Chelsea Fernandez is competing against seventy-three contestants from around the world at the 2nd Miss Cosmo 2025, with the grand finale set for tomorrow (Saturday) at the Creative Park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Fernandez is the last Filipina to compete this year, aiming to improve on the Top 10 finish of Ahtisa Manalo in last year’s inaugural edition of the Vietnam-based pageant.
Fernandez, a 26-year-old native of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, was raised by a foster family while her mother worked abroad as a nurse. She graduated with a degree in mass communications and started joining pageants, winning Reyna ng Aliwan 2018 and Miss Philippines Water 2019.
Fernandez is on her second international competition after her Top 15 finish and winning the Head-to-Head Challenge in Miss Globe 2022 held in Albania.
Heading into the finals of Miss Cosmo, Fernandez was named in the Top 5 of the Ao Dai fashion show and is leading the Cosmo People’s Choice voting—the first contestant to breach the four million mark—which earned her an exclusive photo shoot with Miss Cosmo 2024 Ketut Permata Juliastrid and Miss Cosmo 2024 runner-up Mook Karnruethai Tassabut. The People’s Choice winner will have an automatic spot in the final Top 10.
Fernandez, who worked with the Diwa non-profit youth organization that provides assistance to members of the marginalized sector through youth involvement, poverty awareness, and community service, hopes to use her inspiring story as a foster child as a platform to support adoption and fostering campaigns.
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Cyrille Payumo ended her journey in the Miss Charm 2025 pageant, finishing in the Top 20 semi-finalists during the finals held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Friday. Anna Blanco of Venezuela bested 33 candidates for the title.
Payumo followed last year’s Top 20 placement of Kayla Carter and the first runner-up finish of Annabelle McDonnell. She took home the Best in National Costume award for a traditional Salakot-inspired ensemble designed by Simeon Cayetano.
Payumo, a statuesque 27-year-old model, previously won Miss Tourism International 2019 held in Sunway City, Malaysia, and also competed in World Top Model 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. She was a Top 6 finalist in Miss Universe Philippines 2025, where she was appointed Miss Charm Philippines 2025.
