Philippines' Karla Manjam wins Miss Uniworld 2023 in Malaysia


Karla Manjam of the Philippines bested over 20 other competitors to win the Miss Uniworld 2023 pageant held last Sunday, June 11 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 17-year-old Filipino-Puerto Rican beauty from Laguna became the first representative from her country to win the international title. She also bagged the Best Catwalk award.

Latvia's Anastasija Aleksejevska was named first runner-up while Makuna Amashukeli of Georgia, Viktoria Lizo of Germany, and Sezen Destina of Turkey were announced the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively.

Prior to her historic win for her country, the new Miss Uniworld was officially proclaimed as Miss Uniworld Philippines late last month.

"She embodies the resilience and spirit of the Filipino and Puerto Rican cultures, beautifully blending the richness of her heritage into her unique identity. Her captivating presence is a testament to the unity and diversity that define our nation," reads an official announcement on social media.

Karla succeeds last year's Miss Uniworld from Iran, Niousha Roohbakhsh, and received the newly unveiled "Queen of Kilimanjaro" crown valued at USD 400,000 by official jeweler Amee Philips.

"Each day I am thankful for nights that turned into mornings, friends that turned into family, and dreams that turned into reality," she shared online with photos from her crowning moment.

Photos: Miss Uniworld, Karla Manjam / Instagram

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