Miss Earth 2018 Explained

Miss Earth 2018 was the 18th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Bay City, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, on November 3, 2018.

Karen Ibasco of the Philippines crowned her successor Nguyễn Phương Khánh of Vietnam at the end of the event. This is the first time Vietnam won the Miss Earth pageant, one of the Big Four international beauty pageants.

In August 2019, the Miss Earth 2018 winners and the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted an outreach program for the welfare of the senior citizens and persons with disabilities admitted at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines.^[1]

Results

Placements

1. Web site: 2019-10-26. Miss Earth beauties join AFP outreach program for seniors. 2021-01-04. BusinessMirror. en-US.
2. Web site: FULL LIST: Winners, Miss Earth 2018 . Rappler . 3 November 2018 . September 22, 2023.

(§) – Placed in the Top 18 are two spots chosen by the People and Judges for the Best Eco-Video (1) and Best Eco-Social Media (1) Awardees

Background

On July 26, 2018, it was announced through Miss Earth Organization's social media accounts that the pageant will be held in the Philippines again from October 6 to November 3.

The live telecast of the pageant's coronation night will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay for the third consecutive year.

On October 20, 2018, Miss Earth announced in their Facebook page that they will have this year's Eco-Video and Eco-Media Award winners, an automatic fast-tracks to the Top 18. Two candidates will earn two spots through the preliminary panel of judges and by the votes of social media.

Pre Pageant Activities

Medalists

Event	style="width:23%;"
National Costume Competition
Asia & Oceania	Nguyễn Phương Khánh	Nirada Chetsadapriyakun	Celeste Cortesi
North & Central America	Melissa Flores	Diana Lemos	Lisa Hayet
South America	Xamiera Kippins	Diana Valdivieso	Jessica Russo
Africa	Alma Nancy Sesay	Margret Konie	Maristella Okpala
Western Europe	Carolina Jane	Telma Madeira	Sofia Pavan
Eastern Europe	Nina Jovanović	Ksenia Sarina	Katarina Šećković
Evening Gown Competition
AIR Group	Danijela Burjan	Celeste Cortesi	Jessica Russo
WATER Group	Nguyễn Phương Khánh	Sofia Pavan	Guo Yameng '
FIRE Group	Nirada Chetsadapriyakun	Gabriela Franceschini	Denisse Andor
Swimsuit Competition
AIR Group	Telma Madeira	Celeste Cortesi	Danijela Burjan
WATER Group	Melissa Flores	Nguyễn Phương Khánh	Nađa Pepić
FIRE Group	Diana Silva	Gabriela Franceschini	Carolina Jane
Resort Wear Competition
AIR Group	Celeste Cortesi	Valeria Ayos	Nishi Bhardwaj
WATER Group	Melissa Flores	Christie van Schalkwyk	Nađa Pepić Sofia Pavan
FIRE Group	Diana Silva	Margaretha de Jong	Carolina Jane
Talent Competition
AIR Group	Danijela Burjan	Afeya Jeffrey	Antonia Figueroa
WATER Group	Melanie Mader	Xamiera Kippins	Krystal Xamairy
FIRE Group	Daria Kartyshova	Priya Sigdel	Nirada Chetsadapriyakun

Local Special Awards

Award	Delegate
Miss Earth Goes Plastic Free 1st Runner-up 2nd Runner-up	– Maristella Okpala – Ratu Vashti Annisa – Margo Fargo
Darling of the Press	– Emma Sheedy
Goddess of Albay 1st Runner-up 2nd Runner-up	– Telma Madeira – Celeste Cortesi – Danijela Burjan
Best in Terno 1st Runner-up 2nd Runner-up	– Telma Madeira – Celeste Cortesi – Jessica Russo

