In a year in which we witnessed the historic feats of dynamo Carlos Yulo at the Paris Olympics and Filipino phenom Sofronio Vasquez in The Voice USA, the Philippines was unsuccessful in all the ‘big league’ global pageants, including Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, and Miss Grand International.
However, with a harvest of runner-up finishes and various wins in other beauty competitions, including the year-ending victory in Miss Tourism International 2024/25, Filipino fans still have good reason to celebrate.
The year’s top story belongs to Chelsea Anne Manalo, who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2024 in May, becoming the first-ever black Filipino representative in Miss Universe. Manalo made the Top 30 in Miss Universe 2024, held in Mexico in November, but was left out of the Top 12—a glaring omission to many who predicted her to be among the top finishers.
Manalo was vindicated when she was named Miss Universe-Asia 2024, one of four continental titles awarded for the first time by the Miss Universe Organization, to serve as ambassador during Miss Universe 2024 Maria Victoria Kjær Theilvig’s reign. Manalo also bagged the Best National Costume award for the second consecutive year.
In Miss World 2024, Gwendolyne Fourniol was unplaced, with Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic winning, held in Mumbai, India, in March. In Miss International 2024, Angelica Lopez was also unplaced but made it to the Top 12 in Swimsuit (Miss Fitness Awardee), with Huỳnh Thị Thanh Thủy of Vietnam winning, held in Tokyo, Japan, in November.
In Miss Earth 2024, Irha Mel Alfeche finished in the Top 12, with Jessica Lane of Australia winning, held in Manila in November. In Miss Grand International 2024, Christine Juliane Opiaza was named first runner-up to Rachel Gupta of India, held in Bangkok, Thailand, in October.
Alethea Ambrosio won the continental title Miss Supranational Asia & Oceania 2024 in Miss Supranational 2024, won by Harashta Haifa Zahra of Indonesia, held in Poland in July.
The big winner this year was Mutya Ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2024 Liana Rose Barrido, who was crowned Miss Tourism International 2024/25 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this month.
A string of runner-up finishes included Michelle Arceo, who placed second runner-up in Reina Hispanoamericana 2023/24, with Maricielo Gamarra of Peru winning, held in Bolivia in January.
Chantal Elise Schmidt finished as first runner-up in Miss Eco International 2024, with Angelina Usanova of Ukraine winning, held in Egypt in April. Raven Doctor won third runner-up and the continental title Miss Eco Teen Asia 2024 in Miss Eco Teen International 2024, won by Cece Wu of Canada, held in Egypt in October.
Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024 Jasmin Bungay also placed second runner-up in Miss Globe 2024, which was won by Diana Morena of Colombia, held in Albania in October. Blessa Ericha Figueroa was named third runner-up in Miss Asia-Pacific International 2024, which was won by Janelis Leyba of the USA, held in Pasay City in October. Isabelle De los Santos was named first runner-up in Miss Aura International 2024, which was won by Yuri Rey of Colombia, in Turkey in October.
Megan Campbell finished as first runner-up in World Top Model 2024, which was won by Federica Giovagnoli of Italy, held in Italy in November. Samantha Victoria Acosta placed second runner-up in Miss CosmoWorld 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November.
Alyssa Marie Redondo was named second runner-up in Miss Intercontinental 2024, which was won by Maria Cepero of Puerto Rico, held in Egypt in December.
Maria Gigante was crowned Universal Woman 2024 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in May, one of the Filipinas who bagged different titles. Others include Juvyel Anne Saluta, who won Elite World 2024, in Egypt in September, and Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano, who was crowned Face of Beauty International 2024 in Taiwan in September.
Kirsten Dawn Delerio won Miss Fitness Supermodel World 2024 in Vietnam in September, while Thea Judinelle Casuncad was named Miss Supermodel Worldwide 2024 in New Delhi, India, in May.
In pageants for married women, Vevherly Gador placed in the Top 25 of the 47th Mrs. Universe 2024, which was won by Natallia Daroshka of Belarus, held in Incheon, South Korea, in October.
In male pageants, Lloyd Figueras snared the Mister Teenage Universe 2024 title in Bali, Indonesia, in March, while Luisito Daumier Corilla was crowned Mister Global 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, in October.
Brandon Espiritu finished as second runner-up in Mister Supranational 2024, won by Fezile Mkhize of South Africa, held in Poland in July. King Godfrey Murillo was named first runner-up in Mister Fitness Supermodel World 2024, won by Feygelman Artyom of Uzbekistan in Vietnam in September.
Kenneth Cabungcal placed first runner-up in Man of the World 2024, which was won by Sergio Azuga of Venezuela, held in Manila in July. Brent Dalman was third runner-up in Top Model of Universe 2024, which was won by Yoyo Teenarupakorn Muangmai of Thailand, in Istanbul, Turkey, in October.
Kirk Bondad placed in the Top 20 of Mister World 2024, which was won by Daniel Mejia of Puerto Rico, held in Vietnam in November. Markki Stroem closed out the year with a fourth runner-up finish, as well as the best in national costume and best in talent awards, in Mister Universe 2024, which was won by Patrick Callahan of Ireland, held on Dec. 22 in Hollywood, California, USA.
