Miss Charm 2024 Rashmita Rasindran from Malaysia (left) and Kayla Carter from the Philippines. Images: Miss Charm/Facebook
Kayla Jean Carter only managed a Top 20 finish in the 2024 Miss Charm pageant held in Vietnam on Saturday evening, Dec. 21, making her the third Filipino contender to miss the final round in a competition in the Southeast Asian communist country this year.
She now joins her fellow The Miss Philippines titleholder Ahtisa Manalo, who finished in the Top 10 of the inaugural Miss Cosmo pageant held in October in Ho Chi Minh City despite higher expectations from fans.
The two ladies both competed in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, which paved the way for their participation in their respective Vietnam-based international competitions.
Manalo was proclaimed as second runner-up in the national search, which earned for her an international pageant assignment. Carter finished in the Top 20 and was later appointed The Miss Philippines-Charm 2024.
Also missing a podium finish in Vietnam was Kirk Bondad, whose 2024 Mister World journey ended in the Top 20 during the competition held in November. This was a shocker for many followers because he was tapped to win by many pageant portals.
Incidentally, the host delegates in the three international competitions garnered higher placements. Bui Thi Xuan Hanh was in the Top 5 of Miss Cosmo, Pham Tuan Ngoc was first runner-up in Mister World, and Nguyen Thi Quynh Nga was second runner-up in Miss Charm.
The 2024 Miss Charm crown went to Malaysia’s Rashmita Rasindran, who bested more than 30 delegates from around the world in the competition held at the Nguyen Du Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.
Filipino contenders had better placements in Vietnam-hosted international competitions last year. Annabelle McDonnell was first runner-up in Miss Charm, while Yllana Marie Aduana was crowned as Miss Earth-Air in the Miss Earth pageant.