Kagay-anon Ms. USA International off to China for 2009 Pageant

Miss USA International Aileen Jan Valdehueza-Yap left Houston, Texas on Nov. 12 to compete in the 49th Miss International pageant to be held at the Sichuan International Tennis Hotel in Chengdu, Sichuan, China on November 28, 2009.

"They will be there to meet dignitaries, sponsors and do sightseeing," said A.J.´s mother Virginia "Geget" Valdehueza-Yap in an email message from their Houston, Texas residence.

"On the 19th they all fly to Chengdu, China for the big parade on the 21st. They will do press conferences, sponsor events, more sightseeing and then prepare for the actual competition on the 28th. The winners should be announced on that same day."

The pageant was originally scheduled to be held at the The Venetian Macao in Macau on November 7, 2009, but the host committee backed out. Yap will compete with 70 other contestants. Ms. International 2008 Alejandra Andreu of Spain will crown her successor.

"All the contestants will fly back to Beijing on the 29th and then they all leave to their respective countries on the 30th. I understand that the first 3 top winners will stay behind for 2 more weeks," Ms. Yap added.

At the opening of the competition, all participants will dress up in costumes that represent their country.

A.J. will have a contingent of supporters to cheer her during the competition. They include Phil, Jose and Carmen Yap with Cristobal and Mary Sia, (who are all A.J.´s aunts and uncles) of Cagayan de Oro and Gaspar Cruz (A.J.´s pageant coach, gown designer and make-up artist), Nicole Goyler (Gaspar´s assistant and A.J.´s barkada), her brother Nathan and parents Geget and Boy Yap.

The Kagay-anon scion is expected to face stiff competition from North and South America. Among early favorites often cited by online sources include Ms. Canada Chanel Beckehlehner who placed among the top 12 at Miss Universe Canada 2009, Ms. Brazil Rayanne Morais, who was won the Ms Interamericana 2009 crown and was 3rd runner-up at the Ms World University 2007; Ms. Colombia Lina Mosquera who was crowned Ms. Continente 2009 and was among the top 7 at the Reina Hispanoamericana 2009; and Ms. Mexico Anagabriela Espinoza who won the Beach Beauty special award at the Ms. World 2008 pageant.

Surprisingly, Ms. World Philippines Melody Gersbach is one of the early favorites among online bloggers.