The crown reserved for Binibinis below the age of 25

Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti was 24 when she won the title last year. Bea Rose Santiago, on the other hand, was 23 the year she nailed hers, the same age Nicole Schmitz was crowned last 2012. Before that, Dianne Necio was a young 19 year-old at the time she was named for the honor. And nearly five years ago today, Krista Kleiner was all of 20 summers during Bb. Pilipinas 2010 – the edition where she got the nod as Bb. Pilipinas International.

Of the five titles at stake, this is the crown that only Official Candidates below the age of 25 can vie for. And in the 2015 batch, there are those who are skipping the hunt to become the country’s next representative to Miss International. Hence, the likes of 25-to-26-year-olds Hannah Ruth Sison, Pia Wurtzbach, Kimverlyn Suiza, Anja-Vanessa Peter, Ria Rabajante, Patricia Ejercitado, Anabel Christine Tia, Toni Alyessa Hipolito, Caneille Faith Santos and Samantha Balbin are no longer eligible for the same. The rest can breathe easy knowing that they are still up for all the prized spots.

There is one gray area, though. For example, Binibini 19 Christi Lynn McGarry was 24 when she got in as Official Candidate. But just last February 5, she already turned 25 – more than a month before the March 15 coronation night. Can she still be considered for Miss International? My impression is that the Japanese organizers are strict when it comes to age and are understanding when the rep is already 25 but still under that age when she participated in and won the national crown (just like Bianca Guidotti). Will Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta make an exception or will she play it safe and go for those who are safely within the age brackets to avoid any unnecessary kinks about the matter?

That, my dear readers, remains to be seen. ;-)