Who is Cinderella Faye Obeñita, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2021?

JUL 16, 2021 12:10 PM PHT

YSA ABAD

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

The 25-year-old beauty queen was a wildcard finalist who also won the hearts of many pageant fans

Cinderella Faye Obeñita is definitely making a mark.

In her first national pageant, but Cindy was already one of the early crowd favorites. The 25-year-old beauty queen from Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, earned the highest number of fan votes, which warranted her the wildcard 13th spot for the semifinals.

During the question and answer portion, Cindy said she would rather be a woman “who understands the problems of the Philippines” and be the one to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable” when asked about the importance of luxury items for a woman amid a struggling economy triggered by the pandemic.

Viewers were impressed by her answer, saying that she’s truly deserving of the People’s Choice Award.

Proud Mindanaoan

Cindy graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Mass Communication from Liceo de Cagayan University. As a student journalist, she advocates for press freedom.

She currently works as a tourism operations officer of the provincial government of Misamis Oriental. On the side, she is also an events host, model, and brand endorser.

“I have always been so proud of my city of golden friendship… I live up to the everyday mission of our office to raise tourism potentials of our local destinations,” she said in her introduction video.

In one of her Instagram posts, Cindy shared her goal in representing Mindanao to the national pageant. “MindaNOW! This is our battle cry this year… In the past 10 years, no Mindanaoan has won the elusive Miss International crown, the highest alpha pageant in the longest season of Binibining Pilipinas in history.”

Her national costume, Belleza del Oro, was a representation of her hometown’s unique culture and tradition. “I take immense pride here at the Binibining Pilipinas to make my beloved Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, shine like gold in the eyes of the world,” she wrote in the caption.

Cindy also coined the phrase “ExploreMisOrMore” to showcase the beauty of Misamis Oriental in a tourism campaign.

Life with meaning

The core of Cindy’s activism is women empowerment. “I feel I am destined to be on the Bb. Pilipinas stage not only for the glitz and glamour but also for its influence in making Filipino women relevant in today’s modern world.”

In one of her Instagram posts, Cindy wrote, “Let us continue to assert that genuine women empowerment is not measured by the number of women in power - in government or in the corporate world - but on the quality by which we address the needs of women and the most vulnerable in society.”

As an advocate for cervical cancer prevention, Cindy founded Crown CDO: A Cervical Awareness and Prevention Circle. “I am using this platform, my exposure in pageantry, and even my position in government to have more empowered women be aware of their own bodies and be included in the conversation of health and well-being,” she said.

Cindy added, “I am a Binibini by touching lives with my influence and simple acts of charity in the spirit of advocacy.” Aside from Crown CDO, Cindy also helped in launching #KapitPinas, an online and offline nationwide fundraising campaign for the victims of Typhoon Quinta and Rolly.

Listing Mother Teresa and Kobe Bryant as her role models, Cindy hopes to be an inspiration and good influence to others. “I always fear living life without meaning,” she said.

Cindy is set to represent the Philippines in the Miss Intercontinental pageant happening later this year. If she wins, she will be the second Filipina titleholder after Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman. – Rappler.com

https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/things-to-know-cinderella-faye-obenita