Facts about Hannah Arnold, Binibing Pilipinas International 2021
A new batch of Filipina beauty queens is set to represent the Philippines again on the world’s stage after Binibining Pilipinas held its 2021 pageant last 11th July at the Araneta Coliseum. Six queens emerged with new titles, including Hannah Arnold, the queen from Masbate who won the highest crown of the night, the Binibining Pilipinas International 2021.
To get to know more about Arnold, we’ve listed down below 8 facts about her, from her childhood days to her hobbies.
1. Arnold bagged the highest Binibining Pilipinas crown on her second try
Image credit: Binibining Pilipinas
Before she bagged the highest crown at the Binibing Pilipinas 2021 pageant, Arnold had joined the pageant prior to her crowning. Like her predecessors such as Pia Wurtzbach, who’s also said to be her look-alike, she didn’t make it as one of the winners on her first try, landing as a finalist on the Top 25 at the Binibining Pilipinas 2019.
Image credit: Binibining Pilipinas
But at this year’s pageant, Arnold bested 33 other candidates. She was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2021 alongside other queens: Cavite’s Samantha Panlilio, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Cagayan de Oro’s Cinderella Faye Obeñita, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental, Batangas’s Maureen Montagne, Binibining Pilipinas Globe, Eastern Samar’s Gabrielle Basiano, Binibining Pilipinas 1st Runner up, and Valenzuela’s Meiji Cruz, Binibining Pilipinas 2nd Runner-up. Arnold also won a Jag Denim Queen title as a special award.
At the question and answer portion of the pageant, she was asked by journalist Pinky Webb about whether or not freedom of speech exists in the Philippines nowadays. “Given the reach and power of social media, do you believe that genuine freedom of speech exists in the Philippines nowadays? Why or why not?” Webb asked.
Arnold responded with grace under time pressure that “First of all, freedom of speech is a basic human right that we all must remember. It is important for a democracy. With our upcoming election, we definitely need freedom of speech. For example, on Twitter, we are limited to a few characters, and what I have seen in these tweets is powerful. That has helped me think about who I’d like to vote for in the upcoming elections.”
2. She is a Filipino-Australian who hails from Masbate
Image credit: @arnoldhan_
The new Binibining Pilipinas International, who is of Filipino-Australian descent, comes from the Bicol Region in Masbate, her mom’s hometown. Before she moved to Australia to pursue her studies, she had actually been a beauty queen already when she was hailed Baby Queen of San Fernando, Masbate in 2002.
Image credit: @arnoldhan_
She recounted her early pageant days on Instagram, referring to a photo in which she was wearing a dress and a crown as a child: “The picture above is from 2002 when I was Baby Queen of Masbate. I remember returning back to school in Australia feeling like Mia in Princess Diaries, keeping a secret from my fellow students that I am really a queen in another country 😂. From that moment I knew I wanted to move to the Philippines when I was older, and I still can’t believe I’m here living out my dreams,” she wrote.
Indeed, her crowning in Masbate was a sign of things to come!
3. Arnold has a degree in Applied Science in Forensic Studies from the University of Canberra
Image adapted from: @arnoldhan_, @arnoldhan_
Arnold isn’t only a queen on beauty pageants, but she’s also a lady of science. Holding a degree in Bachelor of Applied Science in Forensic Studies from the University of Canberra, she can analyze pieces of evidence from crime scenes!
Through her degree, she also wants to encourage students to become scientists, as she said during the Binibining Pilipinas 2021 pageant, and to help underprivileged people. “As a Graduate of Applied Science in Forensic Studies, I hoped to one day be the individual to show up at a crime scene, becoming the voice for the voiceless,” she wrote on Instagram.
4. She’s been representing the Philippines back in her pageant days in the Land Down Under
Image credit: @arnoldhan_
Even while she was growing up in Australia, she took pride in her Filipino roots by representing the country in beauty pageants such as Miss Philippines-Australia, a national pageant for Filipino-Australian women from all over the Land Down Under.
In 2014, she won 1st Runner-Up at the said pageant, while Glyssa Perez won the crown as Miss Philippines-Australia 2014.
5. She was a former ballerina
Image credit: @arnoldhan_, @arnoldhan_
True to her regal status, Arnold had been a ballerina for 10 years before she focused on her studies.
Her days as a ballet dancer were documented on her Instagram post: “Here is a [6-year-old] girl who danced in her spare time because she didn’t like sport, who wrote in her diaries that she wanted to own her own ballet school one day and was able to comfortably wear pretty costumes in her community. She continued to dance for 10 years until she decided to focus on her studies,” she said.
6. She’s been helping students in Masbate as part of her advocacy
Image credit: @arnoldhan_
Aside from promoting science and addressing women’s issues, Arnold is also keen on being an advocate for education.
For instance, she helped bring school supplies to students of Daplian Elementary School in San Fernando, Masbate when their families were affected by Covid-19 in 2020.
7. She joined pageants because she wants to help fellow Filipinos
Image credit: @arnoldhan_
Arnold believes that being a beauty queen is more than just having physical looks. She joined pageants because it’s a platform where she can also empower others, especially her fellow Filipinos.
“’Kasi po, gusto ko po makatulong sa kapwa ko Filipino. (Because I want to help fellow Filipinos.)’ I joined because of the values BPCI stands for and the empowering platform it gives us candidates. We go #BeyondBeauty because we can be role models for all generations and communities, we get to voice and strengthen our advocacies and we become very involved with local charities,” she said.
Things to know about Hannah Arnold
From her stunning physique to her advocacies to her love of country, Hannah Arnold is indeed set to be a contender for the Miss International 2021 pageant in Japan. We’re so excited to see her shine on the world’s stage.
All the best to Hannah Arnold and cheers to her new journey as a beauty queen!
Also check out:
- Things to know about Rabiya Mateo
- Things to know about Gazini Ganados
- Little-known Miss Universe facts
Cover image adapted from: @arnoldhan_, Binibining Pilipinas, @arnoldhan_
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