Ilongga beauty queen Karen Laurrie Mendoza is hoping to finally take home one of the crowns in this year’s edition of Binibining Pilipinas.
Representing Iloilo City, Mendoza will compete at the pageant’s coronation night on July 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 26-year-old native of Concepcion town in Iloilo province is a professional model and a mental health advocate.
She was crowned Miss Iloilo-Binibining Pilipinas in January 2020. The beauty pageant was part of the celebration of the Dinagyang Festival.
Mendoza made buzz online last year with her answer to the question of judge Boy Abunda.
“When is it okay not to be okay and when is it not okay to be not okay?,” asked Abunda.
Mendoza answered, “You know, sometimes, it’s hard to move on especially if we lost our loved ones, when we’re depressed when we have anxiety, but most of all, when we want to move forward in life. You know, my favorite saying in a movie Disney, ‘Inside Out,’ is embrace your sadness because in embracing your sadness, you will feel happiness afterwards.”
The Ilongga stunner ended her journey in the pageant as one of the top 13 candidates.IMT
