Ang 25-year-old Filipina beauty at tourism operations officer na si Cinderella Faye "Cindy" Obeñita ang nagwaging Miss Intercontinental 2021 (The Most Beautiful Woman of All Continents).
Ginanap ang grand coronation ng 49th edition ng international beauty pageant sa Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, nitong Biyernes ng gabi, October 29 (Sabado ng umaga, October 30, Philippine time).
Si Cindy ang pangalawang Pilipina na nag-uwi ng Miss Intercontinental crown. Una itong napanalunan ni Karen Gallman (Miss Intercontinental 2018) sa coronation night na idinaos noong January 26, 2019 sa Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
Mga runner-up ni Cindy sa Miss Intercontinental 2021 sina Paulina Uceda ng Mexico (1st), Romy Simpkins ng United Kingdom (2nd), Kelly-Mary Anette ng Seychelles (3rd), Kaitlyn Li ng Canada (4th), at Maria Paula Castillo Lopez ng Colombia (5th).
QUESTION AND ANSWER
Oratory, hosting, at public speaking ang mga sinabi ni Cindy na special talent nito.
Napakinabangan niya ang mga ito sa question-and-answer segment ng Miss Intercontinental 2021 dahil hinangaan ang kanyang sagot sa tanong na "As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English is important for Miss Intercontinental? Why or why not?"
Sagot ni Cindy:“ As an ambassador, I don’t think that speaking a specific language is very important here in Miss Intercontinental or any pageant at all, as long as that woman is a woman of power and grace, commitment, and intelligence, no matter what language she speaks.
“And that woman is actually a woman of style and substance, she can win any pageant or any endeavour that she gets into.
“I have learned here actually, in Miss Intercontinental, that a woman should possess power of substance and I believe I am that woman because that is the essence of a modern day Miss Intercontinental.”
"Sounds familiar" ang tanong kay Cindy sa 49th Miss Intercontinental dahil wala itong ipinagkaiba sa katanungang ipinasagot ng judge na si Nigel Barker kay Janine Tugonon nang sumali ang Pinay beauty queen sa 61st Miss Universe noong December 19, 2012.
Tanong ni Barker: "As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English should be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe? Why or why not?"
Sagot ni Janine: "For me, being Miss Universe is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language. It's being able to influence and inspire other people.
“So whatever language you have, as long as your heart wants to serve and you have a strong mind to show people, then you can be Miss Universe."
Naging first runner-up si Janine sa Miss Universe 2012.
CINDY IN DARNA COSTUME
Si Cindy ang tanging Filipina beauty queen na nakaisip na ipakilala sa isang international beauty pageant ang fictional Filipino comics superheroine na si Darna.
Ang costume ni Darna ang ginamit ni Cindy sa Halloween party ng Miss Intercontinental candidates.
“Ding, ang bato! This is me chaneling my inner Darna for the Miss Intercontinental Halloween Party.
“As most Filipinos very well know, Darna is one of our fictional heroines who has inspired many generations of dreamers like me.
“In today’s times, I encourage girls, young and old, to be like Darna in their own ways. Stand up for something worth fighting for and zoom into the skies with limitless boldness of spirit! Mabuhay ang Filipina ng makabagong henerasyon!” ang caption ni Cindy sa kanyang Darna picture na naka-post sa Instagram post niya.
BINIBINING PILIPINAS CONGRATULATES CINDY
Wildcard finalist si Cindy nang sumali siya sa 57th edition ng Binibining Pilipinas noong July 11, 2021.
Siya ang nagwagi ng Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2021 crown kaya ito ang binanggit ng Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., ang organizer ng Binibining Pilipinas, sa kanilang congratulatory message.
Nakasaad dito: "From wildcard to Miss Intercontinental 2021! Your Cinderella story is truly inspiring. Thank you for raising our flag, Cindy! Good morning, Pilipinas from our new Miss Intercontinental!
“Mrs. Stella Marquez Araneta and BPCI proudly congratulate Cinderella Obeñita for bringing home the second Miss Intercontinental crown to the Philippines.
“From a Binibini who won the hearts of many Filipino fans, she impressed the whole world with her grace and charm through out her pageant performance in Egypt.
“We can’t wait to welcome back our latest international pride here in the country!”