Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi. Image: Philippine Daily Inquirer/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines—The Miss Universe Philippines pageant has extended the deadline for applicants to its 2023 competition. Aspirants now have until Feb. 14 to fulfill the requirements.
When the national pageant made a call for applicants in November last year, the deadline was set on Jan. 29. A few days after the original schedule, the organization updated its competition calendar.
Screenings will be conducted face to face on Feb. 13 and 14, with the last day for submission of applications scheduled on Valentine’s Day.
The “final selection” is scheduled on Feb. 15, where the official candidates will be determined.
The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization is accepting applicants regardless of civil status, in accordance with the international pageant’s updated rules allowing married women and those who have borne children to take part in the competition.
No height requirements are imposed, but MUPH applicants must be Filipino citizens between 18 and 27 years old.
This is the fourth edition of the first stand-alone national pageant to choose the Philippines’ delegate to the Miss Universe pageant.
MUPH held its inaugural pageant during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Rabiya Mateo became the national pageant’s first winner, and competed in the 69th Miss Universe pageant held in Florida in the United States in May 2021. She finished in the Top 21.
Beatrice Luigi Gomez was crowned Miss Universe Philippines in 2021, and finished in the Top 5 of the 70th Miss Universe pageant held in Israel in December 2021.
Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi participated in the 2022 Miss Universe pageant held in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the US in January. /ra