Sponsor's Awards

Award	Delegate
Miss Brisa Marina	– Gabriela Franceschini
Miss CBNC Choice Award	– Carolina Jane
Miss Coral Bay Nickel Corporation Choice Award	– Carolina Jane
Miss Earth JACMI	– Melissa Flores
Miss Ever Bilena	- Ratu Vashti Annisa
Miss People's Choice City Ambassadress	– Ratu Vashti Annisa
Miss Psalmstre New Placenta	– Ratu Vashti Annisa – Sayonara Veras – Melissa Flores
Miss Pontefino Estates	– Sayonara Veras
Miss Pontefino Hotel	– Krystal Xamairy
Miss Puerto Princesa Agutaya Club	– Margo Fargo
Miss Puerto Princesa Centro Hotel	– Nguyễn Phương Khánh
Miss Robig Builders	– Nguyễn Phương Khánh
Miss Ruj Beauty Care & Spa	– Nguyễn Phương Khánh
Miss Sharp Award	– Christie van Schalkwyk
Miss Sponsor of DV Boer Farm Ambassadress	– Priya Sigdel
Miss Sponsor of Facial Cleanse Ambassadress	– Emma Sheedy
Miss Sponsor of Forever Living Ambassadress	– Belvy Naa
Miss Sponsor of Infinity Closet	– Jessica Russo
Miss Wellness Lumiere Skin & Spa	– Carolina Jane
Miss Visit Laus Auto Group	– Carolina Jane
Miss Junca Beauty 2018	– Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown

Contestants

87 contestants competed for the title.

Country/Territory	Contestant	Age	Hometown	Group
Argentina	Dolores Cardoso[3]	23		FIRE
Armenia	Sona Danielyan	22		FIRE
Australia		25		FIRE
Austria	Melanie Mader[4]	26		WATER
Bahamas	Samia Lauryn McClain	18		WATER
Belarus	Anastasia Schipanova	26		AIR
Belgium	Faye Bulcke	21		AIR
Belize	Renae Martinez	21		AIR
Bolivia	Karen Quispe	20		FIRE
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Nađa Pepić	18		WATER
Brazil	Sayonara Veras	25		WATER
Cambodia	Keo Senglyhour	20		WATER
Cameroon	Audrey Monkam	23		AIR
Chile	Antonia Figueroa	23		AIR
China	Guo Yameng	21	Beijing	WATER
Colombia		24		AIR
Costa Rica	Arianna Medrano	19		AIR
	Ksenia Sarina	25		AIR
Croatia	Michelle Korenic	20		WATER
Cuba	Monica Aguilar	19		AIR
Curaçao	Alexandra Atalita	24		FIRE
Cyprus	María Armenáki	18		WATER
Czech Republic	Tereza Křivánková	24		FIRE
Denmark	Kamilla Bang	19		FIRE
Dominican Republic	Gabriela Franceschini	26		FIRE
Ecuador	Diana Valdivieso	20		WATER
Egypt	Lamia Fathi	24		WATER
England		20		AIR
	Allison Dernard	25		AIR
Germany	Maren Tschinkel	20		FIRE
Ghana	Belvy Naa	25		AIR
Greece	Chrysa Androutsopoulou	24		FIRE
	Orlane Dorocant	20		WATER
Guam	Emma Sheedy	18		AIR
Guatemala	Lisa Hayet	24		WATER
Guyana	Xamiera Kippins	23		WATER
Haiti	Falance Benjamin	26		AIR
Honduras	Diana Palma	21		FIRE
Hungary	Réka Lukács	25		AIR
India	Nishi Bhardwaj	23	New Delhi	AIR
Indonesia	Ratu Vashti Annisa	23		WATER
Ireland	Sarah Carr	24		AIR
Israel	Dana Zreik	20		WATER
Italy	Sofia Pavan	19		WATER
Japan	Mio Tanaka	24		AIR
Korea	Su-hyun Song	25		FIRE
Liberia	Joicet Jartu Foday	23		WATER
Malaysia	Jasmine Yeo[5]	25		FIRE
Malta	Yanika Azzopardi	22		WATER
Mauritius	Kirty Sujeewon	26		AIR
Mexico		20		WATER
Moldova	Dumitrița Izbișciuc	18		AIR
Montenegro	Katarina Šećković	24		FIRE
Myanmar	Chaw Yupar Thet	24		AIR
Nepal		23		FIRE
Netherlands	Margaretha de Jong	21		FIRE
New Zealand	Jzayla Hughey	22		WATER
Nigeria	Maristella Okpala	25		FIRE
Northern Ireland	Christie van Schalkwyk	24		WATER
Panama	Diana Lemos	20		FIRE
Paraguay	Larissa Dominguez	22		WATER
Peru	Jessica Russo	22		AIR
Philippines		20		AIR
Poland	Aleksandra Grysz	22		FIRE
Portugal		18		AIR
Puerto Rico	Krystal Xamairy	18		WATER
Réunion Island	Alexia Aupin	18		WATER
	Denisse Andor[6]	23		FIRE
Russia	Daria Kartyshova	24		FIRE
Rwanda	Anastasie Umutoniwase[7]	19		FIRE
Samoa	Rebecca Sang-Yum	20		AIR
Serbia	Nina Jovanović	18		WATER
Sierra Leone	Alma Nancy Sesa	19		FIRE
Singapore	Kara Dong	19	Singapore City	FIRE
Slovenia	Danijela Burjan[8]	22		AIR
South Africa	Margo Fargo	26		FIRE
Spain	Carolina Jane	22		FIRE
Sri Lanka	Nathasha Fernando	21		WATER
Sweden	Yasmine Mindru[9]	19		FIRE
Thailand	Nirada Chetsadapriyakun	26		FIRE
	Maria Otulao Aholelei	21		WATER
Trinidad and Tobago	Afeya Jeffrey	26		AIR
Ukraine	Anastasiia Kryvokhyzha	23		WATER
United States	Yashvi Aware	25		FIRE
Venezuela	Diana Silva[10]	21		FIRE
Vietnam		23		WATER
Zambia	Margret Konie	21		AIR

