2 Fil-Ams competing at Universal Woman 2026 pageant in Cambodia next month

September 13 ------ Two Filipino-American contenders are included in the roster of delegates for this year’s edition of the Universal Woman pageant, an inclusive competition with a higher age range for participants, and which also allows mothers, married women and transgender women.

Representing the Philippines is Marizza Delgado, who was crowned Universal Woman Philippines at the conclusion of the 2026 Miss World Philippines pageant held in February. Before the Philippine national search, Delgado won the Miss New York USA crown, which brought her to the 2024 Miss USA pageant as her home state’s representative. She scored a Top 20 placement at the competition held in Los Angeles, California. The other Filipino-American contestant at the 2026 Universal Woman pageant is another product of the Miss World Philippines pageant, Bianca Tapia, who joined the Philippine national search in 2024.

Tapia had just competed at the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant as the representative of the Filipino community of Hawaii and finished in the Top 20 when she joined the 2024 Miss World Philippines pageant as the delegate from Batangas. And although the Miss World Philippines title went to Krishnah Gravidez, who eventually received the Miss World Asia title at her international competition, Tapia was bestowed the Miss Philippines Tourism title.

Also crowned that year were Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas Dia Mate, who eventually won the international crown at her global contest, and Miss Multinational Philippines Nikki Buenafeh Cheveh, who is the reigning Face of Beauty International titleholder. But while Delgado will be the official Filipino delegate to the 2026 Universal Woman pageant, Tapia will be representing the United States. They will fly to Cambodia for the international competition, which will culminate at the “Grand Final” on Oct. 10.

This year’s competition will be the international pageant’s fourth edition. The Philippines first participated at the second staging of the Universal Woman pageant in 2024, also held in Cambodia, with Filipino delegate Maria Gigante bringing home the crown. She passed the title to Ivana Carolina of Puerto Rico in last year’s contest.

Source: inquirer.net