This picture taken on December 17, 2013 shows Bea Rose Santiago of the Philippines in a swim suit posing on the stage during the Miss International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo. (AFP)

Bea Rose Santiago, a Filipina fashion model, was crowned the new Miss International 2013 in a beauty pageant ceremony held Tuesday in Tokyo.

“I’m going to use the crown and my title to help the victims of super-typhoon Haiyan, which raked the Phillipines last month, leaving nearly 8,000 people dead or missing,” said the 23-year-old beauty queen.

Newly-crowned Miss International Bea Rose Santiago of Philippines, left, is congratulated by former Miss International 2008 Alejandra Andreu of Spain during the final of the Miss International 2013 Beauty Pageant in Tokyo Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. (AP)

The beauty pageant, however, was marred by allegations made by the absent former title-holder Ikumi Yoshimatsu. She claimed the organizers have prevented her from participating after her battle with the management agencies in Japan.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)