“I want to let everybody know that all things are possible and all things are feasible if we work together. We will, because we can. I’m not going to Austria just to lose,” those were the exact words of Angelia Ong before she left for Vienna to compete along with other than 80 beauties across the globe for the Miss Earth 2015 title.
It was the first time the Manila-based beauty contest was held in Europe.
A big Filipino crowd at the Marx Halle center erupted in wild frenzy when Miss Philippines was called as Miss Earth 2015 early Sunday morning.
Ong was overwhelmed and ecstatic. Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell hugged her after crowning this year’s winner.
“We will, because we can,” Ong said. It is the slogan she gave for the next 15 years of Miss Earth during the final question and answer portion of the competition. Her answer rang loud among the nine foreign judges that included Diana Alando Oyugi, Kenyan president of United Nations Women’s Guild –Austria, and reverberated in a world looking for solution on how to combat climate change with the recently concluded Paris Climate Summit issuing a blueprint deal to reduce carbon emission.
A marketing management major at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, the 25-year—old, Ilonggo Chinese Filipino beauty works as a part-time consultant at Manila City Hall and at a marketing company.
Ong, who was a stand out in her gorgeous Leo Almodal beaded champagne-colored evening gown, was the Face of Bb. Pilipinas 2011 (Miss Photogenic) with fellow candidates Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugunon, MJ Lastimosa (all competed in Miss Universe) and Queneerich Rehman (at Miss World).
The 15th Miss Earth was graced by Miss Earth 2012 Tereza Fajksova and Miss Earth 2001 Catharina Svensson-Brink, the first Miss Earth winner from Denmark, now a lawyer. “It’s just amazing that Miss Earth has gone a long way after 15 years. I wish all the winners to continue focus on the cause and we can go far,” Brink said.
Miss Earth’s Crystal Year in Eco- Friendly Vienna aims to promote environmental awareness by focusing on the Climate Change campaign through the 5R’s : Re-think, Reduce, Reuse, Recyle and Respect.
The finals was telecast on PULS4 in Austria and on international television networks to million of viewers around the world. In the Philippines it was aired on ABS- CBN Channel 2.
The Miss Earth Austria Organization, headed by Sina Schmid took over the entire planning of the 15th Miss Earth finals and was honored to be chosen as host by Carousel Productions headed by its president, Ramon Monzon and executive vice president Lorraine Schuck.
Miss Earth 2015 focused on Austria, the most livable country in the world as a country pioneering in humanitarian and environmental fields with sustainability.