Jasmin Selberg

 Miss Int'l 2022 in Manila for BBP finale

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Reigning Miss International Jasmin Selberg arrived in Manila to grace the 2023 Binibining Pilipinas coronation night slated on Sunday night, May 28. She will be crowning the new Binibining Pilipinas International together with outgoing queen Nicole Borromeo of Cebu. Despite relinquishing her crown, Borromeo is scheduled to represent the country in the forthcoming Miss International in October.

"Thank you for welcoming me with a typhoon! It's so memorable and something I won't ever forget!" blurted the German beauty queen during a media reception held recently at the Novotel Manila.

"Since November 2020, when I started my pageant journey, I always wanted too see a Binibining Pilipinas pageant live as my trainers in Berlin are Filipinos. The Filipino enthusiasm, passion, and unconditional love to their loved ones are some of the traits I love about you guys. 

"To my successor, who I'll crown in October, enjoy your reign; make new friends and travel as much as you can. Learn from your surroundings. Think of what others would do if they were in your shoes. To pageant entrants, if you don't get it on your first try, try some more. Like me, I competed with Miss Globe 2021 Maureen Montagne and learned from her the value of consistency," shared the statuesque queen who looked really elegant in a mocha-toned terno designed by Manny Halasan.

"Good food makes me happy so I eat a lot since I easily get sick. Plus, I maintain the 'glass half-full' outlook all the time. Asia is so close to my heart and visiting Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and now, the Philippines make me feel so appreciated.

"I was bullied in school so I know how it is to be in a bad place. As a teenager, I was bullied with peers who I considered my friends. After winning the crown, they apologized for how they treated me before. I was also a victim of cyber bullying after I was crowned. I started loving myself because pageants gave me hope. To all the girls who are experiencing cyber bullying, or bullying in general, please never give up hope because I have been in your place before and I've been bullied in school. So once I left school and got into a new environment, I found so many people who showed love to me; who showed kindness and that is something that you will encounter as well, so never give up. Please don't lose hope and look for the beauty in every thing that you'll encounter. In this way, you'll also find that spark of hope in everything that you see.

"When womenhood support one another, we empower one another; and the less drama there will be. I was actually surprised for winning the title because, for 33 years, Germany was not placing in any of the international pageants. Everything started sinking in only when the media tours began. For me, a Miss International is someone who is kind, approachable, and maintains important relations. She's one who tries other cultures and is kinda like a diplomat but without the politics," intoned Jasmin at the close of our tete-a-tete.

Jasmin is the third Miss International winner from Germany, following the victories of Ingrid Finger in 1965 and Iris Klein in 1989. Aside from the Miss International crown, Germany won three other international titles in 1965 with Miss Universe Marlene Schmidt, as well as Miss World winners Petra Schurmann (1956) and Gabriella Brum (1979). The Queens of Germany organization now holds the national pageants for the Miss Globe, Miss Aura International, Miss Supranational, and Reina Hispanoamericana titles.

The 59th Binibining Pilipinas coronation night will unfold on May 28, 8 pm, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Stay tuned!