BRUSSELS - Miss Belgium Angeline Flor Pua is still on cloud nine, three days after bagging the much-coveted crown.

Pua said that being in the finals was already an achievement for her who has gone through a "tough time" for the pageant.

“It took me eight months of work to win the title. Before joining the Miss Belgium national pageant, we have to join first the regional pageant. I represented Antwerp and we were 35 candidates. I won Miss Antwerp and People’s Choice award. It’s difficult to collect votes, you know. You have to talk to people even if you don’t know them, you have to make them feel like you deserve to win,” she said.

She believes that growing up in two different cultures is what made her exceptional.

“I am also very proud that I have Filipino roots and that’s make me a unique Miss Belgium 2018,” she exclaimed.

Pua is the first Filipina to win the Miss Belgium crown. But while the whole Filipino community rejoiced with her, there were also a number of bashers who criticized the jury’s decision.

Some commented that the pageant is ridiculous while others questioned why an Asian won, insisting that the crown should have been awarded to blue eyed, blonde Belgians.

The 22-year-old beauty queen admitted being hurt with the negative comments. She has done several interviews for two days in a row and was always asked about the issue.

She feels it is totally unfair to be bashed like that.

“It hurts a lot. It touches me very deeply but I was born in Belgium, I was raised in Belgium. I have Belgian nationality. My parents met each other in Belgium even if they are both Filipinos and I don’t see any reason why I can’t be Miss Belgium,” she said.

But despite the criticism, Pua is determined to make her country proud. She admitted getting her strength from people who supported her such as family, friends and the whole Filipino community. She said she would rather not disappoint people who believed in her.

Meanwhile, the soon-to-be pilot is excited to compete with Miss Philippines in the international competition.

“Yes, I will be competing with my fellow Filipina in Miss World or Miss Universe but I think we will support each other. I look forward to that. No hard feelings. Kababayan ko pa rin 'yun,” she said.



Apart from photo shoots and several guestings, Pua is training for the upcoming Miss World 2018. She is also set to finish her course this March and hopes to fly a commercial plane soon.