Meet the 2016 MISS EARTH Candidates!

Meet the 2016 MISS EARTH Candidates!
Report: Anton Eder and Arvin Cabachete | Writer & Correspondents
Managing Editor: Raymund Golez
Photos: JR Noses | Chief Photojournalist & Photo Editor; Anton Eder

Eighty-two equally gorgeous and beautiful candidates from all over the world are vying for MISS EARTH 2016, the title which prides itself as a beauty contest with a “cause“, were presented to the members of the press on October 11 at the poolside of Diamond Hotel Manila, Philippines.

Presenting this year’s lovely candidates, as follows:
Argentina – Lara Bochle
Australia – Lyndl Kean
Austria – Kimberly Budinsky
Bahamas – Candisha Rolle
Belgium – Fenne Verecas
Belize – Chantae Chanice Guy
Bolivia – Eliana Villegas
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Ivana Perisic
Brazil – Bruna Zanardo
Canada – Tamara Jemuovic
Chile – Tiare Fuentes
China – Xiaohan Gang
Chinese Taipei – Le Chiao Peng
Colombia – Michelle Gomez
Cook Island – Allanah Herman‐Edgar
Croatia – Nera Torlak
Cyprus – Maria Costa
Czech Republic – Kristýna Kubíčková
Denmark – Klaudia Parsberg
Dominican Republic – Nicole Jimeno
Ecuador – Katherine Espín
England – Luissa Burton
Ghana – Deborah Eyram Dodor
Guadeloupe – Méghan Monrose
Guam – Gloria Nelson
Guatemala – Stephanie Sical
Haiti – Valierie Advise
Hungary – Eszter Oczella
Indonesia – Luisa Andrea Soemitha
Iraq – Suzan Amer
Israel – Mira Kahli
Italy – Denise Frigo
Japan – Ami Hachiya
Kenya – Grace Wanene
Korea – Chae-Yeung Lee
Kosovo – Andina Pura
Kyrgyzstan – Begim Almasbeková
Lebanon – Carole Kahwagi
Macau, China – Clover Zhu
Malaysia – Venisa Judah
Malta – Natalya Galdes
Mauritius – Amber Korimdun
Mexico – Itzel Paola Astudillo
Moldova – Tatiana Ovcinicova
Mongolia – Enkhbor Azbileg
Myanmar – Nang Khine Shwe Wah Win

Namibia – Elize Shakalela
Nepal – Roshani Khatri
Netherlands – Deborah van Hemert
New Zealand – Janelle Nicholas-Wright
Nigeria – Chioma Precious Obiadi
Northern Ireland – Julieann McStravick
Pakistan – Anzhelika Tahir
Palestine – Natali Rantisi
Panama – Virginia Hernandez
Paraguay – Vanessa Alexandra Ramírez
Peru – Brunella Fossa
Philippines – Imelda Schweighart
Poland – Magdalena Kucharska
Portugal – Alexandra Marcenco
Reunion Island – Meli Sheryam Gastrin
Romania – Crina Stinca
Russia – Alexandra Cherepanova
Serbia – Teodora Janković
Sierra Leone – Josephine Kamara
Singapore – Manuela Bruntraeger
Slovak Republic – Kristina Sulova
Slovenia – Maja Ana Strnad
South Africa – Nozipho Magagula
Sri Lanka – Disna Edirirathne
Suriname – Svetoisckia Brunswijk
Sweden – Cloie Skarne
Switzerland – Manuela Oppikofer
Thailand – Atcharee Buakhiao
Uganda – Priscilla Achieng
Ukraine – Alona Belova
Uruguay – Valeria Barrios
USA – Corrin Stellakis
Venezuela – Stephanie De Zorzi
Vietnam – Nguyen Thi Le Nam Em
Wales – Charlotte Hitchman
Zambia – Ketty Kabaso
Zimbabwe – Sharon Enkromelle

Miss Philippines Imelda Schweighart and Miss Ecuador Katherine Espin (tie for Gold) was adjudged Darling Of The Press with Miss Venezuela Stephanie de Zorzi (Silver) and Miss USA Corrin Stellakis (Bronze). Miss Earth 2016 will be the 16th edition of the of the annual pageant which is to be held on 29 October 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. “Empowered to make a Change” is the theme for this year’s pageant edition.

Former Miss Earth Air 2012 Stephany Stefanowitz hosted the event. Also present were Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, who showed support for the candidates, and Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell, who gave a short message.

Reigning Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Gabrena Ong, will crown her successor and the winner will be wearing the newly-polished and modified Miss Earth crown created by Florida-based environmental jeweler, Ramona Haar. A durable metal base was added to the crown’s original design from the 2009 edition to enhance the crown’s general appearance and to have an intimate fit to the head of the winner. The confirmation was announced by Carousel Productions, the organization behind the successful Miss Earth pageant, wherein the announcement were made public through their official Facebook page on June 30, 2016.

Before coronation night scheduled for October 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena, the candidates will visit various tourist spots in the Philippines.

About the Pageant

Miss Earth is an annual international environmental-themed beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness. Miss Earth is one of the largest beauty pageants in the world in terms of the number of national-level competitions to participate in the world finals.The reigning titleholders dedicate their year to promote specific projects and often address issues concerning the environment and other global issues through school tours, tree planting activities, street campaigns, coastal clean ups, speaking engagements, shopping mall tours, media guesting, environmental fair, storytelling programs, eco-fashion shows, and other environmental activities.
Carousel Productions organized and launched the first Miss Earth beauty pageant in 2001 as an international environmental event with the mission of channeling the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool to actively promote the preservation of the environment.

The Miss Earth winner is the spokesperson for the Miss Earth Foundation, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other environmental organizations.The Miss Earth Foundation also works with the environmental departments and ministries of participating countries, various private sectors and corporations, as well as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).