Balik bansa na ang 22-year-old Pinay beauty queen na si Katrina Llegado matapos magwagi bilang 5th Finalista sa Reina Hispanoamericana na ginanap sa Bolivia noong weekend.
Sa exclusive interview ng Star FM Baguio kay Llegado, sinabi nitong isang malaking karangalan ang mapabilang sa nasabing international pageant.
“My overall experience was beyond amazing. I’m so happy that I got the chance to represent the Philippines, carrying the Philippine sash with me. They all look up to our country and I had a lot of unforgettable moments.”
Inamin rin nitong naging mahigpit ang kompetisyon pero naging maganda ang pagtanggap sa kanya ng organisasyon at ng mga candidates.
“Reina Hispanoamericana is one of the hardest competitions but I had an amazing time. The organization and the candidates were really friendly. They made me feel a part of the family. It felt like home.”
No regrets din ito kahit hindi niya naiuwi ang korona, dahil marami naman ang bumilib sa kanyang naging performance.
“I don’t have any regrets with the pageant. I’m just so happy that I gave my 100%. I’m so happy with the feedback of the Filipino people. I think that’s more important, that you’ve won the hearts of our kababayans. The support that they gave me is just amazing. I’m just so thankful and I’m happy that [they appreciated] what I’ve done in Bolivia.”
Ibinahagi rin ng dalaga na hindi niya naman ititigil ang pagsali sa mga beauty pageants, pero ngayon ay magpapahinga muna siya kasama ang kanyang mga mahal sa buhay. Ipagpapatuloy din umano nito ang advocacy na nasimulan niyang suportahan.
“I’m not closing any doors for another pageant because I’m just 22 years old. But for now, I will enjoy and rest and take this time with my family and friends and my team who supported me in my Reina Hispanoamericana journey. Also, I’ll still focus on my advocacy in helping the organization that I support which is Food for Hungry Minds, and also pursue in my career, whether it’s gonna [be back to the] banking industry or pursuing a career in show business.”
Masaya naman ito para sa kanyang kaibigan at roommate na si Regina Peredo na tinanghal na Reina Hispanoamerica 2019.
“Regina Peredo is my roommate. We were first together in Bolivia last November when the pageant got postponed, that’s why we are very close. I’m so happy when we got back last January. We were roommates together with Ms. Belize. She really deserved the crown and I’m so happy that she was the one who won Reina Hispanoamericana.”
Matatandang si Winwyn Marquez ang kauna-unahang Pinay na nag-uwi ng korona sa pageant noong 2017.
Si Llegado naman ang pangatlong pambato ng Pilipinas na lumipad patungong Bolivia para sa kompetisyon
