The top 5 delegates in the Miss Universe Philippines swimsuit challenge. Image: Facebook/Miss Universe Philippines
MANILA, Philippines—The Miss Universe Philippines pageant has released the results of the swimsuit challenge, its second online poll, with three of those who topped the first voting making the list once again, asserting their status as serious contenders.
Jannarie Zarzoso from Agusan del Norte, Princess Anne Marcos from Bulacan and Angelique Manto from Pampanga were among the top delegates who amassed the highest number of votes in the recent swimsuit challenge. Earlier, they had also topped the photoshoot challenge.
Together with Airissh Ramos from Eastern Samar and Lesley Sim from Quezon Province, the ladies surprised avid pageant followers when they trounced perceived favorites, edging out more popular names who many predict will be the last ones standing in the final competition.
The photoshoot challenge saw the 38 delegates of the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines pageant in glamorous gowns, posing before the camera at nighttime with the cityscape serving as backdrop. The voting ran for a week. For the swimsuit challenge, the ladies flew to El Nido in Palawan for their swimwear pictorial and video filming. Voting was initially scheduled between April 10 and 16, but was extended for another week.
Zarzoso, Marcos and Manto continued their domination in the swimsuit challenge. Joining them this time are Shane Glenmae Maquiran from Capiz, and perceived frontrunner Pauline Amelinckx from Bohol, who was third runner-up in the 2020 Miss Universe Philippines pageant and was proclaimed Miss Universe Philippines-Charity in last year’s competition.
Zarzoso’s online dominance is nothing new. She was crowned Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen in 2020 in a virtual competition. For Manto, it appears that her stint as a former courtside reporter for the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) has made her a familiar face for prospective online voters.
This week, the national pageant poses the final online challenge for the ladies, the highly anticipated runway contest dubbed the “Jojo Bragais Runway Challenge,” named after the Filipino shoe designer of the 69th and 71st Miss Universe pageant, who also provided the footwear for the national competition this year.
As in the two previous challenges, fans may vote for their favorite delegates on the Miss Universe Philippines mobile app, available on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Polling runs until April 30. The winners of the three online challenges will earn guaranteed spots in the semifinals.
Celeste Cortesi will relinquish her title to her successor at the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines coronation show on May 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Kapuso actors Alden Richards and Xian Lim will host the program, with performances from “American Idol” runner-up Jessica Sanchez and Nam Woo-Hyun from Kpop group Infinite. Reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel and 2019 queen Zozibini Tunzi will also grace the event.
The winner will represent the Philippines in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in El Salvador later this year, and try to score the country’s fifth victory in the global tilt, after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018). /ra