Miss Universe Philippines to hold first-ever sports fest among 2026 candidates

March 6 ------ The delegates of the 2026 Miss Universe Philippines pageant will trade their high-heeled shoes for comfortable sneakers for something unprecedented. The national pageant will hold its first-ever “Sports Fest” in this year’s edition of the annual competition, Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) Executive Vice President Voltaire Tayag revealed.

“This year we’ll do something very exciting, and it will not only get them outside, but also be active as well. We’re going to have the Miss Universe Philippines Sports Fest,” he said at the launch of the organization’s third straight year of collaboration with a health supplement.

The event was held at District One at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on Tuesday, March 3, and was also attended by MUPH Pres. Jonas Gaffud, National Director Ariella Arida, and Jell Life Founder Crystal Jacinto. “So doon ninyo ilabas lahat ng stress ninyo during the Sports Fest. That’s why it is so important that from now on you keep taking your Jell Life, so by the time you get to the Sports Fest, you’re gonna be ready from the inside to the outside,” Tayag said.

The Miss Universe Philippines Sports Fest will have three events—Badminton, Pickle Ball, and Pilates–and will be held on March 17 at a venue that will be announced soon. The 51 official delegates of the 2026 Miss Universe Philippines pageant also attended the launch, wearing outfits in shades of pink and purple. Five ladies were chosen as “Most Stylish,” and each got P5,000 as a prize, while all of the delegates received suitcases bearing gifts.

Adjudged as most stylish during the afternoon event were fan favorites Allyson Hetland from Pampanga and Marian Arellano from Tarlac, also among the tallest in this year’s batch. Joining them were Jenrose Javier from Sultan Kudarat, Lyneree Montero-Yodong from Mountain Province, and Zestah Shalom Espinosa from Iloilo City. The pageant is searching for the successor of reigning queen Ahtisa Manalo, who will be sent to the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November.

Source: inquirer.net