On Sunday, the Philippines’ Alethea Ambrosio and Brandon Espiritu made a strong showing at the finale of Miss and Mister Supranational 2024 pageants, held in Nowy Sącz, Malopolska, Poland.
Ambrosio finished in the Top 12 and was named Miss Supranational Asia and Oceania 2024, at the finals won by Harashta Haifa Zahra of Indonesia.
The Asia-Oceania Continental title is awarded to the highest-placing delegate from the region who did not advance to the Top 5.
Meanwhile, Espiritu achieved the country’s highest placement in Mister Supranational, finishing as second runner-up to Fezile Mkhize of South Africa. He also bagged the social media influencer challenge award.
A model and entrepreneur, Espiritu, 31, who was born and raised in Guam, moved to Hawaii, USA in 2012, where he studied and graduated with a degree in Business Administration at Chaminade University of Honolulu. He started modeling in 2018 with the Hawaiian modeling agency Larson Talent.
Espiritu, presently working with the MVNP in Honolulu as a social media specialist, is the co-founder and Marketing Executive of A Life Over Time, a clothing company that supports feeding programs for the homeless in Guam.
“We broke history, we broke Top 5. As a Filipino, I’m so proud to be here,” he posted on Instagram.
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Filipino-Scottish, Filipino-Kiwi beauties win rights to compete in Miss Universe 2024
Filipino-Scottish Christina Dela Cruz Chalk, who made the Top 20 in Miss Universe Philippines 2024, representing the Filipino community in the UK, snared the Miss Universe Great Britain 2024 title, held July 6 at the Riverfront Theater and Arts Centre in Newport City, South Wales.
Chalk, 31, from Dunblane, Scotland, won the title on her third attempt, after finishing as first runner-up in 2016 and again as first runner-up in 2021.
A Pharmacology graduate, Chalk supports the a-SISTERHOOD organization that supports, empowers, and protects women worldwide through fundraising campaigns. Fondly called ‘Tinay,’ Chalk’s winning the right to represent the UK in this year’s Miss Universe competition, was welcomed warmly by her fellow candidates in Miss Universe Philippines including Miss Cosmo Philippines 2024 Ahtisa Manalo and Miss Supranational Philippines 2025 Tarah Valencia.
Meanwhile, Franki Russel, who was part of ABS-CBN reality show Pinoy Big Brother in 2018 and appeared in Ang Probinsyano and Laruan TV series, was appointed as Miss Universe New Zealand 2024, as announced by Josh Yugen, a Filipino entrepreneur and national director of the Miss Universe New Zealand Organization.
The 29-year-old Filipino-Kiwi beauty will compete on the Miss Universe stage on her platform on cyberbullying awareness and protection among the youth and around the globe.