Miss Philippines Earth 2nd runner-up Loren Artajos will replace Imelda Schweighart instead of 1st runner-up Kiara Giel Gregorio, pageant organizers announced Wednesday night.

Carousel Productions president Ramon Monzon made the announcement at a party for Miss Earth 2016 winners at the Oakwood Hotel in Pasig City.

Artajos, a nursing graduate from Laoag City, was named Miss Philippines Water in June.

Carousel Productions, the outfit that runs the pageant, earlier said Gregorio would take over for Schweighart, who relinquished her crown on Monday.

• READ: Imelda Schweighart quits as Miss Philippines Earth

But Gregorio, a law student, said she was not sure if she would be able to fulfill Schweighart's remaining obligations because she has a scholarship with the University of Westminster in London.

Gregorio represented the Filipino community in London and was crowned Miss Philippines Air.

The confusion regarding the succession came after Schweighart stepped down following social media backlash caused by her controversial statements.

Schweighart failed to qualify in the top 16 of Miss Earth 2016, which was won by Miss Ecuador's Katherine Espín.

After the pageant, a video of Schweighart bashing the newly crowned Espin circulated online.

She also earlier drew flak for likening President Rodrigo Duterte to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.- With reports from Mario Dumaual, ABS-CBN News