Harashta Haifa Zahra reunites with Miss Supranational 2024 BFFs in Manila

Miss Supranational Harashta Haifa Zahra (second from right) with (from left) Miss Supranational Japan 2024 Yuki Sonoda, The Miss Philippines-Supranational 2025 Tarah Valencia and Miss Supranational Asia & Oceania 2024 Alethea Ambrosio/ARMIN P. ADINA

Reigning Miss Supranational Harashta Haifa Zahra paid a visit to the Philippines recently, where she was reunited with her pageant besties, Miss Supranational Asia & Oceania Alethea Ambrosio of the Philippines and Japanese bet Yuki Sonoda, who is part-Filipino.

The first Indonesian woman to win in the Poland-based international pageant revealed that she, Ambrosio, Sonoda and Thailand’s Kasama Suetrong were referred to as the contest’s own version of the Korean K-pop group BlackPink.

“When we were competing in Poland, we were always together,” Zahra told a group of Filipino journalists and online content creators at a press conference held at the Empire Studio at Estancia Mall in Pasig City recently.

It was her first visit to her neighboring country, and she observed how Manila is no different from Jakarta, the Indonesian capital city. “The weather, it’s the first one; it’s really similar. And then the vibe also,” she said.

“The last thing is the traffic. But in Jakarta it’s only in the morning and after work hours, which is like 5 to 7 p.m. But here, I talked to Alethea before coming here, ‘Is this always like this, every day?’ And she said, ‘Yes, from morning to midnight it’s like this.’ ‘Oh wow, a lot of people are coming outside maybe for work, maybe for like school or something,’ Zahra shared.

Reigning Miss Supranational Harashta Haifa Zahra/ARMIN P. ADINA

Sonoda, who shared a room with Zahra during the international competition in Poland, said her bond with Zahra, Ambrosio, and Suetrong extends beyond pageantry. “Right now we always talk on Instagram, and I’m so happy that we’re all here together right now. I can’t wait to make memories with all of them,” the Filipino-Japanese singer-actress said.

Ambrosio, meanwhile, revealed that the Indonesian beauty titlist will return to the Philippines. “We wanted to bring her to Boracay, Palawan, beaches. But she didn’t have the time, unfortunately. So this is only a four-day event. But she will be back next year for a long vacation before she passes her crown,” the Bulakenya lass said.

The Miss Philippines-Supranational 2025 Tarah Valencia, a tourism management honors graduate from Baguio City, already offered to be Zahra’s tour guide when the Indonesian queen returns to the country.

Zahra, together with Ambrosio and The Miss Philippines-Charm 2024 Kayla Jean Carter, graced a gathering called Save the Children in celebration of the National Children’s Month at a Quezon City mall.

“Being the brand ambassador of Miss Supranational is not only about being a beauty queen and physical appearance. I’m always, like, being aspirational and inspirational to others like I’ve always done before,” Zahra said.

“It was really nice being there. Looking at the children; they were so happy because we were there. And this is what I always want to do as an ambassador of Miss Supranational, giving happiness and joy to the children,” she added.

Zahra is also collaborating with the Unesco-aligned Tasakawa Health Foundation of Japan. “We work together to help stop the stigma on leprosy. And this is not going to stop now. I’m so glad I’m doing it in every country,” she said.

The Miss Supranational pageant already revealed on social media that Zahra will be based in Poland from December until early February.