Gabrielle Basiano

MANILA, Philippines — The “Best in Swimsuit” and “Best in Gown” awards are two of the most coveted special distinctions in any beauty pageant, ...

“I had huge trust in my designers, and the pressure [to get Best in Gown again] was really on them. Pilipinas this year,” said Basiano, who is aiming to score a back-to-back win for the Philippines in the Miss Intercontinental pageant this year and inherit the global crown from Filipino queen Cinderella Faye Obeñita in Egypt next month. “I will just do the same thing, or even more than what I showed in Bb. She hopes to duplicate not only what Catriona accomplished on the Bb. She was proclaimed first runner-up and also took home the Best in Gown award that year. Getting the Best in Gown award a second time was not that much surprising for her, though.