Miss Universe PH 2026 finalists get The Miss Philippines crowns

May 11 ------ The wait is finally over as the remaining finalists of the 2026 Miss Universe Philippines pageant learned their fate and received their national titles, which will also send them to international competitions.

At a coronation ball held at the grand ballroom of City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City, the ladies received their crowns from The Miss Philippines, a sister brand of the national pageant under Empire Philippines. Inheriting the Miss Supranational Philippines crown from Katrina Llegado was Allyson Hetland, while Miss Cosmo runner-up Chelsea Fernandez crowned Ysabella Ysmael as Miss Cosmo Philippines, together with reigning Miss Cosmo Yolina Lindquist of the United States.

Reigning Miss Eco International Alexie Brooks of the Philippines joined Gabriella Carballo in crowning Jenrose Javier as Miss Eco International Philippines, while current Miss Charm Anna Blanco of Venezuela joined Cyrille Payumo in crowning Apriel Smith as Miss Charm Philippines. While recent editions of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant named runners-up from the finalist roster, no runners-up were announced at the ball. Instead, two new titles were awarded.

Crowned Miss Worldwide Philippines was Nicole Borromeo, while the Miss Tourism Worldwide Philippines title went to Marian Arellano. Two more surprise titles were also awarded to Miss Universe Philippines semifinalists. Catherine Wardle was crowned Miss Teen Universe Philippines, while Trexy Paris Roxas was named Miss Eco Teen International. All these national titles come with international assignments and require the queens to represent the Philippines on the global stage.

Hetland will compete in the Miss Supranational pageant next year, as Llegado is still set to fly to Poland in July for the 2026 competition. Javier will also have to wait a year before her turn on the global stage, as Carballo is headed to Egypt for Miss Eco International 2026, where she hopes to secure a second consecutive win for the Philippines. Ysmael and Smith, meanwhile, will try to become the first Miss Cosmo and Miss Charm winners from the Philippines, respectively.

Borromeo will compete in Miss Worldwide, while Arellano will be sent to Miss Tourism World. Wardle will represent the country in Miss Teen Universe, while Roxas will compete in Miss Eco Teen International. This is the first time the Miss Philippines has held a coronation ball to proclaim queens. Over the past three years, the crowns were awarded to recipients during brief programs held immediately after the Miss Universe Philippines coronation.

Source: inquirer.net