Save the best for last. Coming off the near-win in Miss International 2018 and the shut-out at Miss World 2018, the Philippines hit the bullseye at the most targeted arena of beauty competitions. Catriona Gray’s celebrated triumph at Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand gave her pageant-crazy countrymen their happiest Christmas and a year-ending blow-out party.
Gray won the 67th Miss Universe crown from the gate-go. Picked as the “One to Beat,” the 24-year-old, model-singer from Oas, Albay, was simply divine as she killed the competition, outshining 93 delegates from around the world to bring home the country’s fourth Miss Universe title and the second in three years.
Gray owned the Universe stage with her now famous lava walk and slo-mo twirl in her sultry-sexy, fiery-red, Mayon-inspired evening gown created by her Glam team’s designer Mak Tumang. An epitome of grace under pressure, she was on point conveying what she was most passionate about to apply in her time as Miss Universe.
Gray made a two-day brief return in Manila two days after her win to grace a charity event and pay a courtesy call/meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. She flew to New York shortly after to begin her duties as Miss Universe. A grand homecoming is seen in either January or February, according to the people from Miss Universe Organization.
Ahtisa Manalo, a 21-year-old Accountancy graduate and aspiring policewoman from Candelaria, Quezon, almost brought home the country’s 7th Miss International title, second to Venezuela’s Mariem Velazco in Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 9.
Mutya ng Pilipinas Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel won the Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 title at Resorts World Manila on Oct. 4. The 21-year-old Muslim-Filipina from Lebak, Sultan Kudarat and a graduate of Elementary Education at Notre Dame of Salaman College, won the title on the 50th Golden edition of the long-running pageant.
Earlier in the year, Miss World Philippines-Multinational 2017 Sophia Senoron, an 18-year-old Financial Management student at San Beda College, was crowned the first Miss Multinational 2018 in New Delhi, India on Feb. 26.
Miss World Philippines-Eco International 2017 Cynthia Thomalla emerged the winner in Miss Eco International 2018 pageant in Cairo Egypt on April 27. Thomalla, a 23-year-old Fil-German, Tourism, and Events Management graduate from Macrohon, Southern Leyte, bested more than 70 delegates from all over the world.
Gerina Chanel Ancheta, a 17-year-old native of Dagupan, Pangasinan was crowned Miss Asian International 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand on March 2, while Kaycee Coleen Lim, a UP Political Science graduate and UK-based lawyer won Miss Summer World 2018 in Duress, Albania on May 19.
Karen Grace Atienza, a high school teacher from Rodriguez, Rizal, won Miss Landscape International 2018 in Guangzhou, China on June 23, while Miss World Philippines 2017 2nd Princess Zara Carbonell, 25-year-old Organizational Communication graduate of De La Salle and TV host, daughter of actor Cris Villanueva, won as Miss Tourism Worldwide 2018 in Batam, Indonesia on Sept. 9.
Bb. Pilipinas-Globe Michele Gumabao finished in the Top 15 in Miss Globe 2018 in Tirana, Albania on Oct. 21. The 26-year-old De La Salle Marketing graduate and volleyball star-turned beauty queen, won Miss Social Media and Miss Dream Girl special awards.
Celeste Cortesi, a 20-yer-old Fil-Italian model, finished in the Top 8 in Miss Earth 2018 held in Mall of Asia Manila on November 3 won by Miss Vietnam Nguyá»…n PhÆ°Æ¡ng Khánh. Miss Austria Melanie Mader, who was named Miss Earth Air 2018, was a contestant in Miss Earth Philippines 2016 and won Miss Philippines Earth- Eco-Tourism 2016.
Noelle Fuentes Uy-Tuazon, from Aklan, was named 2nd runner-up in Miss Scuba International 2018 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia on Nov. 17.
Jehza Huelar finished in the Top 10 in Miss Supranational 2018 held in Kyrnica-Zdroj, Poland on Dec. 8 where Miss USA Katrina Jayne Dimaranan, who finished as first runner-up, was a candidate and won Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism in 2012.
Julieane ‘Aya’ Fernandez, a UP Broadcast Communication student of Taguig City, was named Dreamgirl of the Year International in Miss Tourism International 2018 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia on Dec. 21 won by Miss Indonesia Astari Indah Vernideani.
Eva Psychee Patalinjug and Katarina Rodriguez failed to advance in the Top 20 of Miss Grand International 2018 in Yangon, Myanmar on Oct. 25, and the Top 30 of Miss World 2018 in Sanya, China on Dec. 8, respectively. Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez also failed to make the cut at 2018 Reina Hispanoamericana in Bolivia where last year’s winner Winwyn Marquez relinquished her title.
Simone Nadine Bornilla won Miss Teen International 2018 Asia And Oceania and Best in National Costume in the recent concluded Miss Teen International 2018 held last night in New Delhi, India.
Several good results were also achieved on the male pageant side. Mark Andrew Baron, a 24-year-old High School teacher from Navotas, won Mister Star Model Universe 2018 in Peru on May 28 while Benigno Ion Perez, 27-year-old model from Concepcion, Tarlac, won Mister Universe Tourism 2018 in Pasig City on May 29.
George Reylon de Lumen, a 23-year-old Illustration Artist and model from Camarines Sur, won Mister Universal Ambassador 2018 in New Delhi, India, on Nov. 24 while Jeff Langan finished as 3rd runner up in Manhunt International 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia on Dec. 2.
Mister Ocean Philippines 2017 Carlo Pasion, an Information Technology graduate and Fitness Trainer, was crowned Mister Model Worldwide 2018 in Ghevra, New Delhi, India on Dec. 22.