Intermittent rains over Cebu on Tuesday did not stop bikini-clad Miss Universe candidates from Vietnam, New Zealand, Thailand, China and the Philippines from meeting gentle giants in waters off Oslob town, ahead of January’s contest. Tourists swimming with the creatures are strongly discouraged by environmental groups, which say feeding whale sharks makes them dependent and also leaves them vulnerable to poaching or injuries from boat propellers. Netizens and environmentalists took to social media their disappointment at the inclusion of the activity in the candidates’ itinerary during their visit, saying that the pageant was supposed to be a platform that promotes environmental protection and social awareness.

Silva, V. (2016, December 15). Miss U bets' interaction with whale sharks enrages environmentalists. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A15.