Carousel Productions, after successfully hosting the virtual edition of Miss Earth Philippines 2020, is now planning a two-month contest season beginning September 2020 to be hosted virtually as well. The plan to host Miss Earth 2020 virtually is being considered to keep the delegates’ health and safety in forethought.
“I don’t think flights will be available by November, we will not be able to go around,” Carousel executive vice president Lorraine Schuck told a magazine recently. “I also do not want to take the chance to expose the girls to the risk of infection. I find it a little insensitive having the international delegates come here. I don’t want to put them in trouble, or get sick because I got them all together,” she added.
Carousel Productions has been staging Miss Earth and Miss Philippines Earth since 2001. The beauty contests aim to raise environmental awareness. The pageants have taken a huge hit from the enhanced community quarantine due to Covid-19. Binibining Pilipinas postponed its 2020 edition, while Miss Universe Philippines moved its finals from May to later this year. Even international competitions have announced cancellations. Miss International has moved its 60th edition to next year, while Miss Asia Pacific International said it was ‘indefinitely’ postponing its 2020 edition.
However, Lorraine said Miss Earth was sticking to its guns since “this is our 20th edition, I really do not want to skip a year.” Her team had tested the waters, and found a way to adapt to the ‘new normal’ by holding Miss Philippines Earth online. “We did not want to stop doing it this year. We believe that with technology, it is doable. So we decided to go through with it”, she said.
Miss Earth may be a tougher nut to crack with some 90 delegates spread across different time zones. Schuck said her team is planning a two-month contest season, which will start in the first week of September. Preliminary activities will be held separately in four groups according to time zones. If this will be possible or not, only time will tell.