Representing Puerto Rico, Nellys Pimentel, 21, was crowned Miss Earth 2019 on October 26, 2019. She best 84 other candidates in the 19th edition of the international beauty pageant known for its advocacy for environmental awareness.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pimentel is studying Psychology and pursuing a second course in Marketing. She has one younger sibling and both of their parents are from Dominican Republic.
On May 5, 2019, Pimentel was crowned Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2019 at the Teatro Ambassador in San Juan. She went on to become the first ever Miss Earth from Puerto Rico.
Hosted by James Deakin, 46, the Miss Earth 2019 coronation night took place at the Cove Manila in Okada Manila, Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines. In the final question-and-answer portion, the Top 4 finalists were asked how they could convince the people, including some notable international leaders, who still do not believe in climate change of the seriousness of the problem.
“I would have to say that addressing this issue of people not believing in climate change is more of a matter of lack of education and not only a lack of education but also the ignorance and not wanting to inform themselves of the fact that we are living in a planet that is our biggest home and we have taken advantage of it instead of putting back what it is giving to us,” Pimentel answered. “Making notable leaders and a lot of influencers engage with themselves and become better people is the most important thing to do.”
Shontelle Layne, 34, who is mononymously known as Shontelle, performed two songs during the coronation night. She also served as one of the judges along with Asian Institute of Management president, dean and MVP chair of marketing Dr. Jikyeong Kang, Philippine Educational Theater Association founder Cecile Guidote Alvarez, theater actor Leo Valdez, Carousel Productions executive vice president Lorraine Schuck, ABS-CBN show “G Diaries” host Ernie Lopez and Loreto, Agusan del Sur, Philippines mayor Lorife Magadan-Otaza.
The other newly crowned queens were Miss Earth-Fire 2019 Alisa Manenok, 24, of Belarus and Miss Earth-Water 2019 Klára Vavrušková, 20, of Czech Republic and Miss Earth-Air 2019 Emanii Davis, 25, of the United States. The 85 candidates were grouped intro three namely Water, Air and Fire.
Puerto Rico’s representative belonged to the Water group. She earned the silver medals in the Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit competitions of the group.
Pimentel inherited the crown from Miss Earth 2018 Phuong Khanh Nguyen, 24, of Vietnam. Watch the full Miss Earth 2019 coronation night here:
CONAN Daily 