Dia Mate returns to Bolivia for Reina Hispanoamericana 2026

February 13 ------ Reina Hispanoamericana Dia Mate’s reign is now down to its homestretch as the reigning queen returns to Bolivia in the lead up to the 2026 competition, where she is set to crown her successor.

It was a year ago when she made history for the Philippines by becoming only the second Filipino woman to be crowned Reina Hispanoamericana, eight years after Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez posted the country’s first victory. “Bolivia reopens its arms to receive its queen,” the Reina Hispanoamerican pageant posted in Spanish on social media, showing Mate arriving at the airport in a blue lace gown.

The reigning queen arrived just in time for the “Gala de la Belleza” event, one of the major pre-final activities of the international competition, held in the City of Santa Cruz de la Sierra on Feb. 11 (12 in Manila). Mate’s path to the crown in Bolivia gave her an interesting ride. She first joined the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, where she only took home a special award. Then months later, she jumped to the Miss World Philippines contest, where she was crowned Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas.

This year, international pageant veteran Francesca Beatriz Abalajon Mclelland is representing the country in the global tilt. She was crowned Reina Hispaoamericana Filipinas at the 2025 Miss Grand International Philippines competition.

McLelland’s first global outing was at the Miss Teen International pageant in India in 2019, where she was proclaimed as Miss Teen Intercontinental. She also represented the Philippines in the 2022 Miss Eco Teen International pageant in Egypt, where she finished second. She is currently in the fifth spot of the 2026 Reina Hispanoamerica online poll as of the latest tally. The delegate with the highest number of votes at the end of the voting period will automatically enter the Top 12.

The 2026 Reina Hispanoamericana “Gran Final” will be held in Santa Cruz on Feb. 21 (22 in Manila). Mclelland is not only gunning for a second consecutive win for the Philippines, but also the third straight back-to-back for a country in the international pageant.

The 2022 and 2023 winners were Peruvian queens Ariette Rujel and Maricielo Gamarra, respectively. Mexican contenders Regina Peredo and Andrea Bazarte were crowned in 2019 and 2021, respectively. No competition was held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: inquirer.net