Sugar Mercado named Ms. Universe Official 2025 at first international pageant
Former Sexbomb Girls member Sugar Mercado is officially an international beauty titleholder after she was crowned as Ms. Universe Official 2025 at the Mrs. Universe Official 2025 pageant.
Aside from Mercado, delegates from Bulgaria and Northern Australia were crowned Mrs. Universe Official 2025 and Elite Mrs. Universe Official 2025, respectively.
The Mrs. Universe Official 2025 is different from the Mrs. Universe pageant that was also held in the Philippines earlier this month with more than 120 delegates.
Mercado, who also bagged some special awards including Best in Talent, Best in National Costume and Best in Long Gown, celebrated her win through a Facebook post on Wednesday, Oct. 15, after she was crowned the night before in Laguna.
“Mga misis, umaga na pero di ko pa tinatanggal ang korona ko sa ulo ko as Mrs. Universe Official 2025 Winner (sic). Hanggang hindi pa ito mag-sink in sa sarili ko na totoo pala ito at hindi ito isang panaginip, isusuot ko buong araw. Never in my wildest dreams na magiging beauty queen ako,” she reflected.
(Ladies, it’s already morning, but I haven’t taken off my crown from my head as Mrs. Universe Official 2025 winner. Until it sinks in to me that this is real and not a dream, I will wear it all day long. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would I become a beauty queen.)
The former “Wowowin” host recalled feeling out of place in the world of pageantry, describing herself as more comfortable joking around on stage like her friend, actress-beauty queen Herlene Budol.
“Sana’y kasi akong makipag-bardagulan at makipag-kulitan sa entablado tulad ni kapatid Herlene Hipon Budol. Yung squammy ang atake pero pwede pala mangyari ito kung may tamang tao na maggagabay,” she said, crediting those who saw potential in her despite her lack of pageant background.
(I’m used to having fun and joking around on stage like my sister Herlene Hipon Budol, street-smart and unfiltered, but this became possible because the right people guided me.)
Meanwhile, Mercado will later join Sexbomb Girls for their reunion concert at the Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 4. The girl group is known for their hits “The Spageti Song,” “Bakit Papa?” and “Halukay Ube.” /ra
