Ara Arida reminds Miss Universe Philippines 2026 bets of the importance of sleep

March 21 ------ Major beauty pageants have now become synonymous to long days and packed schedules that sometimes deprive candidates of sleep. That is why Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) National Director Ariella “Ara” Arida reminded her delegates to still get enough rest.

“Even if you are stressed, sleep is a really good remedy, because it’s all coming from inside your body. For me, sleep really is a luxury,” she said in an interview with Inquirer Entertainment on the sidelines of the launch event for the pageant’s intelligent well-being and smart living partner. “Especially right now, with what they’re all doing, how can you protect yourself, your wellbeing, and how can you bring out that glow naturally? It’s through sleep,” Arida added.

The 51 delegates of the 2026 Miss Universe Philippines pageant were also at the event, where Arida was joined by MUPH President Jonas Gaffud, EVP Voltaire Tayag, and Zion Philippines CEO Mary Cruz and COO Francis Hari Avila.

Arida confessed that when she was younger, she took sleep for granted, thinking that she had all the energy she needed. This is the reason why she hopes this year’s delegates will not make the same mistake and will start prioritizing sleep now.

“They’re so lucky. Now everything is in technology. I didn’t even know that the bed now can have AI (artificial intelligence) for sleep care. If some of the girls are having a hard time sleeping, this AI sleep care will help them sleep more and sleep better,” she said. “I hope during my time, during Binibini, or when I was still competing, we had this AI sleep care. Perhaps whenever I would lie in bed, I would immediately get knocked out,” continued Arida, who was crowned at the 50th Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2013, and competed in the Miss Universe pageant in the same year.

She also advised the ladies to set their phones aside when they’re planning to sleep. “Sometimes, going back home from work, our initial thing is to get our phone, check updates,” she said. “As much as possible, make a habit of when you are going to use your phone. And then make sure before going to sleep to put it down, set it aside, because that disrupts your sleeping pattern as well,” Arida added.

The ladies are going to have a hectic calendar, with their swimsuit show in Boracay this weekend, and the preliminary competition that is fast approaching. The delegates are also set to visit Misamis Occidental for a week. “Sometimes, even if you have a short sleep, I hope you get a deep sleep. I guess what’s important is, even if you have a short sleep, that it’s deep, and it’s restful on their part,” Arida said.

Source: inquirer.net