Queens chime in on Miss International’s ‘no swimsuit’ gala

The Miss International pageant’s plan not to hold a swimsuit segment for this year’s final gala was met with a multitude of reactions from the public, many of them apprehensive. But reigning queen Catalina Duque, former winner Bea Rose Santiago, and current Philippine bet Katrina Anne Johnson stand by the organization’s decision.

“I really, realy love it. And I think, if anything, it deepened my respect that I already have for Miss International,” Johnson told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview. She is set to represent the Philippines at this year’s competition in Japan in November.

“While I really do think that the swimsuit portion was created and rooted in this idea of women’s fitness, women’s health, all these positive things, I do think that as the years have gone on, it’s kind of become an avenue for unwarranted bashing, some scutiny that is not nice,” she continued.

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Stephen Diaz, executive director of the Miss International pageant, had earlier explained that the decision was made to allow the competition to highlight the delegates’ “human side” and to focus on their projects related to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

Johnson said she is “100 percent on board” with the move. “I think, honestly, it’s such a ‘modern way’ to remove something that’s considered an iconic portion of pageantry, and replace it with something that’s actually going to be really empowering, and actually still continue to promote fitness and health,” she said.

And while Santiago said that it made her sad because she loves the swimsuit competition, the “massive change” has made her proud of Diaz and the organization.

“I’m so excited what they’re gonna do next. Because I know that they’re a very reputable organization, and I believe in what women say and what we want to say to the world. I’m so excited to see what the new Miss International winner is gonna be like,” she said.

As for Duque, the fourth Colombian woman to win the title, she said she has “no issue” with the swimsuit competition as someone who is “very Latina” who loves showing her legs.

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“But I remember Miss Ethiopia, she was next to me, and she had this moment that she said to me ‘I wish I won’t be in the Top 20 because I don’t want to wear a bathing suit.’ And that broke my heart because she is this beautiful woman, amazing, smart, and she had so much fear of going to the top 20 just because you’re gonna have this moment on stage in swimsuit,” she said.

For Duque, that moment made her realize that the swimsuit competition is not that relevant. “I think it’s very personal if a girl wants to show her body, feel confident in it, that’s great. And if she doesn’t, that’s also great, because confidence doesn’t come from the way we look, but the way we act, the way we think,” she said.

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When she learned that there will not be a swimsuit portion in this year’s final gala, Duque looked back at that moment she had with Miss Ethiopia. “Maybe the result would have been different if that year we didn’t have bathing suit. Because maybe she would have felt more empowered, or happier, or excited,” she shared.

“I thought about that, I thought about her. I’m just at peace with the decision, and I feel like it’s the right one towards what Miss Intternational is trying to build here,” Duque continued.

But this will not be the first time for the Miss International pageant to scrap the swimsuit segment for the final gala. In 2023, the delegates did not parade in swimwear on stage. But the organization still conducted a preliminary evaluation in swimsuit, and videos of the ladies in swimwear were still flashed on screen during the live program.

The 2026 Miss International Final Gala will be held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo on Nov. 25. Johnson is hoping to inherit the title from Duque to become the seventh Filipino woman to bring home the crown. /ra