Mutya it Kalibo Ati-atihan Best in Swimsuit named

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY - Caren Retamar Braun won the swimsuit competition of the 2011 Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan held on Saturday evening in the island of Boracay.

At 17, 5-foot-6 Braun's physical attributes bested 11 other young and beautiful candidates for the swimsuit event at the poolside of Regency Resort Boracay.

Braun is a native of New Washington, Aklan and a student of Garcia College of Technology. She is the younger sister of Michelle Martha Braun, the 2009 Miss Earth Philippines Air.

The swimsuit competition, organized by the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) is one of the preliminaries of the much-awaited pageant and coronation night on January 5, 2011 at the Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports Complex in Kalibo, Aklan.

At the Regency Lagoon poolside, the 12 candidates also elegantly staged a fashion show of the famous pina fabrics by Aklan's respected designers. After the fashion show, the lovely candidates strutted their skimpy black swimsuits before a distinguished board of judges headed by Mark Kirk, general manager of Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa.

The affair was also graced by resort owners and stakeholders of Boracay, Kalibo mayor William Lachica, Kalibo Vice mayor Madeleine Regalado and the barangay captains of the capital town of Kalibo.

Prior to the coronation night next month, the beauties will compete in the talent night at the historic Kalibo Pastrana Park on December 23.