Winwyn Marquez straps heels anew for Miss Universe Philippines 2025
Miss Universe Philippines-Muntinlupa Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
Actress and beauty queen Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez is making the transition from “Reina” to “Miss” as she once again switches to pageant mode eight years since giving pride to the country.
The 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana winner, the first Asian woman to hold the distinction, is going back to pageantry for this year’s edition of the Miss Universe Philippines competition.
Marquez was presented as the official representative of Muntinlupa City to the national pageant in a program held in Mandaluyong City on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 8.
“Never give up on your dream. It’s never too late to take a chance on yourself, that if you feel in your heart that you want to do something, you do it,” she told INQUIRER.net in an interview after her coronation.
“I do not want to live with the question of ‘what if?’ I don’t want to have any regrets in my life. And I hope people can see that. I hope people can do that as well, and apply that to their lives,” she added.
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Luxe Beauty & Wellness CEO Anna Magkawas appointed Marquez, being the accredited partner who holds the right to select Muntinlupa City’s official Miss Universe Philippines delegate. Accredited partners are private entities that the national organization has tapped to select the pageant’s delegates every year.
“This isn’t just about the title — it’s about empowering women who dream of representing Muntinlupa on a national and global stage,” she said in a statement.
Marquez, now a mother to a two-year-old girl, has become eligible to compete for the Miss Universe Philippines title after the international organization started allowing candidates who have borne children.
At 32, she will also have no problem with any age restriction because the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has also lifted the maximum age limit for delegates.
“Miss Universe Organization opened its doors to all women, and I really appreciate that. Of course you can never really please everyone. Not everyone will agree with one thing, and I respect that. But the Miss Universe Organization opened it, and I think it’s time for us to show that we have something to put on the table, to be able to inspire others to do the same,” Marquez said.
“Sana makita nila ang paghahanda ng isang mommy (I hope they see how a mother prepares), and women of a certain age, I think that applies to me as well, and sana mag-iba ang isip nila (I hope they change their minds),” Marquez addressed those who oppose the participation of mothers and women above 30 years old in “Miss” pageants.
Her first national pageant was the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas contest, a decade ago, where she competed against Pia Wurtzbach who eventually became Miss Universe in the same year.
Marquez advanced to the Top 15 of the competition, and topped the Talent and National Costume contests. She also received the “She’s so Jag” award.
In 2017, she took part in the Miss World Philippines pageant where she earned the right to become the first Asian delegate to the Latin-dominated Reina Hispanoamericana contest in Bolivia.
Marquez also topped the Talent and Beach Beauty “fast-track” events of the national pageant, which earned for her an automatic slot in the semifinals. She was also proclaimed as Miss Savoy Hotel and Miss Bench Body.
But even before embarking on pageantry, Marquez was destined for fame. She is the daughter of actress Alma Moreno with actor and former professional cager Joey Marquez. She also counts 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez as her aunt. Former Miss Universe Philippines titleholder Michelle Dee is her cousin.
