Kelley Day bags Miss Eco International 1st Runner-up
PH-bet Kelley Day bagged First Runner-Up at the recently concluded Miss Eco International pageant held in Egypt on Easter Sunday, April 4.
During the competition, it was South Africa's Gizzelle Mandy Uys who won the title, with Venezuela, United States, and Costa Rica following the Filipina beauty queen.
During the question and answer portion, Kelley was asked how would she promote safety and harmony in schools where violence is prevalent.
She answered, “This is a really serious topic, and I'm really passionate about our generation to come because they are the most important and they are the ones who are gonna fix the mess that we have made in the environment and with violence too.
“So when a child goes to school, they must feel safe when they are away from their family, and I can't imagine if I went to school feeling scared and I've seen footage of what has been happening in school. It truly breaks my heart.
“Unfortunately, as the world is going through a lot of changes right now there is violence and the best thing we can do right now is improve the security of the school.
“There has to be things like security checks or metal detectors because that's all we can do right now and share the word.
“As I'm standing here on the stage I have the opportunity to tell anyone that is planning to do something to children, to stop. Look after our generation, please. Thank you.”
Watch the full coronation night here:
Post-coronation, Kelley shared how grateful she is for all the love and support she's gotten from the country and hope that she has made everyone proud of her journey.
“I am really happy and just hope that the Philippines is proud. I had such an amazing experience with all of these girls, so thank you to the Philippines for putting me here and I couldn't have done it without you,” she told the beauty pageant website Missosology.
“Honestly, South Africa is so deserving and she's been extremely hard working throughout the competition.
“I am really happy na siya ang nanalo as well. Honestly, so many girls here deserve it and I'm so happy to be in second place.”
Kelley was supposed to compete in the Miss Eco International 2019 last year, but due to the pandemic, the beauty pageant was postponed.
Earlier in the pageant, the 24-year-old Tarlac native bagged the Best in National Costume as she wore a stunning Maria Clara-inspired dress created for her by Filipino designer Louis Pangilinan.
Take a look at her Miss Eco International journey in this gallery.