Roanne Refrea vies for Miss Tourism World 2016 in Malacca City

Roanne Refrea vies for Miss Tourism World 2016 in Malacca City

By JAY PATAO
TOMORROW night in the heritage city of Malacca in Malaysia, Miss Tourism World-Philippines 2015 Roanne Samonte Refrea will compete against 51 other delegates worldwide for the coveted Miss Tourism World 2016 crown.

Roanne, 25, a BS Entreprenurial Management graduate of San Beda College, will attempt to nail the Philippines’ third Miss Tourism World title, after Suzanne Park Fahling, who won the crown in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1995, and Michelle Cueva Reyes, who won in Istanbul, Turkey in 2002.
Interestingly, Fahling and Reyes are both Bb. Pilipinas 1st runner-up placers in 1989 and 2001, respectively.

Roanne, a native of Cabuyao City, Laguna, first competed at the Miss Philippines-Earth 2014 pageant where she won the gold medal in the talent competition and the Maynilad award for her advocacy of sustainable rain water collection.

 At the Miss Tourism Philippines Pageant last year, Roanne also won the lion’s share of special awards including Best in Swimsuit, Best in Long Gown and Darling of the Press.
“I’m pressured, since I am the last of my co-titlists in Miss Tourism Philippines to compete. But I take it as a challenge to do well and represent our country with honor and pride, and I’m counting on your support and prayers,” Roanne said during her sendoff press conference last December at the Novotel Manila Hotel in Quezon City, that also coincided with the launching of the 2016 Miss Tourism Philippines Pageant headed by its founder Francisco “Gareth” Blanco.
Roanne’s co-winners performed well in their respective pageants abroad: Alexandra Mae Rosales was 1st runner-up at the South East Asian Tourism Ambassadress Pageant in Malaysia; Rianne Kalaw won the Miss Asia award at the Miss Tourism Universe tilt in Lebanon; and Leidda Paulette Babasanta won the Best National Costume award at the Miss All Nations pageant in China.
Roanne has been having a wonderful time touring Malacca City, the heritage town (not unlike our very own Vigan City), that is a preserved community of centuries-old buildings that reflects Malaysia’s colonial past.

Pageant Watch wishes Roanne Refrea all the best…may you usher in the New Year with a victory at Miss Tourism World.