Ganiel Akrisha Krishnan, a 21-year-old, UAAP basketball courtside reporter, bested 29 contestants, including representatives from overseas Filipino communities, and bagged the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International 2016 title at the coronation night at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila in Newport City, Pasay, last Saturday night.
Krishnan, an Indian Filipino beauty and Communication Arts student at Far Eastern University, will represent the country at Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2016 in Malaysia.
Krishnan, a former finalist of Happy Yipee Yehey’s My Girl and discovered by Johnny Manahan for ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, has appaeard in Oh My G! and has become a member of ABS-CBN’s Sports&Action TV. She also won nine special awards including Darling of the Press, Best in Talent, Hannah’s best in swimsuit, Mutya ng Sheridan Beach Resort, Mutya ng Rain or Shine, Mutya ng Hotel 101, Mutya ng Inglot, Mutya ng Camera Club of the Philippines and Mag’s Mutya ng Pilipinas.
Reigning Bb. Laguna Justin Mae San Jose won Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International 2016 while Filipino American Michelle Thorlund, representing the Filipino overseas community in California, was named Mutya ng Pilpinas-Overseas Communities 2016.
San Jose, who won the best in long gown and best in swimsuit, hails from Pila, Laguna and is a student in Communications at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Calamba.
Thorlund, a 19-year-old, part time model from Orange County, California, aspires to become a criminal defense attorney. She loves classical music and plays the piano. A vegetarian, she advocates animal welfare and prevention of animal cruelty.
Lynette Bradford of Melbourne and Ashley Nicole Singh of Central Luzon won first and second and runners-up, respectively. Singh won Best in Philippine terno by designer Alex Nicdao as well as Miss Viva Discovery special awards.
Others who made the Top 10 are Mayu Murukami from Japan, Dianne Irish Lacayanga from Tarlac, Joanna Rose Tolledo from Caloocan City, Jannie Loudette Alipo-on from Navotas City and Marielle Cartagena of Cebu.
The panel of judges included Mexico’s Ambassador to the Philippines Julio Camarena Villaseñor, former Miss Earth Diana Meneses-Estrada, Resorts World Manila’s Stephen James Riley, among others.
The Mutya ng Pilipinas 2016 coronation was hosted by Bela Padilla, Richard Guttierez and Arci Munoz.