Yearend Special: Triumphs, tears for Philippines in 2024 international pageants
The Filipina queens who represented the Philippines in international pageants in 2024. Image: INQUIRER.net/Lance Uy
Filipino beauty queens sustained the Philippines’ status as an international pageant powerhouse despite missing out on major global titles, with victories posted in fairly young contests and garnering accolades in the more established ones.
Among the major national organizations in the country, Miss World Philippines and Miss Grand Philippines organizer ALV Pagent Circle kicked off the country’s 2024 international campaign in January with Michelle Arceo’s second runner-up finish in the Reina Hispanoamericana competition in Bolivia.
Her ALV queen sister Maria Gigante, 2022 Miss World Philippines finalist, posted a strong follow-up in February at the 2nd Universal Woman, becoming the first Filipino winner in the groundbreaking tilt, and also as the country’s first entrant.
Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano continued the ALV roster’s win streak by posting the Philippines’ first victory in the 12-year-old Face of Beauty International pageant, winning the title in Taiwan.
The country also almost scored its first Miss Grand International victory when CJ Opiaza was proclaimed as first runner-up, the third Filipino woman to finish second in the competition.
Article continues after this advertisementMiss Universe Philippines and The Miss Philippines organizer Empire Philippines may not have scored titles, but its arsenal of beauties also finished strong on the global stage, with two queens receiving continental crowns.
Article continues after this advertisementChelsea Manalo made history at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico by being the first-ever Miss Universe Asia titleholder, while Alethea Ambrosio became the first Filipino woman to be proclaimed as Miss Supranational Asia and Oceania.
Manalo was in the Top 30 of the 2024 Miss Universe pageant, and topped the online poll for national costume, while Ambrosio finished in the Top 12 of the 2024 Miss Supranational contest.
Four Empire queens were runners-up in their respective global tilts, Chantal Schmidt and Isabelle De Los Santos who finished second in the Miss Eco International and Miss Aura International pageants, respectively, Blessa Figueroa who was third runner-up in Miss Asia Pacific International, and Raven Doctor who ranked fourth in the Miss Eco Teen International contest.
Fan favorite Ahtisa Manalo finished in the Top 10 of the first staging of the Miss Cosmo pageant, while Kayla Jean Carter was in the Top 20 of the second Miss Charm contest. Both tilts were held in Vietnam.
Rising national pageant Hiyas ng Pilipinas contributed another international title for the second year in a row with Juvyel Anne Saluta becoming the first Filipino woman to be proclaimed Miss Elite in the global contest’s third edition.
Another international crown came from the Mutya ng Pilipinas stable, with Liana Barrido becoming the sixth Filipino woman to be proclaimed as Miss Tourism International in the pageant’s 27th edition held in Malaysia.
Her fellow Mutya queens also finished strong this year, with Megan Campbell posting a second straight first runner-up finish for the Philippines in the World Top Model contest, and Alyssa Redondo finishing as second runner-up in the Miss Interontinental contest.
Binibining Pilipinas Jasmin Bungay gave the country a third-place finish in The Miss Globe contest for the second year in a row, while Miss Philippines Earth Irha Mel Alfeche was the highest-placing Asian contender in the 24th Miss Earth pageant, finishing in the Top 12.
Many Filipino pageant fans, however, were heartbroken when the Philippines missed the first cut in the Miss World and Miss International pageants this year
But avid pageant followers in the country are hopeful that the Philippines will be able to assert its status as an international pageant powerhouse with several Filipino bets to 2025 competitions already crowned.
Filipinos are now pinning their hopes on Miss World Philippines Krishnah Gravidez, Bb. Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra, The Miss Philippines-Supranational Tarah Valencia, The Miss Philippines-Eco International Alexie Mae Brooks, The Miss Philippines-Charm Cyrille Payumo, and Universal Woman Philippines Sophia Bianca Santos who will carry the country’s colors in 2025.
