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Why Samantha Bernardo, not Aya Abesamis, will compete in Miss Grand International

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/02/09/20210209-samanthabernardo-ayaabesamis-ig.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Samantha Bernardo (left) has replaced Aya Abesamis as the Philippines&#x27; representative in the Miss Grand International pageant.<em> Photos from @samanthabernardo__ and @ayabesamis on Instagram</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Even if she is the reigning Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Aya Abesamis will not be representing the Philippines on the global pageant stage this year.</p><p>Instead, <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/02/05/21/samantha-bernardo-named-as-surprise-ph-bet-to-miss-grand-international-2021">Samantha Bernardo</a> will get a shot at the elusive Miss Grand International crown in Bangkok on March 27.</p><p>To finally clear the air surrounding its decision, national pageant organizer Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) released a statement on its Facebook page on Tuesday.</p><p>It explained that Abesamis is unable to compete as she has exceeded the maximum age for Miss Grand International, but maintained that she will still hold her Bb. Pilipinas crown.</p><p>&quot;Our heart goes out to Aya Abesamis for being unable to join MGI 2020 due to age limit, caused by the delay of the MGI contest because of the COVID-19 pandemic,&quot; BPCI said. </p><p>&quot;She remains as our Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2019 and will pass on her crown during [the] Binibining Pilipinas pageant in April,&quot; it added.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/realbbpilipinas/photos/a.163612177029042/3851879208202302" data-width="auto"> </div><p>Abesamis <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/19/20/aya-abesamis-replaces-samantha-lo-as-bb-pilipinas-grand-international-2019">replaced Samantha Lo</a> as Bb. Pilipinas Grand International after the latter prematurely ended her reign in November 2019. </p><p>Meanwhile, BPCI also extended its support for Bernardo in &quot;her quest to win the first MGI crown for the country.&quot;</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pk47AH82CNU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Even if she is the reigning Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Aya Abesamis will not be representing the Philippines on the global pageant stage this year. </p>

Even if she is the reigning Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Aya Abesamis will not be representing the Philippines on the global pageant stage this year.