MANILA -- (UPDATED) Model Katarina Rodriguez will be representing the Philippines in the Miss World 2018 pageant in China.

The 26-year-old was named Miss World Philippines 2018 Sunday at the pageant's coronation night at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

In the question and answer portion, Rodriguez was asked how she can change the opinion of people who see beauty pageants as a form of exploitation.

"One should live by example and not by opinion, and I would like to admit I was one of those before until I learned more about what beauty pageants are about. One thing I can tell you is that you may think this is very competitive, but in fact, you'll understand beauty pageants when you know that it is actually not competitive towards the other women, it's competitve towards yourself, and it's all about women empowerment, and you can feel that in this group of girls, each girl knows that we are all individually beautiful," she said.

Completing the winners are Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez (Miss Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas), Maureen Montagne (Miss Eco International Philippines), Kimi Mugford (Miss Multinational Philippines), Chanel Morales (1st Princess) and Pearl Hung (2nd Princess).

Aside from winning the crown, Rodriguez was also named Beach Beauty Challenge winner, Best in Long Gown, Miss Resorts World Manila, and Miss Blue Water Day Spa (along with Maureen Montagne).

The candidates who made it to the Top 10 are:

Kylah Sanchez
Kimi Mugford
Kim De Guzman
Katarina Rodriguez
Denielle Magno
Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez
Marianne Marquez
Maureen Montagne
Pearl Hung
Chanel Morales

Rodriguez first came to prominence in 2014, when she finished in the Top 3 of “Asia’s Next Top Model.”

Three years later, in 2017, she competed in Binibining Pilipinas and scored the opportunity to represent the country in the Miss Intercontinental pageant.

She was only a whisker away from making history as she placed first runner-up in Miss Intercontinental, which was held in Egypt last January.