Cory Quirino has relinquished the franchise of Miss World Philippines, which she held for six years. Cory is happy about her new found freedom and all she has to say is that, “I got my life back.” While she was the national director of Miss World Philippines, the pageant ruled her life.

“The planning stage took 40 percent of my time. This rose to 100 percent two months before coronation night,” said Cory. Cory decided to give up the Miss World Philippines franchise last December, weeks before she made the announcement of quitting the pageant. Recalling that day, she says, “I asked myself, ‘How long do you see yourself doing this? Do you see yourself doing this 10 years from now?’ The answer is no.”

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Cory revealed that it takes 20 to 30 years to make a Filipina Miss World. According to Cory, she didn’t want to be 80 to see another Filipina wearing the crown after Megan Young, who won in 2013. She also accepted the fact that the pageant gave her some of her most memorable moments in life. However, she said that she is happy to move on and leave the responsibility to Arnold.

Quirino, who is also an Inquirer Lifestyle columnist, took hold of the franchise for the Miss World pageant in 2011. She is the granddaughter of a former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. The franchise of Miss World in Philippines has travelled from time to time. The Miss Republic of the Philippines was the first national pageant that selected Philippine’s representatives to the Miss World, between 1966 to 1976.

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In 1977, the franchise went on to the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant, and was with the said organisation till 1991. Quirino has been great with producing some amazing Miss World Philippines winners. Under Quirino, Philippines earned its first victory at the Miss World pageant when Megan Young was crowned as the winner in the year 2013. Between 2011 to 2016 has been the honeymoon period for Quirino at Miss World Philippines, as, this was the time period when the country was recognised in the Miss World stage.