Asia Rose Simpson lights up Miss World 2026 stage with ‘Pandanggo sa Ilaw’

September 4 ------ Asia Rose Simpson delivered Filipino flair on the 2026 Miss World stage with a quick glimpse of the folk dance “Pandanggo sa Ilaw” during the pageant’s “Dances of the World” showcase. The 18-year-old youth advocate appeared in a pink “Traje de Mestiza” by designer Renel Suarez, complete with a floral headdress and “candles” in her hands and on her head.

Simpson and the rest the 110 delegates each had their own moments on stage at the April 2 Square in Nha Trang, Vietnam, for the “Hello Vietnam, Hello World show held on Wednesday evening, Sept. 2. For Asia and Oceania, Simpson was joined by Samanzar Sayeed from Bangladesh, Taanusiya Chetty from Malaysia, Luna Luitel from Nepal, Prathibia Liyanaarachchi from Sri Lanka, and host delegate Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc from Vietnam.

Simpson also performed that evening the contemporary dance routine she presented at the Talent Competition held earlier, where she copped up the second runner-up spot.

The auction piece she brought to the gala, meanwhile, fetched $10,000. It was a mixed medium work with crocheted figures she did herself, and a backing piece of capiz and other shells by a local artist. Simpson titled it “Uncle” in tribute to her late uncle and his family.

Simpson had already secured her spot in the Top 40 by winning the “Head-to-Head” Challenge for Asia and Oceania. The winners in the four regional groups automatically earned placements in the quarterfinals. She was also among the semifinalists in her continental group in the Top Model competition and was one of the overall finalists in the Sports Challenge.

Source: inquirer.net