Notes

Returns

• Last competed in 2008:
  • • Last competed in 2009:
      • • Last competed in 2014:
        • Last competed in 2015:
          • • • • • • Last competed in 2016:

Replacements

• – Faye Bulcke was appointed Miss Earth Belgium 2018 by Ken Stevens (national director of Miss Earth Belgium) as a replacement to Mayke Aendekerk, who cannot compete to the pageant for personal reasons. Bulcke was crowned 2nd runner-up at the Miss Exclusive 2016 pageant. The winner of Miss Exclusive pageant usually competes at Miss Earth.
• – Karen Jenifer Quispe Nava was appointed Miss Earth Bolivia 2018 by Promociones Gloria as a replacement to Ilssen Olmos Ferrufino, who was reportedly rejected by Miss Earth Organization for not meeting the age requirements of the pageant. Quispe was crowned Virreina Miss World Bolivia 2018. Olmos will compete in Miss Supranational 2018 pageant instead.
• – Nishi Bharadwaj has been appointed as Miss Earth India 2018 by Glamanand Supermodel India Organization as a replacement to the original title holder of Miss Earth India 2018 Devika Vaid. The original winner suffered with an injury making her unable to compete at the forthcoming Miss Earth 2018.

Designations

• – Margo Fargo was appointed as Miss Earth South Africa 2018. The appointment was due to conflict of schedules with Miss Earth South Africa 2018 pageant and the Miss Earth 2018 pageant arrival. Fargo previously worked as Miss Earth South Africa Ambassador in 2014 and recently competed for Miss South Africa 2018, where she placed in the Top 12.
• – Nirada Chetsadapriyakun was appointed as Miss Earth Thailand 2018 by Pawina Bumrungrot, National Director of ERM Marketing Co., Ltd., Thailand. Nirada was the 2nd Runner-up of Miss All Nations Thailand 2017.

Withdrawals

During the contest

• – Jaime Vandenberg participated in some the preliminary activities in Manila but she decided to withdraw before the coronation night after accusing one of the Filipino food sponsors of sexual harassment during a dinner at the Manila Yacht Club.
• – Salwa Akar was dethroned the title "Miss Earth Lebanon 2018" by the Miss Lebanon Organization after her photo with Miss Israel appeared in the media. She returned to her hometown afterwards.

Before the contest

Controversies

Lebanon and Israel conflict

Miss Lebanon 2018 Salwa Akar received international press attention when she was stripped of her title in Lebanon, while participating in Miss Earth 2018 pageant after she posted a photo in Facebook with her arm around Miss Israel's Dana Zreik and making peace signs.^{[11] [12]} Lebanon and Israel are in a long-standing state of war.^[13] As a result, she was unable to continue her participation in the Miss Earth pageant.^[14] In a press release, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Ofir Gendelman reacted on Akar’s dethronement and condemned the "Lebanese apartheid."^{[15] [16]}

Sexual harassment allegations

On November 7–8, 2018, Jaime Vandenberg of Canada, Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown of England, and Emma Sheedy of Guam accused one of the Filipino food sponsors of sexual harassment during a dinner at the Manila Yacht Club, claiming that he asked them for sexual favors in exchange for the crown or an advancement in the pageant.^{[17] [18]} Sheedy had identified the sponsor as Amado S. Cruz, who is president of a car rental company and CEO of a construction company.^[19] The Manila Yacht Club officials clarified that Cruz is not a member and could have just been sponsored by another member.^[20] The pageant officials indicated that Cruz was not one of the major sponsors of the pageant and just sponsored for an evening meal.^[21]

