SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss International 2013 is Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago

International Beauties: Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago Miss Philippines (center) with First Runner-up Miss Netherlands Nathalie Den Dekker (left) and the Second Runner-up Miss New Zealand Casey Radley--Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall Tokyo Japan

Last night a new Miss International was crowned: Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago, beat out 66 other beauties from all over the world for the coveted beauty title. The Miss International pageant is considered one of the top four "Grand Slam" international beauty contests, alongside Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth.

 International Queen: Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago from the Philippines--Shinagawa Hotel Hall, Tokyo Japan

The new Miss International is 5' 9" (1.75 m) tall 23 year-old Bea Rose Santiago. She was born in Cataingan, Masbate, where she was raised by her grandparents. She is the eldest of the three children. At 15, she and her family moved to Canada. Santiago later became a fashion model and was signed up as the only Filipino for the Elite Model Management. In 2012, Santiago represented the Philippines in the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International and placed in the Top 10.

 Bea Rose Santiago Miss International Philippines and new Miss International 2013

This was the fifth time that the Philippines won the Miss International beauty pageant since its inception in 1960. It was also the third time in a row this year that a Filipina captured an international title in a beauty contest. Earlier, Mutya Datul won the Miss Supranational in Belarus while Megan Lynne Young was crowned Miss World in Bali, Indonesia.

The First Runner-up was Miss Netherlands Nathalie Den Dekker (left, above) and the Second runner-up was Miss New Zealand Casey Radley (right, above). Colombia and Hungary completed the Top 5. Contestants from Brazil, Ecuador, Gibraltar, Iceland, Lithuania, Russia, Puerto Rico, Spain, Thailand and USA were part of the Top 15 semi-finalists. New Zealand won Miss Friendship, Macau was awarded Miss Internet, Lithuania was elected Miss Photogenic and Aruba walked away with the award for Best National Costume.

 Miss International 2013 Contestants--Shinagawa Hotel hall Tokyo Japan

This year's 52nd Annual "Miss International" occurred at the Shinagawa Hotel Hall in Tokyo Japan and was marred with controversy: last year’s Miss International, Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan, was not allowed to attend the finals due to her involvement in a media scandal which includes harassment accusations to powerful people in the business. She was not able to crown her successor.

 This year's winner was crowned by Miss International 2008 Alejandra Andreu of Spain (right)

Miss International 2013 National Costume Highlights:

Miss Indonesia Marisa Sarteki Maladewi

 Miss Netherlands Nathalie den Dekker

 Miss Singapore Jia Min Chew

 Miss USA Andrea Neu

 Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago

 Miss Venezuela Elian Herrera

  National Costume Winner: Miss Aruba Erialda Croes

Miss International 2013 Evening Gown Highlights:

Miss Puerto Rico Ashley Beth Perez (left) wore a coral colored fit-to-flare sheer gown with silver stud-and-sequin detail. Very pretty and good fit.

Miss Spain Araceli Carrilero Martinez (right) wore an ivory gown with solid satin sides and front lace panel detail with a high front neckline. This was a tad "Wedding Gown"-like but a nice gown showing for Miss Spain.

First Runner-up Miss Netherlands Nathalie den Dekker: Nathalie wore a multicolored sequin gown that was quite "Carnival"-meets-Cirque du Soleil-ish

Second Runner-up Miss New Zealand Casey Radley: Casey wore a black one shoulder gown with silver scroll-like details and high side front slit. It was very "Pageant typical" and her side swept hair didn't help.

The Winner Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago: Bea Rose wore a one shoulder red stretch sequined with nude illusion side panel and crystal accents radiating from heavy to light at the sides. The gown was quite sexy, had lots of stage presence and fit her perfectly. The elegant slicked back chignon, delicate makeup and drop earrings finished the look off very well. It reminded me a little of the beautiful one shoulder gown that...

Miriam Quiambao, Miss Philippines 1999, wore at the Miss Universe 1999 pageant when she got First Runner-up

Congratulations to Bea Rose Santiago, the newly-crowned Miss International 2013!