Katarina Sonja Rodriguez is a stunning 24 year old athlete-turned-model-turned-beauty queen. She finished Philosophy and Business Administration at the De La Salle University. Fans loved her when she represented the Philippines alongside Jodilly Pendre in the second season of Asia’s Next Top Model. She was a runner-up in the said reality show.
In an interview, she mentioned that she has decided to join Bb. Pilipinas as fans and friends would always ask her to enter the pageant world. It was a little later when she realized that she too has gained interest in it and realized that it could be a platform where she can campaign and continue on her advocacy in life. She took to her Instagram account the said advocacy on being healthy and fit which also pushes the #SaveSexy campaign that promotes HIV/AIDS awareness. She once said that “My family has taught me to work hard and well for everything I want and need, and once you have excess, they’d say, you extend a helping hand to those who have less. I have worked hard to have enough for myself and a little more to give back.”
After having been crowned as 2017 Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental, Katarina had to clear the confusion that she is not accepting her crown. She had asked the public to stop making assumptions and said it is not true and that she is sleeping with her Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental crown. For which has led her to excelling in her training up to her representing the Philippines in the recently concluded Miss Intercontinental which was held at the SUNRISE Garden Beach Resort in Hurghada, Egypt.
During the pageant’s finals night, Katarina Rodriguez was declared as Miss Intercontinental Asia and Oceania as she placed third in the online voting of the pageant. So, her plea for support in the photo above that she posted in Instagram resulted positively.
During the Q&A, Katarina was asked as to what is the most important thing she learned in joining Miss Intercontinental. Her answer was “The most important thing that I have learned in joining Miss Intercontinental is an Arabic word named after one of the Sunrise Resorts and that is Meraki. It means to do all things with passion, soul, and creativity. When I heard this word and its definition, it resonated with me until now and I think it will for the rest of my life. Therefore, that is the most important thing I learned while participating at Miss Intercontinental. That is to do all things with soul, passion, and creativity.”
Katarina gracefully accepted ending the pageant as 1st runner-up. I personally think that the experiences, friendships and learning she gained by representing the Philippines has changed her and in her words, she “turned FULLY into a woman”. She actually has a beautiful message of love and congratulations she also posted in her Instagram account for the newly crowned Miss Intercontinental Veronica Salas Vallejo of Mexico.
We can definitely say that Katarina Rodriguez has represented our country so well and although we all wanted her to take home the crown and be the first Filipina to win the title, she is still a queen.