Filipino queens reign supreme in beauty pageants

From national pageants to victorious delegates, here’s the Philippines’ journey to the crown

Filipinos are among the most beautiful people in the world. Their beauty comes from a rich mix of different heritages and cultures, which makes them proud of their roots.

When they win prestigious international titles in beauty pageants, sports, or the arts, it is not just a win for them but for the whole nation. These victories unite people and create a strong sense of unity, vital in a country with many different regional differences, languages, and traditions. Every achievement helps unite the Filipino people. It brings them together to celebrate and share joy.

Filipinas stand out in beauty pageants. They regularly impress judges and audiences, winning important titles in major competitions worldwide. These remarkable women show a mix of beauty, charisma, and intelligence. They have stunning physical looks and present themselves with poise and clear expression. 

Each pageant season, contestants share their unique cultural backgrounds and personal stories, which add depth to the competition and highlight their strength and grace under pressure.

Let’s explore some national pageants and notable victories of Filipino beauty queens in international competitions.

Gloria Diaz

On July 19, 1969, Gloria Diaz was crowned Miss Universe in a stunning ceremony officiated by her predecessor, Sylvia Hitchcock from the United States. 

This landmark victory marked a significant national pride for the Philippines, which was still carving out its identity on the global beauty pageant stage. 

Gloria’s triumph showcased her exceptional poise and elegance and resonated deeply with the Filipino people, symbolizing the country’s beauty and cultural richness. 

The news of her win spread like wildfire, igniting celebrations across the archipelago as Filipinos came together to honor her achievement, which would forever hold a special place in the hearts of many.

After her impressive journey in the pageant circuit, where she showcased her beauty and talent, Gloria transitioned into the world of acting, quickly rising to fame as a beloved actress. 

Today, she continues to thrive in the entertainment industry, taking on diverse roles that highlight her versatility and passion for the craft, while remaining a prominent figure in the public eye.

Gloria married businessman Gabriel Daza III. They have three children. Gloria and Gabriel separated in 1996. In 2016, Gabriel passed away.

Margie Moran

Margarita “Margie” Moran was crowned Miss Universe 1973 during the competition held in Athens, Greece. Her victory was significant as she became the second Filipina to win the prestigious title, following Gloria Diaz’s win in 1969.

Margie is also known for her advocacy work, particularly in the fields of education and women’s empowerment. After her reign as Miss Universe, she became involved in various charitable activities and is still active in promoting social causes.

After the pageant, Margie also became notable for her social and civic works that promote peace and livelihood as part of the Mindanao Commission on Women Organization and Habitat for Community Philippines.

She also promoted the arts and culture when she became the vice chairperson of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Margie married Antonio Floirendo Jr., but they separated after 30 years. They have two daughters.

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

The Philippines experienced a long wait of 42 years before winning once more in the illustrious Miss Universe pageant. 

In December 2015, during a dramatic event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Filipino-German beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe, marking a significant moment in Filipino pageantry.

Pageant aficionados often recall the 2015 Miss Universe Competition as the most controversial installment in the history of this esteemed global contest. 

The evening took an unexpected turn when American television host Steve Harvey, amidst the lively atmosphere filled with dazzling contestants and enthusiastic fans, mistakenly announced that Pia had secured the first runner-up position, with the crown going to Ariadna Gutierrez from Colombia. This shocking declaration sent ripples of confusion and disbelief throughout the audience.

Moments later, however, Steve, visibly flustered, realized the gravity of his error. He immediately clarified that the actual winner was indeed Pia, while Ariadna was, in fact, the first runner-up. 

This unforeseen twist heightened the event’s drama and solidified the night as a memorable and historic occasion in the annals of beauty pageants.

Steve, Pia, and Ariadna have moved on from the mistake.

Pia married Scottish entrepreneur Jeremy Jauncey in Seychelles on March 24, 2023. Pia is still active as an actress and model.

Catriona Gray

Filipino-Australian Catriona Gray was crowned the country’s fourth Miss Universe during a pageant in Bangkok, Thailand in 2018.

Before Miss Universe, Catriona placed in the Top 5 of Miss World 2016 in Maryland, USA.

Her win at Miss Universe was memorable because of her beauty and advocacy work, which focuses on education, poverty alleviation, and HIV/AIDS awareness. 

Catriona’s iconic walk, which included a slow-turning “lava walk,” and her winning answer during the final Q&A helped set her apart as one of the most admired queens in the pageant’s history.

Since then, Catriona has built an entertainment career and continued her advocacy. She’s involved in charity work, including the Catriona Gray’s Legacy Ball, which helps the poor young people of Tondo, Manila.

Catriona has raised funds and awareness for Young Focus by organizing concerts in the Philippines and abroad. After winning Miss World Philippines in 2016 and placing in the Top 5 internationally, Catriona chose to compete in Miss Universe 2018.

During the Miss Universe competition, she became more vocal about supporting Young Focus and the children from the Smokey Mountain area. This brought positive publicity to Tondo and helped enhance public respect for the families living there.

Catriona also ventured into music and even released singles. Her ability to blend beauty, brains, and a strong sense of social responsibility has earned her respect in pageantry and beyond. She is still active in show business.

Megan Young

Miss World is the oldest beauty pageant. It started in 1951. For the first time since its inception, the Philippines won the elusive blue crown when Megan Lynne Young-Daez was crowned Miss World 2013 in Bali, Indonesia.

