Alexie Brooks (right) with her late grandmother. Image: Instagram/@alexie_brooks.official
The Miss Eco International Philippines 2025 Alexie Brooks is heartbroken as she mourned the death of her Lola Basing, saying she’s the “only person” she truly loves.
Brooks paid tribute to her grandmother who died on Tuesday, Sept. 10, on Instagram. She also uploaded a black-and-white photo of herself hugging her Lola.
“Today, I lost the person I loved more than anything, and the pain is unbearable. I’m at a loss for words. Lola, I loved you with everything I had, and now I feel completely shattered and unable to move on. I am heartbroken. God please,” she said.
In a separate post, the beauty queen shared photos of a handwritten letter and her grandmother’s hand.
“I wrote this when I was next to you last month during my visit home. My hands were shaking, my heart was breaking, and tears were falling from my eyes as [while] writing. I know in my heart that you were never mine to keep,” she said.
Brooks recalled how she begged God to “not take” her grandmother away, saying her Lola Basing is her “greatest love.”
“Who would have thought it would be my final letter to you? I am hurt, grieving, and crying; I lost the only person I have ever loved so truly and wholeheartedly. You are my mother, my father, my best friend, my mentor, my master teacher, my greatest love. God knows how much I love you and how shattered and broken I am,” she said.
Brooks received condoling and supportive messages from her fellow beauty queens in the comments, including Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo, Miss World Philippines 2024 Krishnah Gravidez, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2024 Dia Mate, Victoria Velasquez Vincent, Graciella Lehmann, Diana Mackey, Angelique Manto, Kali Navea Huff, and Kayla Jean Carter.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@alexie_brooks.official
The Iloilo-based beauty queen is vocal about her love for her grandmother on multiple occasions. In a June 2024 post-coronation interview, she said one of the first things she did after winning was to call her grandmother in hopes of treating her out.
“I’ll probably take [my Lola Basing] out with some of her favorite foods. She didn’t really ask for much, but help my grandma, help my family,” she was quoted as saying.
Brooks is set to compete at The Miss Eco International pageant in 2025; the Philippines fielded Chantal Schmidt in the 2024 competition where she won first runner-up.