Puerto Rico’s bet Valerie Hernandez Matias was crowned the winner of 2014 Miss International Beauty Pageant held at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old student and model Matias was shocked when her named was called and became emotional when last year’s winner, Bea Rose Santiago from the Philippines, passed the crown to her.
“I feel great, this is an honor for me. This is the second crown for Puerto Rico. [This is] One of the most beautiful experiences I ever had in my life,” she said.
“I appreciate every person in this stage, the other delegates… Oh my god… It’s an amazing experience, I can’t even… I’m sorry,” she added, crying tears of joy.
Meanwhile the second runner-up was Miss Thailand Pinka Kulsoontornrut and the first runner-up was Miss Colombia Zuleika Kiara Suarez Torrenegra.
Other candidates who reached the top 10 and not the top 5 were Argentina’s Josefina José Herrero, Brazil’s Deise Benício, Indonesia’s Elfin Pertiwi Rappa, Mexico’s Vianey Vázquez and Panama’s Aileen Bernal.
First runner-up Ms Suárez, from Colombia, won both the Miss Friendship and the Miss Best Dresser special awards; and Ms. Rappa from Indonesia won Best National Costume. France’s Aurianne Sinacola was awarded Miss Perfect Body.