Did you know that the Philippines nearly won the title in 1973 during a controversial Miss World pageant held in London?

That time, Evangeline Pascual represented the Philippines in Miss World. She won first runner-up. Reports said the US winner, Marjorie Wallace, was dethroned 104 days after her reign.

Pageant organizers offered Evangeline to assume the duties of Miss World but not the title. The Filipino beauty queen declined the offer because she had signed a movie contract in the Philippines. Miss Jamaica, then second runner-up, assumed duties but not the title.

Megan is married to actor Mikael Daez. Both Megan and Evangeline are still active in the entertainment industry.

Binibining Pilipinas legacy

Filipinas embody beauty in every sense of the word. Not only that, but they are also brave, kind, passionate, and intelligent. They are driven to make a difference, transform lives, and be catalysts for change. And for 61 years, only one organization has proudly bannered the beauty of Filipinas on a global stage—Binibining Pilipinas.

Since its inception in 1964, Binibining Pilipinas has grown to be the most anticipated beauty event in the country, with hundreds of women each year aspiring to be one of the official candidates who will then get a chance to represent the country on some of the most prestigious pageants globally.

Over the years, Binibining Pilipinas has played a pivotal role in securing several titles for the country. With the organization’s support, many Filipinas have dominated the global stage. These women are: Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Miss International 1970 Aurora Pijuan, Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran, Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2013 Bea Santiago, Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Datul, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Globe 2015 Ann Colis, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, and Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman.

“Binibining Pilipinas has always been about empowering women and amplifying their voice,” Gines Enriquez head of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. said. “We remain committed to this goal. By bannering Filipina beauty to the world, we are shedding light on some of the important advocacies supported by our Queens.”

But aside from putting Filipina beauty, grace, and intelligence at the forefront of global attention, Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) has made countless contributions to society. The Binibining Pilipinas pageant serves as a way to raise funds for many worthy causes supported by BPCI. These include projects that benefit orphans, indigent families, and the less fortunate.

Among the projects that Binibining Pilipinas Queens actively support are children’s welfare programs at the Barangay Socorro Day Care Center and the Pediatric Cancer Unit of the Philippine General Hospital; the construction of several houses together with Habitat for Humanity; the provision of relief goods to wounded soldiers confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center; TogetherWeHeal drive where the candidates help raise over P100,000 for indigent families; Donation of pizza to frontliners; and Operation Relief Efforts of Araneta City to Help (REACH) for the Ulysses-stricken families in Metro Manila.

Miss Universe Philippines

In 2020, the Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) franchise was officially separated from Binibining Pilipinas after the newly formed Miss Universe Philippines Organization (MUPH) took over the rights to send a representative to the global stage.

The task of selecting the country’s official representative for the Miss Universe pageant had previously been operated under Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI). The MUP pageant crowned Rabiya Mateo as the 2020 Miss Universe Philippines.

Mutya ng Pilipinas

First established in 1968, Mutya ng Pilipinas is an iconic pageant celebrating the beautiful Mutyas or jewels in the Philippines. 

The pageant is a stage that highlights the beauty of the Philippines’ natural gems—its unique archipelago, the diverse flora and fauna, pristine beaches and islands, impactful ethnic-inspired creations, bayanihan, amazing food, and the Filipino people.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization exists to raise the bar of Philippine pageantry. It is a platform where beauty queens are showcased as empowered women driven by a sense of purpose and a passion to make a difference.

It’s one of the country’s oldest and most recognized pageants, showcasing Filipino women’s beauty, intelligence, and talent. The winner represents the Philippines in international pageants like Miss Asia Pacific International and Miss Tourism International.

Miss Philippines Earth

After establishing a track record in mounting world-class beauty pageants over the last decade, Carousel Productions Inc. decided to reinvent and improve the concept of beauty competitions for the new millennium.

Because many people admire and aspire to be beauty queens, Carousel Productions, Inc. believes beauty queens would be good and effective advocates of worthy causes. To give life to this vision, Carousel Productions Inc. organized and launched in 2001 the Miss Philippines-Earth Beauty Pageant, a beauty event whose raison d’etre was to have its candidates and winners actively promote and get involved in the preservation of the environment and the protection of Mother Earth.

The pageant strongly focuses on environmental awareness and sustainability, with contestants usually advocating for ecological causes and participating in eco-friendly campaigns. 

The winner of Miss Earth Philippines typically goes on to represent the country at the global Miss Earth event, where they continue to champion eco-conscious initiatives.

Miss World Philippines

The Miss World Philippines selects the country’s official delegate to the Miss World beauty pageant. Founded by Eric Morley, a British entertainment promoter, the Miss World competition was initially created to accompany the Festival of Britain, an exhibition promoting British culture and innovation in 1951. 

Initially, it was part of a television broadcast and was intended to be a simple beauty contest, but it quickly grew in popularity and became an annual event.

In the 1970s, the pageant’s focus started to shift toward social causes and charity work. This change was primarily inspired by the increasing recognition that beauty should not just be about looks but also about using one’s platform for positive impact. 

The “Beauty with a Purpose” initiative was launched in 1972 and has since become one of the most important aspects of the pageant, emphasizing contestants’ efforts in charity and social good.