MANILA: Alexie Mae Brooks will not be the lone Filipino woman who will compete in the 2025 Miss Eco International pageant, as the United Kingdom is set to field a woman of Filipino heritage.
Victoria Repollo Inglis, whose parents are from the Philippines, has been designated as the entire United Kingdom’s delegate to the 10th edition of the global tilt advocating for environmental protection and sustainability.
Her mother is from Pangasinan, while her father traces his roots in Ilocos, she said during her chat with members of the media last month at Pandan Asian Cafe in Quezon City.
At the time, Inglis was procaimed as Miss Eco Scotland 2025. But after she left the Philippines, she received a message from the international organisers asking her to represent the entire United Kingdom.
She came to the Philippines not only to meet members of the media, but to also get a crash course on pageantry under Filipino trainors, and asemble her competition wardrobe.
“As a woman in a Western country, it’s different. In the Philippines it’s a sport. You have to be a veteran in pageantry here. You’ve got so much support, that’s why I’m here,” Inglis told INQUIRER.net in an interview.
“I know that I’ll be trained properly. And everything is taken seriously here when it comes to pageantry,” added the 20-year-old model, who received her national title through the connections she has built after participating in Binibining Pilipinas Nottingham UK and Miss Philippines UK.
But Inglis will still touch base with the people in the United Kingdom to rally them behind her.
“It’s about bringing them along the journey, kind of broadcasting what you’re doing, educating. And the main thing is to inspire people to support you to come along the journey,” she shared.
Inglis said that if she wins the title, “I will truly drive for impact, and strive for change. Because this is not only for a crown, but it is a mission. And once we all come together, we will make sure that this planet is a better place to live [in], and we are living sustainably, and more conscious of how we live our day-to-day lives.”
She is encouraging the global community “to reduce single-use plastics, to decrease the amount of fast-fashion trends to follow, and to be more conscious in what you eat” the help save the planet.
Inglis and Brooks will join delegates from different countries and territories around the world in the 2025 Miss Eco International pageant in Alexandria, Egypt, in April. Ukraine’s Angelina Usanova will relinquish her title to her successor at the end of the competition.
Two Filipino women have brought home the crown - Cynthia Thomalla in 2018 and Kathleen Paton in 2022. Maureen Montagne, Kelley Day, and Chantal Schmidt finished second in 2019, 2021, and 2024, respectively. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
