Miss Earth Katherine Espín on Imelda Schweighart’s ‘plastic surgery’ accusations

MANILA, Philippines – Newly crowned Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espín has spoken up about former Miss Earth Philippines Imelda Schweighart’s allegations that she had cosmetic surgery done.

A video of Imelda telling fans, “‘Yung nanalo peke ilong, peke baba, peke boobs (The winner has [a] fake nose, fake chin, fake breasts)!” went viral after the pageant. Katherine was the winner, while Imelda failed to make the top 16. 

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Katherine, who hails from Ecuador, reacted to Imelda’s words, saying that they were on good terms throughout the pageant. “I don’t know why she said that because we were friends during the pageant, we were roommates, we shared,” said Katherine.

“Even – I remember that – because sometimes I have nosebleeds due to heat, when it was very hot, so she was very worried about me, she was like, ‘Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?’ She was always there for me.”

Katherine and the other Miss Earth 2016 delegates spent time with each other before coronation night, which was hosted by the Philippines.

Katherine continued: “And I was surprised when she was saying, ‘Oh, she has fake boobs and she has this,’ I was like, ‘How do you even know this?’ Like, you’re saying something that’s not true.

“I’ve never done anything in my face. Never. I’ve never even had plastic surgery in my face, no. So her saying that, well she will have to prove it, I guess.”

“I believe that each one of us has her own decision towards life, whether you want to do something or not. She is a woman; she has dreams. If she decided this, it’s her decision. She’s a grown up already and she knows what best for her,” the Ecuadorian titleholder also told ABS-CBN.

“I really want to dedicate the whole year on working for the environment. I will leave everything else in my life and just focus on my reign as Miss Earth,” she said.

On Monday, October 30, Imelda resigned as Miss Philippines Earth following a reign wracked with controversy.

During the pageant, Imelda asked Miss Earth Austria Kimberly Budinsky if Adolf Hitler was from Austria before saying, “Our president is doing Hitler stuff in the Philippines.” Imelda has since apologized.

Aside from her viral video on cosmetic surgery, Imelda also claimed after the pageant that the Leo Almodal gown Katherine wore during coronation night was supposed to have been for her – an issue Leo himself has since clarified on social media. – Rappler.com