Emma Mary Tiglao may be feeling some weight on her shoulders to bring home a back-to-back Miss Grand International crown, but it isn’t there to break her, it’s there to challenge her to prove that she can.
A proud Pampangueña, Tiglao said she would showcase on the MGI stage the Kapampangan’s strong sense of pride in their culture and heritage, and what they can offer to the rest of the world.
Tiglao, a tourism graduate and co-host of Net25 TV’s Kada Umaga morning show, has prepared extensively and is ready to put her best foot forward to succeed outgoing Miss Grand International 2024 Christine Juliane Opiaza, who will relinquish her crown in the finals to be held at MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 18.
“I have evolved into a much better, stronger person since my journey in Miss Intercontinental 2019,” said the 30-year-old entrepreneur, a co-owner of Lilim Café in Angeles City, during her sendoff held at Pandan Asian Café in Quezon City.
Since the Philippines started joining global beauty competitions, Filipinas have achieved rare back-to-back victories only on three occasions: Gloria Dimayacyac and Maria del Carmen Ines Zaragoza (Miss Asia 1982–1983); Rizzini Alexis Gomez and Angeli Dione Gomez (Miss Tourism International 2002–2003); and Angelia Ong and Jamie Herrell (Miss Earth 2014–2015).
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Meanwhile, Christine Eds Enero begins her quest for another back-to-back victory at the Miss Tourism International 2025 pageant, which kicks off tomorrow (Saturday) in Malaysia with the arrival of 40 delegates from around the world.
Enero, a 22-year-old aspiring actor and graduate with a degree in Basic Education, won Mutya ng Pilipinas-Luzon 2024 and was recently appointed Miss Tourism International Philippines 2025 by the Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization.
“I am beyond honored to represent the Philippines at Miss Tourism International 2025. Wearing our country’s name across my heart is both a privilege and a responsibility which I embrace with pride, courage, and purpose,” said the former Ms. Olivarez College 2019.
“We are incredibly proud to have Christine Enero as our official representative to Miss Tourism International 2025. Her dedication to the values of tourism, culture, and advocacy aligns perfectly with the mission of the Miss Tourism International pageant. We have full confidence that Christine will shine brightly in this esteemed international competition,” said Mutya ng Pilipinas president Cory Quirino.
The Miss Tourism International World Final is set for Oct. 18 at Resorts World Genting in Pahang, Malaysia, where five titles are to be contested: Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International (30th edition), Miss Tourism International (28th edition), Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International (25th edition), Miss Tourism Global (21st edition), and Miss Tourism Metropolitan International (19th edition).
Miss Tourism International 2024 Liana Rose Barrido of the Philippines will crown her successor.
