The beauty pageant scene in the UK is set to enter a new phase with the launch of the Miss Philippines Great Britain (MPGB) competition.
On Nov. 16, the inaugural event will take place at the Royal National Hotel in London, representing a key moment for the British-Filipino community.
“This pageant aims to create a platform for Filipino-British women to showcase their talents and potentially propel them onto the global stage of modeling and entertainment,” Jay Alexander Tseng told Manila Standard Life in an interview.
Tseng is a London-based Filipino entrepreneur, jeweler, and event organizer known for his involvement in the Filipino community across the UK.
The man behind this groundbreaking initiative runs Alrodia, a fine bespoke jewelry business that has long been active in promoting Filipino culture through concerts and events. Now, he’s using his expertise to reshape the pageantry scene with a vision to create opportunities for Filipino-British women that go beyond traditional pageant goals.
“There are many Filipino community pageants in the UK, but they tend to focus more on charity and raising funds for local projects,” Tseng explained. “With MPGB, we wanted to create something that would give these women a real chance to pursue careers in modeling, entertainment, and beyond—both in the UK and the Philippines.”
The idea for MPGB originally stemmed from a search for a new model for Tseng’s jewelry business. However, as he traveled across the UK holding auditions, the enthusiasm from aspiring candidates turned the venture into something much larger.
“These ladies wanted to compete in bigger platforms like Miss Universe Great Britain,” Tseng said, referencing Christina dela Cruz Chalk, a half-Filipina who recently became Miss Universe Great Britain. Her story of first competing in the Philippines before winning in the UK inspired many Filipino-British women to follow in her footsteps.
“At first, we were just looking for someone who would represent our jewelry brand, but then, with my network in the UK, we realized, there’s something more we could do for these ladies. So, I decided to make their dreams turn into reality,” he added.
The MPGB event will feature nine official candidates, all Filipino-British women, who will vie for the title. The winner will have the opportunity to compete in next year’s Miss Universe Great Britain pageant, while another winner will be crowned Miss Philippines Great Britain Youth and represent the British-Filipino community at the Mr. and Ms. Philippines Youth Pageant.
Tseng also revealed plans for a male pageant, with the winner set to compete in Mister Grand Philippines.
What sets MPGB apart from other pageants is its emphasis on commitment and personal effort. Tseng highlighted the dedication of one of the contestants, Myca Winmill, who flew to Manila to train under the acclaimed Aces & Queens pageant camp.
“Myca’s story shows her commitment to the pageant,” Tseng said. “She’s paying for her lodging and lessons while she’s here. We’re looking for someone who’s not just beautiful but also fully committed to this journey.”
MPGB seeks to open doors for Filipino-British women and provide them with lasting career opportunities. The winner will not only receive prize money and a management contract with Alrodia Enterprises but will also gain exposure to both British and Filipino markets.
“We’ll guide her, take care of her, and make sure she succeeds whether she wants to pursue a career in the UK or the Philippines,” Tseng promised.
Tseng envisions a future where MPGB becomes a national platform, with pageants held in cities across the UK and the winners competing at the national level. He sees this as a way to continue building a strong community that supports Filipino talent on a global scale.
