Banker Maria Katrina Llegado, 21, was crowned Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2019 on September 15, 2019. She succeeded Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2018 Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez, 23, of Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Born on November 8, 1997 in Manila, Philippines, Llegado graduated cum laude from De La Salle University in Manila in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management. She has been working as a financial reporting analyst at Citi since April 2018.

On April 23, 2018, Llegado competed in Mutya ng Taguig 2018 and finished as a finalist. Representing Taguig City, Metro Manila, Llegado competed against 39 other candidates in Miss World Philippines 2019.

The five other newly crowned queens were Miss World Philippines 2019 Michelle Marquez Dee, 24, of Makati City, Metro Manila, Miss Eco Philippines 2019 Kelley Day, 22, of Tarlac City, Tarlac, Miss Multinational Philippines Isabelle de Leon , 25,of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Miss Tourism Philippines 2019 Glyssa Leiann Perez, 24, of Bohol and Miss Teen Eco International Philippines 2019 Vanessa-Mae Walters. Shannon Christie Kerver, 22, of Nueva Ecija and Kristi Celyn “Casie” Banks, 24, of Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila were the respective first and second runners-up.

Aside from the Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2019 title, Llegado also won two special awards namely Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit, and one sponsor award, which was Miss Cabalen. During the competition, she wore a gown by Pablo Mendez.

Llegado made it to the Top 22 by winning one of the seven fast track events. She was the winner of the Top Model challenge, which was sponsored by GCOX.

Miss World Philippines 2019 is the ninth edition of the national beauty pageant. The coronation night took place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

On November 9, 2019, Llegado will represent the Philippines in the 29th edition of Reina Hispanoamericana. Reigning Reina Hispanoamericana 2018 Nariman Battikha, 24, of Venezuela will crown her successor at the at the Salon Siriono Fexpocruz in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

If Llegado wins, she will become the second Reina Hispanoamericana titleholder from the Philippines. The first one was Winwyn Marquez, 27, who was crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 on November 5, 2017.

Marquez and Miss World 2017 quarterfinalist Laura Lehman, 25, hosted the Miss World Philippines 2019 coronation night along with actors Victor Basa, 34, and Edgar Allan Guzman, 30. “Malamaya” star Sunshine Cruz, 42, and Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, 44, were among the judges.

Meet all the 40 official candidates of Miss World Philippines 2019 here: