A year after pageant controversy, Samantha Lo says she’s working ‘on being a healthier me’

A year after a controversy that involved travel delays, allegations of wrongdoing, and the eventual loss of a title, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2019 Samantha Lo opened up about the events surrounding her trip to Venezuela for the Miss Grand International pageant.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, August 25, Samantha shared 4 photos, one of which was of herself in a red gown, wearing the Philippine sash.

“I cringe every time I see the first picture because all I can remember is that I hated the person I had let myself become. I was self-entitled, impatient, demanding, and I always wanted more and always wanted it now,” she wrote. 

She said that during that time, the rhinestones on her crown would fall off when she held it. It was “dark-humored foreshadowing,” she mused.

“I spent my last days in Manila snapping at everyone who were just trying to help me, I got profiled as a prostitute and sat my ass in a freezing cold detainment cell for 14 hours, spent my parents’ money to send me to Venezuela, wasted my parents’ money when I didn’t even make the top 25, came home, resigned, didn’t have any backup plans, and fell into a self-pitying depression thinking the world hates me for about 6 months,” she said.

Samantha, a finalist for Century Tuna Superbods 2020, said she eventually “stopped making excuses” and worked on improving herself.

“People can grow and change you just have to put in the work to do so. I’m slowly and steadily working on being a healthier me everyday, putting in the work that needs to be done and thinking of ways I can continue to improve and be better,” she said.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CET3D0JFpet/

In October 2019, pageant fans got worried after Samantha failed to appear in the preliminary activities of the Miss Grand International pageant. Reports surfaced that she was held at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris due to issues with her travel documents.

She eventually showed up in Venezuela to compete but failed to make it to the semifinals.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc (BPCI) confirmed that Samantha got detained due to issues with her travel documents and was sent home.  

In November 2019, Samantha announced she had resigned from her title. In January, Bb Pilipinas announced that Aya Abesamis, who was 1st runner-up, had assumed the title. – Rappler.com