Meiji Cruz of the Philippines was crowned Miss CosmoWorld 2022 on Wednesday night, besting over 20 candidates from all over the world during finals held at The St. Regis in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Cruz, the 2nd runner up in the Binibining Pilipinas 2021 pageant, won the grand cash prize of USD100,000 (about P5.6 million).
The 28-year-old is a graduate with three degrees—in broadcast journalism, psychology, and guidance and counseling —from St. Scholastica’s College Manila, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree.
Miss Uzbekistan Amaliya Shakirova was named first runner up, while Miss Thailand Onnapun Chiangmai was second runner up.
“I support all kinds of sports as they promote discipline, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. Just like what I learned here in CosmoWorld, the teamwork we have, we have the same vision. And as they say, ‘the teamwork makes the dream work,” Cruz answered when asked “Which sport do you support and why?”
Cruz, who also bagged the Miss Healthy special award, trained under Rodgil Flores’ “Kagandahang Flores” shortly after she was appointed as Philippine representative at the pageant.
She first joined Bb. Pilipinas in 2012 but went unplaced and decided to concentrate on her studies.
Miss CosmoWorld, now in its 18th year and owned by Miss Chinese Cosmos 2004 Carrie Lee, aims to select women who are “independent and passionate about life and with good leadership quality.