much,” Aguilera said.
The awarding took place after Amelinckx delivered her farewell speech as The Miss Philippines. She became the first women to hold the title after Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee awarded her the crown upon her arrival from Poland in August.
This year’s The Miss Philippines is the national search’s first edition. It is a sister competition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant under Empire Holdings Inc. Amelinckx relinquished her national title to Alethea Ambrosio, who made an impact by answering in straight Filipino in the contest.
