When former Miss Planet Phillipines, Herlene Budol withdrew from the pageant, she created a path for the victory of Maria Luisa Varela. A chance for history to be made, just when Phillipines was licking her wounds for not making the finals at Miss Universe Pageant 2022/23. Ms. Varela vowed to bring home the crown and she did. She said she would make her country proud. She did. She is a promise keeper.

Choosing her to replace Herlene Budol was controversial. At a point, Miss Planet Phillipines organisers declared they had no candidate to present. So Maria Luisa became popular online. We were not sure she would be in attendance at a point. Her name was all over the social media space. We knew her life history because of the fracas.

The Social Media award was definitely hers to have.