Cum laude candidates in Bb. Pilipinas 2018 slay at press presentation

There are 40 candidates and only 6 crowns. The competition only gets tougher every year, but this year's roster of beauty queens have much to offer.

At the press presentation on Wednesday, the ladies impressed in their swimwear — but awed even more with their achievements.

There's Binibini No. 4 Ana Patricia Asturias who built a café in Tacloban using the debris left behind by Supertyphoon Yolanda. There's Binibini No. 9 Agatha Romeo, a civil engineer, and Binibini No. 40 Angelie Aubrey Asunscion, a mechanical engineer.

One of the favorites, Binibini No. 20 Catriona Gray, already has experience representing the country on the international stage as she was crowned Miss World Philippines in 2016.

Adding to this impressive list are 6 women who graduated cum laude — something that perhaps gives them an advantage now that pageants have shifted to focus on how well candidates to in behind-the-stage interviews.

Check them out!

There are 6 crowns and 6 candidates who graduated cum laude. Coincidence? — Aya Tantiangco, GMA News