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Miss Grand International founder Nawat Itsaragrisil is back in Manila for the inaugural Reina Filipinas competition.
Miss Grand founder Nawat Itsaragrisil gets bigger role in Miss Universe
The Thai entrepreneur headed straight to rehearsals to witness the final preparations for the pageant, which will be held at 7 p.m. this Friday, August 7, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
Itsaragrisil was joined by Reina Filipinas president Jojo Bragais, who sat as a judge in the first-ever MGI All Stars last May.
Also in Manila for the national pageant are MGI All Stars winner Vanessa Pulgarin as well as Gotchabell Sarunrat Puagpipat, who placed runner-up to the Philippines' Emma Tiglao in last year's Miss Grand International.
The two were given a warm welcome by Tiglao, who also serves as the national director of Reina Filipinas.
Pulgarin and Puagpipat will help pick the three winners of Reina Filipinas, joining the likes of Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco.
A total of 21 candidates, composed of both fresh faces and seasoned beauty queens, are vying for the chance to represent the country in Miss Grand International and MGI All Stars.