Not to take anything away from Megan, but her 2013 victory was sort of doubtful because it came close on the heels of what was called the Storm of the Century, Yolanda/Haiyan, hitting the Philippines a few weeks before the pageant in Bali. But to win the crown, which had eluded the Philippines for so long, right after typhoon Yolanda and in nearby Bali no less, raised the question, “Was it consuelo de bobo (a sympathy victory) or an honest, well-earned triumph?”

The 2013 hosting by Indonesia of Miss World, swimsuit and all, was quite notable in that the pageant was originally going to be staged in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. But due to so-called “Muslim sensibilities” and the fact that the country was also committed to hosting the 3rd Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) at the same time, the beauty pageant was moved to Bali, the least Muslim of Indonesia’s islands.

Finally, the year after Megan’s victory, when she had to travel to chilly London, to crown her successor, Julia Morley decided they were done with the swimsuit category altogether. It didn’t seem to fulfill any purpose. Miss World director Chris Wilmer released the press statement: “The (MW) organization has decided to take itself out of the swimsuit world because it isn't the path they're trying to take. It's not just a beauty contest, it's 'beauty with a purpose.' There didn't seem to be a purpose to have the swimsuit.” So that meant, no swimsuit sponsors for Miss World. It seems the feminists got through to Julia Morley after all.

The issue of bathing suits, i.e., cheesecake, came full circle. But the removal of the swimsuit portion hasn’t spread to the other pageants. It’s still basically a skin show, and the swimsuit, cosmetics and sun block companies pay good money to advertise their wares.

Incurable Beauty Pageant-Junkie

As the 20th century wore on, the Philippines became an incurable beauty-pageant-junkie; it was time to have its own international pageant. Carousel Productions of Manila grabbed the bull by the horns and put together Miss Earth. Even though, Misses World and Universe broadcast from various countries, together with Miss International, they were still based in “developed, first world countries.” Miss Earth would be the first pageant to be based in a developing country. Ramon Monzon is the current president of Carousel Productions.

Taking a page from Miss World, Miss Earth handed out the consolation places based on three other Elements: Misses Air, Fire, Water, instead of the various runners-up. And finally, in 2008, a Filipina-Canadian originally born in Batangas, Karla Henry, won the crown. For both 2007-08, there was a strong Filipino/Canadian slant to the Miss Earth ceremonies. In 2007, the Miss Earth winner was Jessica Trisko, a Canadian of Filipina heritage, but representing Canada. Then it was Henry’s turn for 2008. One of the hosts for 2008 was Riza Santos, who competed as Miss Canada-Earth in 2006 but failed to enter the semifinal round during her time.

Henry survived a random stabbing attack by a drunken man at her condo building in Manila. In 2008, a second Miss Philippines, Jamie Herrell, won the 2014 Miss Earth crown.

By 2015, so it wouldn’t look so “rigged” and to show that Miss Earth had hit the big time, Carousel Productions took the show on the road, to Vienna, Austria, the land of the Hapsburgs, von Trapps, Freud, Hitler and Johann Strauss. But despite all that wienerschnitzel and noodles, the Philippines still won, with Angelia Ong of Iloilo besting 85 other contestants to take Miss Earth 2015.

The Last Three Filipina Miss Earths