CONTESTANT List for the FIRST MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES Pageant Released

Last year, the long partnership between primary Philippine beauty pageant Binibining Pilipinas and global pageant organization Miss Universe diverged in separate paths. With a former Binibining Pilipinas – Universe, Shamcey Supsup-Lee, at its head, the new Miss Universe Philippines competition will from this year on choose the representative Filipina beauty queen who will vie for the Miss Universe crown. Their very first official pageant would serve to establish the style for Miss Universe Philippines in the same way Miss World Philippines did when it too broke off years earlier. One way to make an impression is with a formidable candidate list.

CNN Philippines tells us that such a list was presented by the Miss Universe Philippines Organization (MUPO) was presented last week, on Friday February 14. The list contains 52 names, the first batch of competitors to aim to become the inaugural Miss Universe Philippines, who in turn will be the country’s representative to the 2020 Miss Universe beauty pageant. This coincided with the presentation of the candidates themselves on that same day, during a press event at the Manila Hotel. Dressed variedly in an ensemble of Filipiniana and modern dress, the 52 MUP contestants were radiant as they faced the press and made themselves known.

Perusing the names of the 2020 MUP candidates, one who follows beauty pageants might be pleased to see some familiar names: returnees from previous competitions out to try their luck once more. There is Michelle Gumabao, volleyball player extraordinaire and rep for Miss Globe 2018, and Sandra Lemonon who was a peer of Catriona Gray in Miss World Philippines 2016 and Binibining Pilipinas 2018. To facilitate greater exposure across the nation, all 52 candidates stand for either a Philippine province or major city. This makes the MUP hopefuls a bit more like the Miss Universe pageant proper with their more defined geographic and political representation.

Enumerated in alphabetical order of their province/island/city of representation, the 2020 Miss Universe Philippines candidates are the following:

1. Christelle Abello (Aklan)
2. Paula Ortega (Albay)
3. Christine Nicole Silvernale (Angeles City)
4. Joecel Robenta (Antique)
5. Princess Marquez (Aurora)
6. Bea Theresa Maynigo (Baguio City)
7. Jan Alexis Elcano (Batanes)
8. Nathalia Urcia (Batangas)
9. Skelly Ivy Florida (Biliran)
10. Pauline Amelinckx (Bohol)
11. Dianella Louise Loya (Bulacan)
12. Vincy Valcalares (Cagayan De Oro)
13. Maria Danica Reynes (Cagayan Province)
14. Krizzia Lynn Moreno (Camarine Sur)
15. Mariam Lara Hamid (Capiz)
16. Sigrid Grace Flores (Catanduanes)
17. Kimberly Hakenson (Cavite)
18. Tracy Maureen Perez (Cebu City)
19. Apriel Smith (Cebu province)
20. Alaiza Malinao (Davao City)
21. We'am Ahmed (Davao Del Norte)
22. Mariel Joyce Pascua (General Santos)
23. Maria Regina Malana (Isabela)
24. Adelma P. Benedicta (Ilocos Sur)
25. Rabiya Mateo (Iloilo City)
26. Kim Chi Crizaldo (IloIlo province)
27. Noreen Mangawit (Kalinga)
28. Jo-Ann Flores (Laguna)
29. Trizha Ocampo (La Union)
30. Chiara Lyn Markwalder (Leyte)
31. Ivanna Kamil Pacis (Makati)
32. Alexandra Abdon (Manila)
33. Lou Dominique Piczon (Mandaue)
34. Maria Lianina Macalino (Marinduque)
35. Caroline Joy Veronilla (Misamis Oriental)
36. Maricres Castro (Muntinlupa)
37. Angela Aninang (Negros Occidental)
38. Adee Hitomi Ariate Akiyama (Oriental Mindoro)
39. Jennifer Linda (Palawan)
40. Patricia Mae Santos (Pampanga)
41. Maria Niña Soriano (Pangasinan)
42. Maria Ysabella Ysmael (Parañaque)
43. Zandra Nicole Sta. Maria (Pasay)
44. Riana Pangindian (Pasig City)
45. Michele Theresa Gumabao (Quezon City)
46. Faye Deveza (Quezon province)
47. Ericka Evangelista (Rizal)
48. Maria Fee Tajaran (Romblon)
49. Maria Isabela Galeria (Sorsogon)
50. Carissa Rozil (Surigao del Norte)
51. Sandra Lemonon (Taguig)
52. Perlyn Y. Cayona (Zamboanga del Sur)

The 2020 Miss Universe Philippines will be held on May 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Manila, with the winner to compete in the 2020 Miss Universe at the end of the year. Four countries have already selected representatives: Belgium, Colombia, Poland and Vietnam.

Image courtesy of Cosmo PH