Leren Mae Bautista won the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International title in the beauty pageant held in Malaysia just before the year ended.
The 23-year-old newest Filipina title holder received the major title after winning over 50 other candidates. The Laguna lass represented the Philippines in the pageant as the reigning Mutya ng Pilipinas – Asia Pacific International.
Bautista’s win gave the Philippines its 6th beauty title as the country dominated pageants in 2015.
She joins the circle of fellow Filipina title holders in 2015, just after Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was dramatically crowned Miss Universe 2015.
The other title holders include Angelia Ong who also made history by giving the country a back-to-back win in Miss Earth, Ann Lorraine Colis – Miss Globe, Cindy Madumma – Miss Scuba International and transgender Trixie Maristela Miss International Queen.
Upon her arrival in the Philippines after being crowned Bautista told media, “Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na nakuha ko ‘yung last crown of the year. Sobrang saya ng feeling. Alam ko lahat ng Pilipino ay proud at para sa inyo lahat ito (I really couldn’t believe I got the Crown of the Year. I feel so happy. I know all Filipinos are proud and this is for all of you.”)
The marketing graduate is the third Philippine representative to win the crown after Sherylle Santarin in 1996 and Raquel Uy in 1999.
