MANILA, Philippines –  Over 34.6 million Miss Universe-related tweets were exchanged during the coronation, marking the highest volume of tweets for a live entertainment event, according to social networking service Twitter.

Filipinos also tweeted their support for Maxine Medina (@maxinemedina) even after her bid came to a close in the Top 6. These included former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach’s tweet, which garnered nearly 30,000 likes: “So proud of Maxine. She represented the Philippines so well. And guys, she wanted it just as much as you did. Let’s not bash our kababayan.”

Meanwhile, most of the 86 candidates started to fly back to their countries yesterday. They said they will be bringing home with them a lot of memories even if they didn’t win the title.

Newly crowned Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere of France is set to leave Manila today.

Miss Sierra Leone, a sentimental favorite of pageant fans being her country’s first-ever bet, said, “I’m so thankful to Filipinos, I appreciate them from the bottom of my heart. The Filipino designers did a lot of things for me, not just providing me with my gowns. I was surprised by the extent of the things that they did for me. It makes me feel that I’ve really done something to be appreciated this much. Thank you to all the Filipino people.”

Miss Chile won’t forget the island getaways and food trip during their three-week stay. “When I go back to Chile, I would recommend to everyone that they have to come here. They have to see Cebu, Boracay, Palawan… I am in love with the Philippines, I’m in love with the pandesal, the mangoes from Cebu, the ensaymada, oh my god. I was supposed to be on a diet here but I couldn’t stop eating Filipino food.”

Miss Cayman Islands now understands why there’s a big Filipino community in her country. “We have a lot of Filipinos in Cayman Islands, they make up 10 percent of the population. Since you’re from the other side of the world, you always wonder why the people of the Philippines mesh so well with the people from the Cayman Islands, and it’s because they’re a lot like us. Very warm and friendly. I think that’s what I’m going to take back to Cayman Islands.”

Miss Georgia, on the other hand, vowed to return to the Philippines. “Actually, I feel that I’m half-Filipino. Because your hospitality, your city, your country make me feel that I’m home, really. I would love to come back.”

IMAGE: Filipinos also tweeted their support for Maxine Medina (@maxinemedina) even after her bid came to a close in the Top 6. These included former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach’s tweet, which garnered nearly 30,000 likes: “So proud of Maxine. She represented the Philippines so well. And guys, she wanted it just as much as you did. Let’s not bash our kababayan.” File photo

For more on this story go to: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/02/01/1667909/34.6-m-tweets-during-miss-u-pageant