Philippines' Kylie Verzosa wins Miss International 2016

Philippines' Kylie Verzosa is Miss International 2016

The Philippines' Kylie Verzosa won the 56th Miss International crown at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan.  Miss International 2015 Edymar Martínez from Venezuela crowned her successor Kylie Verzosa from the Philippines at the end of the event.

Kylie Verzosa became the sixth Filipina to win the coveted crown after Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Aurora Pijuan, Melanie Marquez, Precious Lara Quigaman and Bea Rose Santiago.

Here's the list of winners:

• Miss International 2016 – Philippines
• 1st runner-up – Australia 
• 2nd runner-up – Indonesia 
• 3rd runner-up – Nicaragua 
• 4th runner-up – USA

The Binibining Pilipinas organization congratulated its winning contestant online:

Thank you @kylieverzosa for bringing joy and pride to the Philippines 🇵🇭 Your hardwork, kind-heart and beauty shines! You are world class, you are Miss International 2016. We are so proud of you! Shine Pinay! #ForThePhilippines #MissInternational2016

Miss International Kylie Verzosa to PH: This is all for you https://t.co/X3KxwwZVDt pic.twitter.com/6HRHfuubtb

— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) October 27, 2016

Kylie guaranteed that Philippines would win its sixth Miss International back in April 2016.

"We'll have six." Congratulations #MissInternational2016 @KylieVerzosa! https://t.co/XNoU66UBSf pic.twitter.com/llIpd8MA8Y

— InterAksyon (@interaksyon) October 27, 2016

Kylie Verzosa's winning speech in the Miss International 2016

Three things come to mind when I think of Miss International – Culture, education and international understanding. These three works together to make the brand of the Miss International beauty pageant relevant to the global community and to our time.

If I become Miss International 2016, I will devote myself to cultural understanding and international understanding because I believe that it is with developing in each of us sensitivity to other cultures that we expand our horizons, tolerate difference, and appreciate diversity.

All these enable us to achieve international understanding. And I believe I'm prepared to take on this responsibility.

Domo arigatou gozaimasu. [Thank you.]

Kylie Verzosa - Miss International 2016 - Overall Performance

Kylie when called as one of the Top 15 finalists #MissInternational2016#ForThePhilippines pic.twitter.com/hncfRbTDKm

— Bb. Pilipinas (@RealBbPilipinas) October 27, 2016

I'll miss you girls! Thank you for everything! ❤️ #missinternational2016

A photo posted by Kylie Verzosa (@kylieverzosa) on Oct 26, 2016 at 7:11am PDT

Here is us trying to dance. 🌹 Tomorrow is the final day. Please pray for me Philippines 🇵🇭 all for you! #missinternational2016 #tokyodomecityhall #visitjapn

A video posted by Kylie Verzosa (@kylieverzosa) on Oct 26, 2016 at 6:54am PDT

The beauty and President Duterte

Today I am the luckiest!!! President Duterte at his state visit to Japan, felt at home with all the Filipinos. Thank you for all your good energy, thank you to everyone who made this possible. #missinternational2016 #rehearsalday 🇯🇵🇵🇭

A photo posted by Kylie Verzosa (@kylieverzosa) on Oct 25, 2016 at 7:12am PDT

Kylie Verzosa was born in Baguio City, Philippines. She graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a bachelor's degree in Business Management and works as a preschool teacher. She is a teacher and an advocate for depression and suicide awareness. Verzosa volunteered for the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, which aims to educate people about depression and suicide. She is also a member of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines.