Teenage Fil-Am camp counselor is Miss PH Quest USA

• Alexa Kirby will represent Fil-Am community in Miss World PH contest in Manila

Left to right: Judge’s Chair Cory Quirino, winner Alexa Kirby and Grace Labaguis of Synergy Production and Marketing Inc. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

NEW YORK, New York — Alexa Kirby, an 18-year-old, five foot eight summer camp counselor was chosen the first-ever Miss Philippines Quest USA at a coronation ceremony on July 12 at Symphony Space.

Kirb was also declared Best in Evening Gown and shared her triumph on stage with four other newly crowned beauty queens: First Princess, Best in Talent, Best in Swimsuit Misook Mendonca; Second Princess Isabella Estella; Third Princess Jenica Balmes; Fourth Princess and People’s Choice Award recipient Erin Manansala.

Kirby will represent the Filipino-American community in the 2014 Miss World Philippines pageant to be held in Manila on September 7.

She has won a round-trip ticket to the Philippines and an allowance of one thousand dollars. She will also wear a stunning evening gown, courtesy of One.10 Collection, during the Miss World Philippines competition.

During the dreaded Q&A, Kirby named young American actress-singer Demi Lovato, who has been vocal about her personal struggles, one of her personal women heroes. “She [Lovato] was able to overcome self-harm problems and is trying to help other people with similar problems to overcome it as well,” she said.

A recent graduate of Downington West High School in Pennsylvania, Kirby is a summer camp counselor. She is not new to beauty pageants having joined Miss Teen Pennsylvania USA and Miss Teen Philippines in the past.

In 2011, she was a dance scholar at Touch of Class Dance Studio in Pennsylvania. She also received community service awards twice from Kohls’ Cares for Kids, a volunteer program that supports children’s health and education.

The pageant was organized by Synergy Production and Marketing Inc., the franchise holder of Miss Philippines Quest USA in the East Coast, and Global Quest Inc. led by Miss World Philippines National Director Cory Quirino, who chaired the Board of Judges at the coronation ceremony.

Former beauty queen-turned-recording artist Bessie Badilla, Beth Tamayo and Ian Medrano hosted Coronation Night. Lana Asanin, Cora Reyes, Chantel Martinez, Brent Chua, Nicole Ponseca and Dmitry Brylev joined Quirino at the judges’ table.

“I’m very proud of these beautiful Filipinas that will ably represent the Fil-Am community in the Miss World Philippines pageant on September 7,” Quirino stated. “Starting next year, we’re going to widen our search to include the West Coast, Canada, Europe and Australia.”

Izza Dungca, creative director for the pageant said, “For the first time ever in the East Coast, a  beauty pageant this grand was staged. I’m proud of the achievements of the candidates. Their hard work and dedication paid off. It was an evening of surprises and I’m overwhelmed with the positive feedback from the Fil-Am community.”

“I’d like to thank Ms. Cory Quirino for inspiring me to do this pageant, and most especially for gracing our coronation night,” added Grace Labaguis, Synergy Production and

Left to right: Jenica Balmes, 3rd Princess; Isabela Estella, 2nd Princess; Alexa Kirby-Miss Philippines Quest USA 2014; Misook Mendonca-1st Princess; Erin Manansala-4th Princess. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Marketing Inc. marketing director. “My love and best wishes to Alexa Kirby as she competes for the Miss World Philippines title in Manila this September.  Congratulations, and bring home the crown for the Fil-Am community in the East Coast.”

GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV were the pageant’s exclusive media sponsors. Major sponsors were ECS Consulting Services, MS Event Solutions, Glamour Creations, Jerry Sibal, Direct, Law Office of Loreto Kudera, PLLC, NYC Healthcare, Anthilla Land, Ugly Kitchen, Washington Dental Associates, Adorable Chef, Younique, The Law Office of Joseph Raia, Ailleen Luz Skincare Clinic, Joy Pescaru and Nancy McGough.

Other sponsors included Filipino Reporter, Filipino Express, The FilAm.net, United Federation of Fil-Am Educators (UNIFFIED), Philippine American Association of CT, Inc. (PAAC),  VynzNy Entertainment, Sizzle Me Restaurant, Payag Restaurant, Cherique Loyola-Po, Dr. Emilio and Dra. Fely Quines, Connecticut Association of Filipino-American Families Inc. and  Philippine Independence Day Council Inc.

Miss World Philippines is the Philippine franchise of Miss World, which selects the Philippines’ official representative in the annual Miss World pageant. CQ Global Quest Inc., managed by Cory Quirino, acquired the franchise on January 25, 2011.

For three years in a row, the winner of Miss World Philippines has figured prominently in the Miss World pageant. Gwendolyn Ruais was crowned Miss World First Princess in 2011; her successor, Queenie Rehman, was among the semi-finalists in 2012.

In 2013, for the first time, a Filipina won the coveted blue crown. Megan Lynne Young was crowned Miss World 2013 last September at Bali Nusa Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia.

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