Universal Woman Philippines Maria Gigante. Image: Facebook/ALV Pageant Circle
The Philippines, considered by many international pageant followers as a global powerhouse in pageantry, will send a representative to a recently established competition that has a more relaxed set of guidelines in accepting delegates—the Universal Woman contest.
National pageant veteran Maria Gigante has been appointed by ALV Pageant Circle of talent manager and entrepreneur Arnold Vegafria, who also mounts the Miss World Philippines and Miss Grand Philippines competitions, to represent the country in the 2024 Universal Woman competition.
The contest is open to women between 25 and 45 years old, with no restrictions on height, weight, and marital status. The first Universal Woman winner was Valentina Sanchez from Venezuela, who bested 22 other aspirants in the contest held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February last year.
READ: Gloria Diaz reiterates Miss Universe should only be for biological women
She had earlier represented her South American country in the 2021 Miss Supranational pageant, where she finished fourth. She was fourth runner-up in the Miss Teen USA contest as the representative of New Jersey, and finished third in the 2020 Miss New Jersey USA tilt.
Gigante is a Cebuano beauty queen, model and entrepreneur who has seen action in the Binibining Pilipinas and Miss World Philippines pageants, as well as in the first-ever Binibining Cebu contest where she was crowned Binibining Cebu-Charity.
Sanchez arrived in the Philippines, together with Universal Woman official Alexander Gonzalez, to witness the coronation of Gigante as the first-ever Universal Woman Philippines at Kingsford Hotel Manila in Parañaque City on Feb. 27.
“Now more than ever, I am now myself. Now, I will tell my story in its entirety. Because I believe that my story, in some way, shape or form, reflects the struggles, trials and tribulations of every Filipino,” Gigante said.
“We may talk about all the other different problems that face the world. But the truth is, we don’t talk about our identity enough, as a people living in an archipelago separated and connected by the waters and islands that give us life. So I think that’s something you have to look forward to, the story of Filipinos,” she continued.
Gigante will be among a field of about 30 women from all over the world at the 2024 Universal Woman pageant in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this month. Sanchez will relinquish her title to her successor at the culmination of the coronation show on March 24. The eventual winner will also receive $100,000.