Vandenberg withdrew from competition after Cruz obtained her mobile number without her consent and kept calling her for her hotel and room number. The pageant officials stated that they did not know how Cruz obtained her number, and they only have the delegates' international contact numbers and the pageant's mode of communication was through messenger and group chat only.^[21]

Vandenberg also claimed the organizers confiscated her passport on the first day of competition. The pageant organizers denied Vandenberg's claim, stating that delegates are free to keep their passports by signing a waiver and they only keep the passports for safekeeping since there had been many occasions of misplacing or losing their passports and to facilitate check-in for their domestic flights and hotel accommodations.^{[22] [20]}

Vandenberg also said that seven candidates left the dinner and accompanied by the team managers to sit on the bus after feeling uncomfortable with the sponsor.^[23] All three candidates voiced their complaints to organizer Lorraine Schuck, but despite Schuck's assurance that Cruz would not be allowed near the candidates, he still appeared in the pageant.^{[20] [24] [25]} Schuck then stated that she does not have any authority in public places, such as the hotels where the delegates stayed and the Mall of Asia Arena where the grand final of the pageant took place since the pageant was a public event.^[19] Furthermore, Schuck said that all the delegates had police escorts for their safety.^[23] Schuck subsequently announced that Cruz is 'forever banned' from Miss Earth.^[26]

On November 9, 2018, Cruz denied the accusations of the three candidates. In addition, Monica Aguilar of Cuba claimed there were no instances of sexual harassment during the competition.^[27] Instead, she stated that the sponsor asked only if they wished to extend their visas to proceed to Boracay after the pageant, and she further stated that "no one was promised to get us further in the competition through 'sexual favors."^[28]

On November 10, 2018, Schuck's company Carousel Productions Inc. urged other candidates to come forward if they experienced any incidents of sexual harassment during the pageant.^[19] The organizer also expressed support to the delegates in case they decide to take any further action to the alleged perpetrator.^[22]

Crossovers

Contestants who previously competed or will be competing at other international beauty pageants:

Miss Universe

• 2021: : Valeria Ayos (Top 5)
• 2021: : Antonia Figueroa (Unplaced)
• 2021: : Maristella Okpala (Unplaced), Best National Costume
• 2022: : Celeste Cortesi (Unplaced)
• 2022: : Telma Madeira (Top 16)
• 2023: : Melissa Flores (Unplaced)
• 2023: : Diana Silva (Top 10)

Miss World

• 2016: : Antonia Figueroa (Unplaced)
• 2017: : Renae Martinez (Unplaced)

Miss International

• 2019: : Monique Shippen^[29] (Unplaced)

• 2023: : Denisse Andor (Unplaced)

Miss Asia Pacific International

• 2018: : Sona Danielyan (Unplaced)

Top Model of the World

• 2017: : Maren Tschinkel (Unplaced)

Reinado Internacional Del Café

• 2018: : Dolores Cardoso (Unplaced)

Miss Grand Mar Universe

• 2016: : Yanika Azzopardi (Top 5)

Miss City Tourism World

• 2017: : Diana Silva^[30] (Winner)

Miss Black San International Queen

• 2017: : Xamiera Kippins^[31] (Winner)

Miss Tourism America

• 2014: : Larissa Dominguez^[32] (Winner)

Broadcasters

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Broadcasters	Coverage
Facebook Live	Livestream on the official Facebook page of Miss Earth Organization.
FOX Life	Live broadcast in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
GMA Network	Livestream on the official YouTube Channel of GMA Network and delayed telecast (November 4, 2018) in the Philippines.
Globovisión	Broadcast in Venezuela and through DirecTV cable channels in Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Chile, Colombia, Curaçao, Ecuador, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
Hong Kong Cable Television	Broadcast in Hong Kong.
MVS Comunicaciones	Broadcast in Central and South America, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States.
Telecaribe	Broadcast in Colombia.
Telemicro	Broadcast in Dominican Republic.
SCCN Channel 17	Broadcast in Suriname.
ZAP TV	Broadcast in Angola and Mozambique.