It was not a banner year for Philippine representatives on the international pageant stage. A replacement for a disqualified delegate was the lone major winner for the country in 2019.
Cyrille Payumo, a 22-year-old Tourism Management graduate, was asked to fill the shoes of Mutya Pilipinas-Tourism International 2019 Tyra Goldman who was disqualified. Payumo went on to win the Miss Tourism International 2019 title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov. 8. The statuesque Pampanga native became the fifth Filipina to snag the crown.
Fil-Australian beauty Karen Gallman, 26, bested 80 plus delegates to win the 2018 Miss Intercontinental crown at the finals held on Jan. 26 at the Mall of Asia.
Kimi Mugford, 18, a Fil-Am based in Los Angeles, California with roots in Bauko, Mountain Province, was named in the Top 5 of Miss Multinational 2019. The pageant held in New Delhi, India on Jan. 21 was won by Miss USA Daniela Nieto succeeding the Philippines’ Sophia Senoron.
Catriona Gray made a triumphant homecoming victory parade in Manila on Feb. 21—a proud moment for millions of Filipinos, especially, pageant aficionados—two months after winning Miss Universe 2018 in Thailand.
Maureen Montagne, 24, a Fil-French, Marketing graduate from Arizona, USA, and winner of Century Tuna Superbods 2018, was named 1st runner-up in Miss Eco International 2019 held in Egypt on March 29. The crown was won by Miss Peru Suheyn Cipriani succeeding the Philippines’ Cynthia Thomalla.
Letelle Perez was named Miss Lumiere International 2019 3rd runner-up in Miss Global Universe 2019 held in Singapore on June 23.
Twenty-three-year-old model Sharmaine Rose Magdasoc snagged the Miss Fashion World 2019 title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 21.
Gabrielle Camille Basiano, 21, a Tourism student from Tacloban City, was named 1st runner-up in Miss Friendship International 2019 held in Chengdu, China on July 27 won by Miss Serbia Emilia Dobreva.
Camille Joy Ang was a Top 10 finalist in Miss Tourism Worldwide 2019 in Batam, Indonesia on Sept. 22.
Leren Mae Bautista was the best-performing Bb. Pilipinas queen for 2019.
The 26-year-old Laguna native, who won the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International in 2015, was named 2nd runner-up in Miss Globe 2019 held in Ulcini, Montenegro on Oct. 21. The title was won by Miss Mexico Alejandra Soler.
Davao’s Klyza Castro, 19, made it to the Top 25 of Miss Asia Pacific International 2019 held in Resorts World Manila on Oct. 9. The pageant saw the crowning of Miss SpainChaiyenne Huisman, who walked home with the title.
TV host Janelle Tee, 28, finished in the Top 20 of Miss Earth 2019. The pageant, which was held in Okada Manila on Oct. 26, was won by Miss Puerto Rico Nellys Pimentel.
Kayesha Chua, 26, a flight attendant from Legaspi City, Albay, won Miss Asia Awards 2019. She was crowned in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Nov 3. Chua, graduated Cum Laude in Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Santo Tomas and was former Miss Bicolandia 2017.
Bb. Pilipinas-International Bea Patricia “Patch” Magtanong, 25, was one of the Top 8 finalists of Miss International 2019. The lawyer, and a cum laude Law graduate from the University of the Philippines, clapped in a pageant won by Miss Thailand Sireethorn Leearamwat on Nov. 12 in Tokyo, Japan.
Flordeliz Mabao, a 21-year-old native of Taytay, Rizal and Communication Arts graduate of University of Santo Tomas was named 2nd runner-up in Miss Scuba International 2019 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on Nov. 16. The title was won by Miss Australia Michaela Shuttleworth.
Fil-Pakistani model and Psychology student from Buluan, Maguindanao, Resham Saeed, 25, finished in the Top 25 at Miss Supranational 2019. The beauty tilt held in Silecia, Poland on Dec. 7 was won by Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild.
Miss Universe-Philippines Gazini Ganados, finished in the Top 20 of Miss Universe 2019. The 24-year-old Tourism graduate from Cebu took home the Best National Costume Award in the pageant held in Atlanta Georgia on Dec. 8. The coveted crown was won by Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi. Catriona Gray made her traditional final walk before passing on her crown.
Miss World-Philippines Michelle Dee, 24, was named Top 12 semi-finalist in Miss World 2019. The oldest beauty pageant in the world was held in London on Dec. 14 and was won by Miss Jamaica Toni Ann.
World Top Model Philippines April May Short finished in the Top 12 of World Top Model International 2019. It was held in Monte Carlo, Monaco on Dec. 14.
The 24-year-old, Zamboanga native won a scholarship training from the World Top Model Training Academy in Italy.
Emma Mary Tiglao, a 24-year-old Tourism graduate from Pampanga, finished in the Top 20 of Miss Intercontinental 2018 where the Philippines’ Karen Gallman crowned her successor Miss Hungary Fanni Miko in the finals held Sharm-El Sheik, Egypt on Dec. 20.
On the spear side (male), Police Corporal Willy Quinto was crowned the first Mr. Working Men International 2019. The male pageant was held in Bangkok, Thailand on Oct. 21.
The ‘Dancing Cop’ of Valenzuela who won the “Gwapulis” 2016 contest became the second member of the national police to win an international title after Mr. International 2014Mariano Flormata, Jr., a.k.a. Neil Perez.
John Jeffrey ‘Janjep’ Carlos, 41, was crowned Mr. Gay World 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa on May 5. He’s the second Filipino to win the title after John Raspado in 2017.
More titles in minor male pageants were won by Philippine representatives.
Yves Campos of Cebu won the Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019 title in Myanmar on Aug. 31.
Mark Avila won the first Gentlemen of the World pageant held in Manado, Indonesia on Oct. 24.
Martin Domingo Sardiña was crowned Mister Icon World 2019 in Mumbai, India on Nov. 25.
Trevor Goldman, representing Fil-USA Community, was named the first-ever Mr. World Noble King 2019 on Dec. 15.
John Paul Ocat, a model from Cebu, was named 4th runner-up at Man of the World 2019 finals held at the Fil-Oil Flying V Center in San Juan City on July 11. Mr. BulgariaDaniel Georgiev snatched the title.
JB Saliba snagged the Mr. World Asia/Pacific continental title at Mr. World 2019 held at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Aug. 23. Mr. England Jack Heslewood walked home with the title.
Denver Hernández finished in the Top 20 of Mr. Supranational 2019. The contest was held in Katowice, Poland, on Dec. 7 and was dominated by Mr. USA Nate Crnkovich.
On the side of married women, Avon Morales was crowned Mrs. Asia Pacific Global 2019 held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on May 18.
Named Top 10 finalists were Glynes Olbes in Mrs. Asia Pacific Intercontinental; Marjorie Orito and Police Master Sergeant Mary Chris Camacho in Mrs. Asia Pacific 2019. While Llena Tan won 2nd runner-up in Mrs. Worldwide 2019 in Singapore on Oct. 20.
Shiela Teodoro – DeForest won Mrs. ECO International Pageant 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on June 29.
Actress Alma Concepcion was crowned Mrs. Grand/Classic Universe 2019 during the pageant held at Tanghalang Pasigueño in Pasig City on Sept. 27.
Former sexy star and singer Patricia Javier-Walcher claimed the Noble Queen of the Universe 2019 title held at the Manila Hotel on Dec. 1.
Meanwhile, in an interesting turn of events, Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta, chairperson of Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), gave up the national franchise for Miss Universe-Philippines.
The BPCI had 55 productive years winning four Miss Universe titles before the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) decided not to renew its license with the Araneta-led organization.