Maria Alejandra Vengoechea, Andrea Toscano, Sireethorn Leearamwat, Evelyn Namotovu, Harriotte Lane (©Shota Ise)

Alejandra Vengoechea, 21, of Barranquilla, Colombia almost won Miss International 2019. She was named the third runner-up of the 59th edition of the international beauty pageant based in Japan.

Born in Barranquilla on March 12, 1998. She was named second princess in Miss Colombia 2018 on November 12, 2018 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

Hosted by Tetsuya Bessho, Ayako Kisa and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa of the Philippines, the Miss International 2019 coronation night took place at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan on November 12, 2019. Including Leeramwat, 83 candidates competed to become the successor of Miss International Mariem Velazco, 21, of Venezuela.

Crowned as Velasco’s successor was Sireethorn Leearamwat, 25, of Bangkok, Thailand while Andrea Toscano, 20, of Manzanillo, Mexico was the runner-up. Evelyn Namatovu Karonde, 23, of Kampala, Uganda and Harriotte Lane, 18, of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, North East England, United Kingdom were the respective second and fourth runners-up.

Leearamwat was also crowned Miss International Asia 2019. Her fellow continental queens were Miss International Africa 2019 Naomi Nucia Glay, 27, of Monrovia, Liberia, Miss International America 2019 Maria Jose Barbis, 23, of Chiclayo, Peru, Miss International Europe 2019 Elize Joanne de Hong, 25, of Rotterdam, Netherlands and Miss International Oceania 2019 Eunice Raquel Basco, 24, of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Karonde was Best in Swimsuit while Melissa Jimenez, 20, of Maracaibo, Venezuela was Best in Evening Gown and Nguyễn Tường San, 19, of Hanoi, Vietnam was Best National Costume. Noémie Kribo Milne, 21, of Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe was Miss Photogenic.

Jolene Marie Rotinsulu, 23, of Manado, Indonesia was Miss People’s Choice Award and Panasonic Beauty Ambassador. Sarra Brahmi, 25, of Sousse, Tunisia was Miss Visit Japan Tourism.

Miss International was organized by The International Culture Association. Besting 51 other candidates, Stella Márquez, 82, of Colombia won the inaugural pageant, which took place at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on August 12, 1960.

Watch the coronation night of the 59th edition of Miss International here: