Yearend Special: Filipino beauty queens’ near-wins, first-time triumphs

Philippines’ Nicole Borromeo, Anna Lakrini, Michelle Dee, Pauline Amelinckx, and Yllana Aduana. Images from Armin P. Aduana

In this yearend special, we take a look-back at the Philippines’ pageant journey as many of our beauty queens conquered the stage of various international competitions, putting on spotlight their beauty, poise, talent, and grace.

The year started on a flat note when the Philippines’ Celeste Cortesi failed to place in the Miss Universe 2022’s Top 20, breaking the country’s 12-year streak of being in the semifinal round of arguably the biggest beauty pageant in the world. Reflecting on Cortesi’s early exit, Miss Universe Philippines national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee, herself contributing to that winning streak, could only say that it was a “lesson in humility.”

Indeed, it was a lesson for all beauty queens, not just for those vying for the Miss Universe crown, to not take the Philippines’ so-called edge and momentum for granted.

Fast forward to the present, 2023 has been such a rewarding cruise overall when our beauty queens shone under the watchful eyes of judges and pageant observers. The year that was proved to all that the Philippines is a major beauty pageant powerhouse, a force to be reckoned with, while 2024 is shaping up to be a promising year for Filipino queens.

Yllana Aduana, Miss Earth-Air

Newly-crowned Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana from the Philippines/ARMIN P. ADINA

The Philippines just closed out 2023 with a title from the Miss Earth pageant, although not the penultimate crown. This has made the year one of near-wins for the pageant-crazy country.

While Yllana Marie Aduana was clearly an early favorite and was well-admired for her beauty and brains, the beauty queen from Siniloan, Laguna failed to capture the Philippines’ fifth Miss Earth title, having placed second to Albania’s Drita Ziri at the culmination of the 2023 Miss Earth pageant in Vietnam last Dec. 22, the the last of the big international competitions.

Aside from the Miss Earth-Air crown, Aduana also received the Best in Bikini special award from the Manila-based pageant.

Annabelle McDonnell, Miss Charm 1st runner-up

Miss Charm first runner-up Annabelle McDonnell. Image: INQUIRER.net/ARMIN P. ADINA

The Philippines’ 2023 campaign started strong with the first runner-up finish of Annabelle McDonnell at the inaugural Miss Charm pageant in Vietnam in February. She was first runner-up in the 2022 Miss Universe Philippines competition and was appointed by the national organization to represent the country.

Pauline Amelinckx, Miss Supranational 1st runner-up

Miss Supranational Philippines Pauline Amelinckx/ARMIN P. ADINA

Also from the Miss Universe Philippines stable is Pauline Amelinckx, whose third-time in the national pageant was rewarded with the Miss Supranational Philippines title. The Belgian-Boholana beauty queen also finished as first runner-up in her international pageant.

Michelle Marquez Dee, Miss Philippines, Top 10

Michelle Dee. Image: Dennis Sulit via Instagram/@michelledee

Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Marquez Dee, meanwhile, finished in the Top 10 of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant. She also topped the fan voting, and received the most votes for the national costume poll. She was also one of the three “gold finalists” in the “Voice for Change” initiative by Mouawad with CI Talks, and received the “Spirit of Carnival” award from Carnival Cruises.

While there were those who said Dee should have been in the Top 3, or at least Top 5 of the pageant given her stellar performance and solid advocacy before and during the pageant, Dee has chosen to move on to better things, such as acting.

Nicole Borromeo, Miss International 3rd runner-up

Nicole Borromeo. Image: Instagram/@thejcsphotos via @nicole.borrome

Queens from the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) also posted near-victories in their respective global tilts. Nicole Borromeo was third runner-up in a field of 70 delegates at the 71st Miss International pageant in Japan last Oct. 26.

Anna Valencia Lakrini, Miss Globe 2nd runner-up

Anna Valencia Lakrini at her sendoff press conference before leaving for Albania. Image: ARMIN P. ADINA/Inquirer.net

Binibining Pilipinas Anna Valencia Lakrini has asserted the country’s status as an international pageant powerhouse by finishing third in The Miss Globe 2023 pageant, also sustaining the Philippines’ placement streak in the global tilt.

The German-Filipino model and nutrition graduate was proclaimed second runner-up at the pageant’s 2023 competition held in Durres, Albania, on Nov. 17 (Nov. 18 in Manila), extending the Philippines’ consecutive placement in the global tilt to nine years. She also scored a perfect 10 in the “Miss Bikini” competition

Other pageants

It’s not all “almost there” for the Philippines as Hiyas ng Pilipinas queen and GMA Sparkle artist AZ Martinez posted a second consecutive win for the country at the Miss Summit International pageant held in the United States.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas organization also contributed several wins to the country’s international pageant scorecard, two of which were the first for the Philippines. Shannon Robinson scored the country’s first Miss Environment International victory in India, while Annie Uson became the first Chinese-Filipino to be crowned Miss Chinese World in Malaysia.

Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs. Image: MUTYA NG PILIPINAS FACEBOOK PHOTO

Mutya queen Jeanette Reyes received the Miss Tourism Metropolitan International title at the 2023 Miss Tourism International pageant in Malaysia, while top Mutya winner Iona Gibbs finished in the Top 20 of the 2023 Miss Intercontinental competition in Egypt.

Ashley Subijano Montenegro from the Miss World Philippines organization, meanwhile, finished in the Top 21 of the 2023 Miss Eco International pageant held in Egypt in March.

But the 2023 pageant season is not yet over, and the Philippines may still score big victories in the coming months. Queens from ALV Pageant Circle’s national competitions are scheduled to compete in their respective pageants’ 2023 editions next year.

Subijano’s batch mate Gwendolyne Fourniol still has not seen action on the international stage more than a year since capturing the Miss World Philippines title in 2022. She was supposed to compete in the 70th Miss World competition originally scheduled the year she got her national crown, but the international organization kept on postponing the contest. The most recent reports indicate a March coronation.

Michelle Arceo, who was crowned Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas in ALV Pageant Circle’s staging of the 2023 Miss Grand Philippines pageant, will compete in her international pageant’s 2023 edition scheduled in early 2024 in Bolivia.

Hiyas ng Pilipinas Fatima Kate Bisan was also supposed to compete in the 2023 Miss Tourism World pageant in November, but the international organizer postponed the staging of the global competition, and has not announced a new date for the contest.