Megan Young wins the Miss World 2013 title on September 28, 2013 at the Bali International Convention Center in Indonesia. She is succeeded by 1st Runner Up Marine Lorphelin (France) and 2nd Runner Up Naa Okailey Shooter (Ghana).
This is a huge win for Megan Young and the Philipines, as this makes her the first Filipina to hold the Miss World title. Venezuela holds the most number of Miss World titles at six (6), while India and the United Kingdom comes in second with five (5) title holders each.
Megan Young is 23 years old when she won the title. Like many Filipinos she is of mixed descent, born to a Filipino mother and an American father. Hailing from Olongapo City, Philippines, Megan Young is an actress and television host, known for her role as the villainess Marcela in the Filipino rehash of “Betty La Fea”. As a host, she is known as a VJ (video jockey) for Channel V Philippines.
The young Megan was also named as one of the National Ambassadors for Peace under the “I Am For Peace” movement of Philippine President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III where she actively participates to better the lives of those in need. She is currently taking up film making at the College of Saint Benidle (CSB).
The win comes at an interesting time for the Philippines, whose lawmakers are currently under scrutiny for corruption. The country has also recently just concluded a 3-week siege with militant group MNLF in the south. Even the pageant itself had its share of controversies, the biggest of which involved attempts to disqualify Megan Young from the competition for apparently posing nude/topless for a magazine.
Megan Young and Mutya Johanna Datul set records for the Philippines
Three weeks ago on September 6, 2013 another Filipina, Mutya Johanna Datul, won the prestigious Miss Supranational 2013 and the Miss Supranational Philippines title held in Minsk, Belarus.
These two wins puts a lot of pressure on three other ladies competing for international beauty titles:
- Ariella Arida (Miss Philippines Universe 2013 candidate)
- Bea Rose Santiago (Miss Philippines International 2013 candidate)
- Angelee delos Reyes (Miss Philippines Earth 2013 candidate)
In addition, these two wins place the Philippines at the pinnacle of beauty pageants. The Philippines is now the first and only country so far to win in all five major international beauty pageants including the big four (Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, and Miss Supranational).
The Philipines won international beauty pageants in the following years:
- Miss Universe (2 wins: 1969, 1973)
- Miss International (4 wins: 1964, 1970, 1979, 2005)
- Miss World (2013)
- Miss Earth (2008)
- Miss Supranational (2013)
- Miss Tourism Queen International (2006)
Prior to this candidates from the Philippines has consistently placed at the top ranks, with Miss International having the most number at 28 placements for the Philippines alone.
Miss Philippines Megan Young wins Miss World 2013 videos
In case you missed it, make sure to watch the video of Megan Young’s acceptance speech for the Miss World 2013 title by clicking on the video above. It is a real tearkjerker, and as a Filipino I could not help but be brought to tears when she started speaking in Tagalog.
Also, here’s the Rappler interview by G. Toengi with Megan Young, the newly crowned Miss world queen.
Megan Young truly deserves the title of Miss World 2013. Congratulations and thank you for bringing honor into our country despite the many issues with corruption in the government and the war in the south. Mabuhay ka, Megan!