The Journey of Karla Paula Henry

Karla Paula Ginteroy Henry (born May 23, 1986 in Limay, Bataan, Philippines) is a Filipino-Canadian beauty pageant titleholder. She was raised by her grandparents until the age of four when her family went to reside in Tsawwassen, Canada until she was 14. Even then, she would visit the Philippines every summer and Christmas. Upon her family’s return to the Philippines, they first lived in Albay, Bicol for a year before residing permanently in Cebu.

Henry first foray into the world of beauty pageants was as a student representing her school for Miss Intramurals and Miss Milo Olympics. She joined her first professional beauty contest at age 17 in October 2003. However, her next foray would not be until 2006 when she placed second runner-up in the Miss Cebu pageant.

She gained attention when she joined the Binibining Pilipinas 2008. Although considered as a top favorite, she was unplaced in the finals.

Henry again competed at the Miss Philippines Earth pageant representing Cebu City. She made it to the initial cut of ten semi-finalists and competed in the traditional swimsuit, interview, and evening gown competitions. She advanced to the top six in the final question and answer round. At the conclusion of the pageant, she was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2008 by the outgoing titleholder Jeanne Angeles Harn.

Henry was chosen Miss Philippines-Earth 2008 on May 11, 2008, besting 40 contestants from all over the Philippines and Filipino communities abroad. On the pageant night, contestants were asked how they would explain the degradation of nature to simple folk. Henry gave the winning answer: “I will educate them by giving them an example; through my example I will give nature the best of me.” The pageant was held at the Crowne Plaza Galleria in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City.

In the final competition of the eighth edition of the international beauty pageant Miss Earth, which was held at Clark Expo in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines on November 9, 2008, Henry was announced as one of sixteen semi-finalists who would move forward to compete for the title. She achieved one of the eight highest scores in the swimsuit competition for her stage chops, which advanced her as one of the top eight finalists to participate in the evening gown competition. She strutted a yellow-green evening gown with a high middle slit laden with rainbow-colored beads and sequins along the bodice. She then pulled away for the lead as she articulated in her video interview about going around public schools teaching about the environment as she cited that lack of knowledge about environmental concerns is a key issue in her country, in which she advanced to the top four.

In the last round, the court of four were asked one question, “What would you tell US president-elect Barack Obama about the state of the global environment if ever you were to meet him?” She used the shopworn cliché “I believe the children are our future” but gave a fresh new context to that line that added to her advantage when she answered, “Environmental knowledge is something that all of us must share, but most importantly we must teach the youth that this is something that we should instill in them so that in the near future they will be the ones to take care of our mother Earth.” She placed the highest score in the interview round and at the conclusion of the competition, she was crowned Miss Earth.

She also won five special major and minor awards: Miss Earth Designers Award, Miss Photogenic, Eagle Express Award, Miss Fontana, Pasigandahan Awards (for Manila).