Mrs Tourism Ambassador Universe Marivel Kawajiri at her national competition held in Japan in February. - PDI
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Marivel Canillo Kawajiri, a Filipino homemaker living in Japan, was crowned Mrs Tourism Ambassador Universe at the culmination of the global tilt’s fifth edition held in Sabah, Malaysia, on Monday (June 5).
Kawajiri, who is based in the city of Kagoshima in southwestern Japan, represented Philippines in the international pageant. The coronation show was held at the Ming Garden Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, and had five divisions—Mrs, Miss, Mister, Princess, and Prince.
She succeeded last year’s main winner, Aida Patana from the Philippines, who unfortunately was not able to attend the ceremonies to officially crown her successor.
The Filipino queen flew to India to accompany her daughter Sheila, who will represent the country in the inaugural edition of the Miss Icon World pageant on June 8.
The new winner was accompanied by her national director, Myla Villagonzalo-Tsutaichi, another Japan-based Filipino beauty queen who was crowned Mrs Tourism Ambassador International in 2020, also in Malaysia, and now organiser of the Mrs Tourism Ambassador International Japan pageant.
Kawajiri earned the right to represent Japan in the 2023 Mrs Tourism Ambassador Universe International pageant when she won the top title in the inaugural staging of the Mrs Tourism Ambassador International Japan competition held in Tokyo in February.
She amassed four special awards in the national contest — Best in Talent, Best in Filipiniana, Mrs Humanity, and Myk’s Coffee Ambassador.
During the Malaysia tilt, Kawajiri was also proclaimed as Mrs Intellectual, Mrs Model Culture, and Best in Makeup. Her fellow Japanese contender, Tokyo-based Filipino gym trainer Wannie Ono, received the Best in Gown and Mrs Congeniality awards.
Both Kawajiri and Ono were fielded by Tsutaichi in the Malaysia-based international competition organised by Baq Arfha, founder of the MMMTAU organisation. A total of 47 delegates competed in all five divisions of the recently-concluded pageant.
Before heading to Malaysia for the 2023 Mrs Tourism Ambassador Universe International competition, Tsutaichi brought Kawajiri and Ono to the Philippines to conduct an outreach programme with the nonprofit organisation God’s Angel Little Miracle.
Kawajiri, who will turn 48 in July, said in an earlier event that she has prayed to God to give her a mission so she can help others born in poverty like she was. She is now a community leader, and also helps in the family’s moringa (malunggay) business.
