Mutya ng Pilipinas 2024 candidates/ARMIN P. ADINA
Mutya ng Pilipinas President Cory Quirino presented 31 candidates for this year’s competition, marking the 56th anniversary of the second-longest-running national pageant in the country.
The ladies, representing different cities, towns and provinces across the Philippines, and several overseas Filipino communities, paraded in baby-pink one-piece swimsuits with matching varsity jackets at the press presentation held at Fairmont Makati on Saturday, Aug. 24.
The pageant is returning this year after skipping 2023. The last competition was held in December 2022, the 51st edition which was mounted after a two-year pandemic pause.
“All beauty pageants have the same objective and advocacy, which is to promote our country, and to promote the goodness, the beauty, and the potential and perspective of our country,” Quirino said in her speech.
Mutya ng Pilipinas President Cory Quirino/ARMIN P. ADINA
Arianna Pantaleon from the Filipino community in Canada and Alexandra Azan̈es from Camarines Sur topped the poll for “Media Darlings” during the program.
The national pageant posted a banner year in 2023, with 2022 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Luzon Shannon Robinson scoring the Philippines’ first Miss Environment International victory in India, and 2018 semifinalist Annie Uson clinching the country’s first Miss Chinese World crown in Malaysia.
Jeanette Reyes was crowned Miss Tourism Metropolitan International in Malaysia, while Iona Gibbs entered the Top 22 of the Miss Intercontinental pageant in Egypt.
Arianna Kyla Padrid finished second in the World Top Model contest held in Monaco in February. The international competition was originally slated for December 2023.
Arianna Pantaleon (left) and Alexandra Azan̈es are voted as ‘Media Darlings.’/ARMIN P. ADINA
“We are always looking for the Filipinas that will symbolize the Filipina when she goes on that International stage and then wins the crown for her beloved Philippines,” Quirino said.
The national pageant will choose the country’s representatives to the Miss Intercontinental and Miss Tourism International pageants, and the World Top Model competition this year.
The Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities title will also be awarded in the competition, as in the previous years.
No coronation date and venue were announced during the program, but Quirino hinted at a September final competition.