'No more pageants for me,' Sandra Lemonon tells fans

Sandra Lemonon, the beauty queen who made controversial statements after the 2020 Miss Universe Philippines competition, said she will no longer be joining pageants.

She made the remark as she replied to a netizen’s comment on Instagram suggesting she could join Miss Earth.

“No more pageants for me love but thank you,” Sandra wrote.

Another commenter urged her not to give up with an inspiring message, saying, “We never got to cheer for you in the big arena. Take all the time you need, but then finish what you started. Don’t let anyone dim your light and your kind spirit.”

Sandra wrote an emotional reply, saying: “Love, don’t make me cry of joy."

“People like you are the reason why I love the good sides of pageantry. You are kind-hearted and pure. Stay like this forever,” she added.

Sandra also expressed optimism over her future plans outside the pageant arena.

“Maybe I shall not be in a pageant arena but I am sure I am on my own path & all the hardships/blessings that lead me to where I am today will help me be where I need to be with you by my side. I will never have a dim light in my heart, I promise,” she said.

Lemonon finished her stint in the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 as one of the Top 16, while Iloilo representative Rabiya Mateo was crowned the winner.

The beauty queen who represented Taguig sparked controversy during the competition after posting a series of cryptic Instagram stories seeking “justice” and threatening to “spill the tea.”

Sandra, who had yet to spill the so-called tea, later claimed she received death threats after airing her insinuations about the competition. —Margaret Claire Layug/JCB, GMA News