39-year-old single mother is most senior Miss Universe Philippines 2024 delegate

Johanna Concepcion Puyod Yulo, 39, from Davao Region/MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES FACEBOOK PHOTO

At 39-years-old, Johanna Concepcion Puyod Yulo, a single mother of two representing Davao Region, becomes the most senior delegate to join the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 competition.

Her decision to join the pageant marks the initial implementation of the Miss Universe Organization’s (MUO) new rule removing the maximum age restriction for aspirants, which made the Philippine national pageant the perfect ground to attract Filipino women who are beyond the previous limit.

Yulo spoke with INQUIRER.net to share her thoughts about her baptism in pageantry. “I just want to really try it for the first time, because this is the first time that I am joining a pageant ever in my life, not even in my younger years,” she said.

“It’s like a new beginning for me, a new journey. It’s a beautiful journey because part of that is like healing, growth also. And being involved and being exposed already to this, you get that full experience with myself,” Yulo continued.

For her, the key has been “immense patience and self-acceptance, and having that confidence.” She noted that without those, it will be hard for women like her to muster enough courage to join a pageant.

Yulo said she also draws her strength from her family and friends. “My children call me ‘Nanay.’ And they asked, ‘Nanay are you sure you’re joining, you’re not scared?’ I told them I will only be scared if I cannot move anymore. But since I can still move, then try and try,” she shared.

She acknowledges, though, that there is a significant segment of society who do not approve of mothers and women in their 30s joining “Miss” pageants. “I respect that, because we all have our own perspective and point of view. And with that, I can only give respect to those decisions and choices,” she said.

For Yulo, Filipinos should be ready to send a mother in her 30s to the Miss Universe pageant. “Mothers are enduring, mothers are caring, nurturing, and mothers have those deeper experiences. With mothers, we understand, we reach out, and we go deeper on the needs of every individual,” she explained.

She considers herself a “strong and courageous single mother” who is raising the next generation, and perseveres in ensuring they become brilliant members of society. And that, for her, could make her a great Miss Universe.

When asked what bits of wisdom she can impart to her younger co-competitors, Yulo said, “they just need to take their time. If it is really for you, God will give it to you. And I think just count your blessings and don’t rush things. Great things do take time. And I still believe that when you are being calm, and you don’t need to compete anymore and just be happy. Because it will reflect and radiate on the outer.”

She is also enjoying her time together with younger women, from who she draws her energy, too. “Being competitive, having that drive, the energy, grabe (awesome). Even when our activities are the whole day, the younger ones are really energetic. I feel like I’m only in my late 20s and not in my late 30s,” Yulo said.
The Davaoeña said she used to be the “Miss Universe” only of her kitchen, now she has a shot at being the queen of the nation. She is one of the 53 aspirants hoping to inherit the Miss Universe Philippines title from reigning queen Michelle Marquez Dee.

The 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant will hold its coronation show at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 22. The winner will represent the country in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later this year.