Janine Marie Tugonon wins Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2012

Janine Marie Tugonon was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2012 in the pageant night held on April 15th at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. She will be the country’s representative in the Miss Universe 2012 pageant to be held in December.

Janine was last year’s 1st runner-up, and she joined this year’s pageant to snatch one of the crowns. Luckily, she got the highest honor of being Bb. Pilipinas-Universe.

Another contestant from last year was Mary Jean Lastimosa who was last year’s 2nd runner-up. She, though, despite being part of the top 12, didn’t even land a place in the top 5 this year.

Other winners who were crowned were Katrina Jayne Dimaranan as Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism and Nicole Schmitz as Bb. Pilipinas-International. 1st runner-up went to Elaine Kay Moll and Annalie Forbes was awarded 2nd runner-up.

The pageant was hosted by Xian Lim, Iza Calzado, Georgina Wilson and Venus Raj. The panel of judges include popular actor Richard Gomez, Azkals star striker Phil Younghusband, and Riza Hontiveros among others.

Other contestants who became part of the top 12 were Mary Jean Lastimosa, Patricia Lae Ejercitado, Karen Juanita Gallman, Sherlyn Gonzales, Liezl Alcantara, Angelee Claudett delos Reyes and Gina Joy Howell.

Special Awards:

• Best in Long Gown – Angelee Claudett delos Reyes
• Best in Talent – Katrina Jayne Dimaranan
• Miss Photogenic – Karen Gallman
• Miss Avon – Mary Jean Lastimosa
• Nestle Fitness Best in Swimsuit – Nicole Schmitz
• Miss Philippine Air Lines (PAL) – Mary Jean Lastimosa
• Miss Friendship – Chloe Zanardi
• Manila Bulletin’s Readers’ Choice Award – Roxanne Tadique
• People’s Choice Award – Giselle Angelica Muñoz

Pageant fans were disappointed with the pageant’s choice of our representative to the prestigious Ms. Universe. She’s pretty, but they don’t think she has what the Ms. Universe pageant is looking for.

Anyway, Bb. Pilipinas still has a long time to prepare Janine for the Ms. U pageant. Let’s just cross our fingers that she may surpass, or even just duplicate, what Venus Raj and Shamcey Supsup has achieved.