Reika Ootaka of Japan chooses to be crowned in Philippines
Reika Ootaka could have been crowned as Mrs. Tourism Ambassador 2018 in her native country. But she decided to hold her crowning ceremony in the Philippines where she describes the people as "warm and friendly." During a simple rite held at the Luxent Hotel in Timog, Quezon City last February 11, Reika also launched the 1st annual Mrs. Japan Tourism 2018 contest in which the four winners of the contest will represent Japan in competitions abroad. These pageants are Mrs. Tourism 2018 which will be staged in the City of Dapitan in the Philippines sometime in October; Mrs. International in Singapore in November; Mrs. Global United Pageant in Minnesota, USA, in July; and Mrs. Transcontinental 2018 in Houston, Texas, also in July. Ovette Ricalde, owner of Mrs. Tourism pageants, said that Reika was impressed at the Filipinos who love beauty pageants. "She was amazed at how Filipinos support their beauty queens especially when they compete abroad. That's...