REIGNING Miss World Philippines Krishnah Gravidez has found valuable support amid her involvement in the controversial “Guess the Bill” challenge video, as her national pageant organization declared that it is standing by her.
“The video in question does not reflect Krishnah’s true character or the values that she upholds. What transpired was a lighthearted moment among friends, meant to be shared in private. Unfortunately, it was uploaded without her consent, leading to misunderstandings about her intentions,” the Miss World Philippines Organization (MWPH) said in a statement issued on social media on Thursday evening, Sept. 26.
“[W]e would like to affirm that Krishnah is a person of integrity, compassion, and dedication to her advocacy of ‘Color the World with Kindness.’ Throughout her journey, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to charitable causes and the well-being of others. Her genuine heart for service is evident in the countless initiatives she has supported, and she continues to be an inspiring role model for many Filipinos,” MWPH continued.
In a now-deleted video posted on Tiktok by content creator Emmanuelle Atienza, she, Gravidez, and several other women were playing a game where they are asked to guess the cost of their dinner, and whoever guessed closest to that amount will foot the bill. The beauty queen’s answer was closest to the total bill worth P133,423.99, and she was filmed handing out her credit card.
Atienza took to social media after her post earned the ire of netizens, and explained that the challenge was “just a joke,” and that none of them had to pay for anything because the dinner was shouldered by a sponsor.
Coming to her defense, the MWPH said it recognizes the incident “as an important reminder to always be cautious and mindful of one’s actions, especially in the realm of social media where content can easily be misinterpreted without the proper context.
Krishnah remains committed to learning from this experience and moving forward with greater awareness and responsibility.”
Gravidez, who in July was crowned as the Philippines’ representative in the 72nd Miss World pageant, also addressed the issue on social media, saying she’s taking full responsibility for her actions.
The beauty queen further reiterated her earlier claims that she was a mere invited guest and had no involvement in the choice of venue or the handling of the bill. Nevertheless, she said that she fully understood the “impact the video may have had and the assumptions it has generated.”
“I am truly sorry for any unintended harm, and I promise to be more cautious and reflective in the future, especially with regards to my presence on social media,” Gravidez declared. (Armin P. Adina © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
