JUST IN: Roxanne Allison Baeyens of Baguio City is crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2020 at the pageant's first-ever virtual coronation this Sunday. #MissPhilippinesEarth2020 pic.twitter.com/t7d3jj3gYm

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 5, 2020

MANILA - (UPDATED) Roxanne Allison Baeyens from Baguio City was named Miss Philippines Earth 2020 during the pageant's first-ever virtual coronation Sunday.

Baeyens will represent the Philippines in the international edition of the pageant.

The 23-year-old Baguio beauty succeeds Janelle Tee, who advanced to the top 20 of the Miss Earth 2019 pageant but failed to take home the crown.

According to her profile at the official Miss Philippines Earth website, Baeyens wants to win the national competition “because all my life, I was a witness of my mom being an environmentalist and I wanted to continue the legacy in my family and be the change I want to see in the world.”

During the final question-and-answer segment, Baeyens and the rest of the top 5 were asked what they think is an important quality that a leader must display in the midst of a pandemic.

“A leader should display having a green thumb because at this point in time, we have a shortage in food supply. It is important to open the eyes of people to embrace having a sustainable life and start urban agriculture at their own homes. After all, a green life is a better life. I hope our leaders will give that to us,” Baeyens said.

She also shared her take on social distancing, wearing of masks and washing of hands more often during a different round of Q&A with the rest of the semi-finalists.

“I think taking proper precaution should still be continued despite us being on GCQ. We are allowed to go back to our jobs not because it is safe but because livelihood is important. Let us not put our guards down. Let’s continue to take caution and let’s work in solidarity to finally put an end to this pandemic,” she said.

The other winners are:

• Miss Earth Philippines Air - Patrixia Santos (Daraga, Albay)
• Miss Earth Philippines Water - Gianna Llanes (Mandaluyong City)
• Miss Earth Philippines Fire - Shane Tormes (Atimonan, Quezon)
• Miss Earth Philippines Eco-Tourism - Ilyssa Marie Mendoza (Filipino community of Melbourne, Australia)

It was the first time the pageant held a virtual coronation due the continuing threat of the coronavirus disease.