Will we have another Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach this year? By that we don't mean a "sure ball" Miss Universe winner but a "repeater."
Binibining Pilipinas just released its list of official candidates for this year's pageant, and we noticed that a lot of them, just like the reigning Miss Universe, had joined the beauty pageant in the past — and lost.
Out of the 40 candidates, eight have joined previous editions of Bb. Pilipinas. They were perhaps inspired by Pia, who joined the local pageant in 2013 and 2014 before winning the Miss Universe Philippines title in 2015 (and, eventually, the 2015 Miss Universe crown).
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Most notable among the current batch of repeaters is Kylie Verzosa, who made it to the top 15 of last year's Bb. Pilipinas pageant. Nichole Manalo, who landed in the top 15 in 2014, is the sister of Miss Universe Philippines 2010 (and now actress) Bianca Manalo.
Why is this big deal? Besides Pia, a number of recent Miss Universe Philippines titleholders are also Bb. Pilipinas repeaters, namely Mary Jean Lastimosa (2011, 2012, 2014) and Janine Tugonon (2011, 2012). The 2016 Bb. Pilipinas pageant will be held on April 17.
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The winner and runners-up of Binibining Pilipinas 2016 will represent Philippines at Miss Universe 2016, Miss International 2016, Miss Supranational 2016, and Miss Intercontinental 2016, and other minor global pageants such as, Miss Tourism Queen International 2016. At the end of the finale, reigning Miss Universe, Pia Wurtzbach will crown her successor.