Karen Gallman was crowned Miss Intercontinental 2018 held on 26th January 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The 27-year-old Filipina Australian beauty has not only made a mark at the national level but also has represented her country with pride and sincerity at the international stage.
Karen Gallman is the 3rd Filipina diva to have claimed a pageant crown. The Filipina-Australian beauty who was raised in Bohol, brought Philippines immense pride and joy after winning this title as the country won its first ever crown in Miss Intercontinental’s 47-year-history. She bested more than 80 candidates from all over the world and emerged as winner in the coronation night held in Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Even before her triumph in the sphere of international pageants, Karen Gallman had been participating in local pageants since 2012. Her determination and will power are something everyone should take inspiration from.
Her journey in the pageantry has been nothing short of spectacular; she first joined Binibining Pilipinas, one of the biggest and most esteemed pageants in the country, in 2012. She won the Miss Photogenic Award and landed in the Top 15. However, she failed to grab any of the Binibini crowns at that competition that year.
In the same year, Gallman also joined Miss Resorts World Manila and winded up as second runner-up. After her pageant stints, the then-19-year-old beauty queen completed her studies and had a successful career as an operations analyst in London, a job which opened up opportunities for her in different parts of the world.
Also Read: Karen Gallman Miss Intercontinental 2018 Beauty with a Sophisticated Style
Fast forward to 2018 i.e. 6 years after that, Karen came back to the country and joined Binibining Pilipinas for the second time under the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp. This stunning candidate then competed with the country’s finest contestants such as the famous volleyball player Michelle Gumabao (Miss Globe 2018 Top 15), Binibining Pilipinas returnee Jezha Huelar (Miss Supranational 2018 Top 10), and fellow Filipina-Australian model Catriona Gray (newly crowned Miss Universe 2018). It was surely a neck-to-neck competition but she claimed that she had gained work-life experience through her education and job. It would be a strenuous fight but she said that she was better prepared this time.
Weeks prior to Miss Intercontinental 2018, Karen released an introductory video highlighting her achievements and showcasing the beauty and history of the Philippines. She looked glamourous in the white straight-cut dress and left everyone spellbound. During the Miss Intercontinental media presentation held in Sofitel Philippine Plaza on 10th January, Gallman walked the runway in a modern and white Filipino terno designed by Ray Bien Maglonzo. She won two special awards from media namely the ‘Stand Out Beauty’ and ‘Media Favourite’. In the preliminary round, the beautiful model bagged her third pre-pageant award “Miss Body Beautiful.”
During her reign, Karen Gallman visited London, Japan, Paris, Europe and even India. Being a travel buff that she is, Gallman enjoyed her tour in each of these countries quite thoroughly. However, the bigger news after her coronation was of her engagement to long term boyfriend Ian Garton. Her Instagram flooded with good wishes as she had posted a picture with an engagement ring on her finger. Gallman also did a photoshoot for Spotted magazine, one of the most sought-after fashion magazines in the world. Her most recent update is of her wedding announcement that is due in about three months’ time.
Karen Gallman will be passing on her reign to the next Miss Intercontinental on 20th December 2019 at the finale of Miss Intercontinental 2019 to held in Egypt. She has served her reign with elegance and sincerity and we cannot wait to see who gets to take the crown home this year.