Miss InterContinental 2021

Misamis Oriental welcomes Cindy home

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Over the weekend, the province of Misamis Oriental was agog with the homecoming of its proud daughter, Cinderella Faye Obeñita, after winning the country's second InterContinental crown in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. A senior tourism officer in the province's capital city, Cagayan de Oro, Cindy was welcomed by throngs of proud Cagayanons who lined the streets to get a glimpse of their queen.

Cindy started the Binibini queens' winning streak in their respective international competitions. She was followed closely by Maureen Montagne who won the country's third Globe crown in Albania. Pageant fans are now hoping this lucky streak continues with Samantha Panlilio who just left for Thailand, in her quest for the country's first golden crown in the Miss Grand International that will unfold on Dec. 4 in Phuket.

However, a few days after the Philippines' victory, Miss InterContinental Cuba 2021 Yennifer Marin almost rained on Cindy's parade with allegations of irregularity and fraud in the said pageant. In her Instagram account, she harped about the Miss InterContinental organization's mantra - the power of beauty - as something to be understood as "money, power, and influential direction."

After receiving flak on social media for her uncalled for ranting, the Cuban representative changed her stance by not including her co-candidates, but, instead, pointed her finger at the Miss InterContinental organization.

BNC, the franchise holder of the Miss InterContinental in Cuba, was quick in apologizing for their representative's unbecoming behavior and congratulated Cindy on her victory.

And, despite finding an ally in Miss New Zealand, Yennifer's unfounded claims, for the most part, just fizzled out, as quickly, from social media and the main consciousness of the pageant community.

A Cuban vlogger, based in Canada, decried Yennifer's behavior as not a true reflection of Cuban demeanor. Another pageant vlogger even called her a "sore loser."

Cindy will be back in Manila in time for Maureen's arrival from Albania, where the two queens will be celebrating their respective victories through a BPCI homecoming party.