Kathleen Paton of Philippines is Miss Eco International 2022
Kathleen Paton has been crowned as Miss Eco International 2022, the second Filipina to win the crown after Cynthia Thomalla in 2018.
Paton bested 40 other candidates who were vying for the Miss Eco International crown in Egypt on March 17 (March 18, Philippine Standard Time).
She was crowned by her predecessor Gizzelle Uys of South Africa.
The 24-year-old beauty queen was followed by her runners-up Belgium, USA, Spain, and Malaysia, respectively.
Paton advanced to the Top 21 after she won the Miss Eco video award. She later made it to the Top 10 after addressing the Philippines’ problem with water pollution.
The Filipina eventually clinched the Miss Eco International crown after answering the final question: “As a titleholder, you’re a public figure. Do you think its important to stay neutral on controversial social issues or to use your own title to promote your own beliefs?”
“We sometimes have to use our voice in a very neutral state of mind because we have a very influential position. But in doing so, we need to use our voice [in order] to motivate others to stand up for what is right. I think that takes a lot of good moral compass,” Paton said.
In her intro video for the environment-based beauty pageant, Paton shared that she’s a “passionate advocate for mental health awareness and conserving the environment.”
Paton also talked about the Philippines being “visited by an average of 20 typhoons and storms a year” due to “our geographical location.”
“That is why my aim as Miss Eco Philippines is to inspire people to join this movement and educate them in saving our planet Earth,” Paton said.
The Filipina-Australian model is no pageant patty after winning the Miss Manila pageant in 2018. She was also crowned Miss Teen International in 2017.
Paton was named as Miss Eco Philippines 2021 in the Miss World Philippines 2021 pageant.