Angelica Lopez Receives Boost from Miss International's First Winner, Stella Marquez-Araneta, as She Competes for Crown in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan — As the Miss International 2024 pageant nears its highly anticipated coronation night, Angelica Lopez of the Philippines is receiving support from a notable figure in the pageant world: philanthropist and former Miss International winner, Stella Marquez-Araneta.

The Miss International 2024 Final Gala will take place tonight, November 12, at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Lopez, who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2023, is vying for the Philippines' seventh Miss International title, a prestigious honor the country has won six times in the past.

Lopez is one of 71 contestants competing for the title currently held by Andrea Rubio of Venezuela. In her bid to become the seventh Filipina to claim the crown, Lopez is also benefiting from the encouragement of Stella Marquez-Araneta, who remains a towering figure in the Philippine pageant industry.

Marquez-Araneta, who made history as the first Miss International winner in 1960, shared a heartfelt message of encouragement for Lopez on social media. Araneta, a Colombian by birth who later married Filipino businessman Jorge Araneta and became a key figure in the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), expressed her pride in Lopez's journey.

“We are so proud to see you radiate joy and elegance at every step of your Miss International journey,” Araneta wrote in a post shared by BPCI. “Continue to captivate us all with your grace, beauty, and determined spirit. Your BPCI family is cheering you on as you reach for that much-awaited crown.”

The competition is fierce, with 71 women from around the world vying for the prestigious Miss International crown. Lopez, representing the Philippines, is competing in the Asia-Oceania region, one of the four regional clusters in the competition. The other regions are Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

To increase her chances of making it to the Top 20, Lopez is counting on support from her fans. BPCI has called on Filipinos to cast their votes for Lopez through the Miss International app, with the delegates who earn the most votes from each regional cluster securing a guaranteed spot in the Top 20. A subsequent voting round will determine the final Top 8.

“We are just hours away from the Miss International 2024 Final Gala. Let’s continue to show our support for Angelica Lopez as she represents the Philippines on the global stage,” BPCI urged in a statement.

If Lopez succeeds in claiming the title, she will join the ranks of other celebrated Filipina winners, including Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013), and Kylie Verzosa (2016). Lopez’s participation in this year’s pageant brings hope for the Philippines to add a seventh crown to its illustrious pageant legacy.

The Miss International 2024 coronation will be held tonight, November 12, at 6:00 PM local time in Tokyo (5:00 PM in the Philippines). Filipino viewers can watch the live broadcast on the official Miss International YouTube channel.