The 57th edition of Binibining Pilipinas, i.e., Binibining Pilipinas 2021, was held on 11th July 2021 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, where Hannah Arnold of Masbate (Binibini 17) was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2021 and will now represent the Philippines at Miss International 2021.
In a virtual press conference conducted for the new Binibins, Hannah expressed her gratitude to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for congratulating her and acknowledging her advocacy. During the conference, the diva mentioned that among her projects with DOST, the one she admires the most is the Invest School Program, where students create ideas and inventions while the agency helps them through workshops.
After Hannah was crowned, Binibining Pilipinas International 2021, DOST took to her social media account to congratulate the queen and raise the science and technology flag on the beauty pageant stage. The post stated, "Thank you, Ms. Hannah Arnold, for proudly raising the S and T flag and for encouraging younger generations to pursue a career in science. Over the past years, we have supported and invested millions in Science and Technology innovations such as the establishment of the Philippine Genome Center, Core Facility for #bioinformatics, and other laboratories and projects that have been beneficial for Filipinos. Some are being utilized for #pandemic response. Let's bring more science and technology presence on the international stage, even in beauty pageants. "
The diva, who is an Applied Science in Forensic Studies graduate from the University of Canberra, said, "I want to say thank you to the Department of Science and Technology for watching the coronation night and for acknowledging that we truly do need scientists' help to prevent another pandemic." She believes that these government program has encouraged and will keep encouraging students in the community to continue with their inventions that may be vital in preventing future disasters and problems such as the pandemic.
Hannah, who is working closely for her advocacy, is looking forward to meeting the students during her reign as Binibining Pilipinas International 2021. "Students go through a workshop with them [DOST] to encourage them to keep on going and to prevent future issues, disasters. I heard that the applications closed yesterday, so maybe with my reign, I can visit these students and see what they are doing," she quipped.
The beauty queen seemed happy and proud that her degree had helped her to showcase the delegates in a broader sense to the audience, like the divas are not just pretty faces. She lastly added, "I am so glad they acknowledged it and showed that we all have beautiful backgrounds wherein [there is] infinite variability of women. We have a lot to bring. We can also balance being a scientist and a beauty queen. "
Hannah Arnold will now start preparing for Miss International 2021, scheduled to be held in Japan in November, and aim to win the title for the Philippines.