Samantha Bernardo (©Miss Grand International)

Representing the Philippines, Samantha Bernardo, 27, almost won Miss Grand International 2020. She was first runner-up.

Bernardo is a beauty pageant veteran in the Philippines. She competed in Binibining Pilipinas in 2018 and in 2019 and was second runner-up in both editions.

For the 2020 edition of Bb. Pilipinas, Bernardo was originally a candidate. Before the coronation night, she was appointed as Miss Grand Philippines 2020.

It was Abena Appiah, 27, of the United States who won the title. She is the first woman crowned in a major international beauty pageant amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021.

Ivana Batchelor, 22, of Guatemala was second runner-up. Aurra Kharishma, 20, of Indonesia was third runner-up while Lala Guedes, 27, of Brazil was fourth runner-up.

The Top 5 finalists were asked the same question in the question-and-answer portion. There asked to choose between shutting down the country for the safety of the people knowing that the country’s and its economy will be deeply affected or opening up the country to keep the economy running taking the risk of COVID-19 infections and the consequences.

“I will always choose the people because without its people, a country will never be a country,” Bernardo answered. “We will never be Philippines without Filipinos. You will never be Thailand without Thai so it is a must that we should take care of our people first.”

“I stand here for love and peace and unity because there will always be a solution no matter what our problems in this life and I think if we come together as people, as one united world, then we can have a better place to live in,” Bernardo continued. “I hope after this pandemic COVID-19 happened, we can be a better citizens.”

Hosted by Matthew Deane, the Miss Grand International 2021 coronation night took place at the SHOW DC in Bangkok, Thailand on the evening of March 27, 2021. It is the eighth edition of the international beauty pageant, which made its debut in 2013 and is based in Thailand.

Five former Miss Grand International titleholders served as the judges. They were Janelee Chaparro of Puerto Rico, Daryanne Lees of Cuba, Ariska Putri Pertiwi of Indonesia, Maria Jose Lara of Peru and Clara Sosa of Paraguay, who were crowned in 2013, in 2014, in 2016, in 2017 and in 2018, respectively.

Guedes also won Best in Swimsuit while Angela Yuriar, 19, of Mexico was Best in Evening Gown. Batchelor, Ruri Saji, 25, of Japan and Patcharaporn Chantarapadit of Thailand all won Best in National Costume, marking the first time the award was given to three candidates in the competition.

Chivly Liv, 22, of Cambodia was Country’s Choice of the Year giving her an automatic spot in the Top 20. Jasebel Robert, 25, of Malaysia won the Miss Popular Vote Award, which put her in the Top 10.