Miss Universe Philippines Archives

Bulacan’s Chelsea Manalo makes history as first black Miss Universe Philippines

The daughter of a Filipino mother and an African-American father, Chelsea was considered a dark horse during the months-long runup to the pageant’s finals. Miss Universe 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee crowns Chelsea Manalo Seconds before the moment of truth between Chelsea Manalo and Stacey Gabriel By Alex Y. Vergara In…

Michelle Marquez Dee: A queen transformed

She’s blessed with all the qualities of a winner — tall, svelte, articulate and even pedigreed in pageant lineage as the daughter of former beauty queen Melanie Marquez. But this year’s Miss Universe Philippines titleholder had to wait for one more sign before strapping on her pageant heels one more…

Regional furniture companies take centerstage at first Philippine Furniture Furnishings Market

According to an independent research and consulting company, the Philippines is one of the region's rapidly growing Southeast Asian furniture suppliers, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Photos by Raymund Francis Vicente Business opportunities and a range of possibilities for the home and office await participants and exhibitors at…

Michelle Marquez Dee wins Miss Universe Philippines 2023

Michelle, the daughter of Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, will compete at Miss Universe later this year in El Salvador. Another early favorite, Bohol’s Pauline Amelincks, failed for the third time to win the crown. There was no Steve Harvey moment last night, but the nearly four-hour show had a…

Miss Universe is “a beautiful journey that helps push us forward”

Sleep-deprived after a long-haul flight to Manila, Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel looked as vibrant as ever as she faced Filipino fans Wednesday evening at Okada Manila’s grand ballroom during the Miss Universe Philippines gala night. By Alex Y. Vergara “I’m so excited to be in the Philippines,” said R’Bonney…

Half-Filipino, half-American from Texas is new Miss Universe

R’Bonney Gabriel, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Filipino-American father and an American mother, won over 83 other women from all over the universe. Luck, however, eluded the Philippines’ Celeste Cortesi, whose failure to make it to the finals marked the end of the country’s 12-year placement streak…

Princess diaries, queenly gambits and happily-ever-after looks

Three of the country’s most photographed women today—beauty queens Rabiya, Bea and Celeste—step into a new universe, as Renaissance photographer BJ Pascual captures them in a totally different light as Disney princesses wearing the latest ingenue-inspired makeup collection from BYS. It’s not exactly a demotion when queens turn into princesses…

Bea Luigi Gomez bows out to India’s Harnaaz Sandhu in Miss Universe

With her recent Top 5 finish, the country, thanks to Bea, continues to hold on to its record 12-year placement streak in Miss Universe, which started with Venus Raj in 2010. By Alex Y. Vergara Philippine bet Beatrice Luigi Gomez’s Miss Universe journey in Eilat, Israel may have ended with…

New Miss Universe Philippines is driving home in style

She has the title, she has the crown and, now, she also has the new wheels! How lucky can a girl get? But dreams do come true for the deserving. The winner of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 is going home with more than just a title—she’s also going to be…

Let the pageantry begin!

Delegates to Miss Universe Philippines 2020 have blown into town. In all my years of covering these events, the tallest, most beautiful girl on stage doesn’t usually end up winning. There have been countless times when the girl who knows when to hold back and when to give it her…