Queen of Aklan 13 candidates named

KALIBO, Aklan- The Queen of Aklan Organization has officially named 13 candidates to compete in this year’s pageant.

The said pageant, composed of gays and trans community is centered on HIV/AIDS advocacy. The pageant was founded in 2017 by the Butterfly Brigade, now known as the Queen of Aklan Organization.

The finalists this year were:
1. MJ Arsolega, Kalibo
2. Daniella Isabella Laurente Mathews, Numancia
3. Devine Pogoy, Malay
4. Ecile Genit, Boracay
5. Mady Nandres, Madalag
6. Samantha Quimpo, Libacao
7. Kenjiro Briones, New Washington
8. Daryl Jaymes Vicente Patricio, Buruanga
9. Ezra Eism, Numancia
10. JV Tumaca, Ibajay
11. Valerie Gascon, Numancia
12. Ashleigh Claire Cipriano, New Washington
13.Clara Tan, Malay

Part of their preparation includes a seminar with the Provincial Health Office orienting them about the current situation of HIV/AIDS cases in the province.

The organizers said that the queens of the previous pageant were as follows:

2017 – 𝐎𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 from Altavas, a seasoned beauty queen whose last pageant was 20 years ago when she won the QoA crown, the oldest queen being crowned at 4/6/2018 – 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 of Malay, a public servant and a beauty queen during her younger years, he is a father of 3 beautiful kids
2019 – 𝐌𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨 from Kalibo, make up artist and fashion designer, QoA was the only beauty pageant she ever joined, the longest reigning queen as she was able to hold the title for 2 years dye to the pandemic. 2022 – 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 of Numancia, a registered medical technologist, a staunch HIV-AIDS advocate having been involved in the HIV program as volunteer peer educator years prior joining QoA
The coronation of this year’s pageant will be held sometime in December 2023 as part of the province’s commemoration of World AIDS Day.