Activities for the Miss Supranational 2023 pageant started on Wednesday, June 14, with the organization opening the voting for its Miss Influencer challenges. The winner for the challenge will secure a spot in the pageant’s Top 24. 

In her official entry, Pauline looked sultry wearing a red piece and posing in a blue backdrop. 

The beauty queen from Bohol also took to Instagram to ask for the support of Filipino pageant fans. “Supra headshot,” she wrote. “This is it. Our [Miss Supranational] challenge.” 

“Let’s do this, Philippines,” she added. 

Fellow beauty queens such as Samantha Panlilio, Hannah Arnold, Jannarie Zarzoso, and Angelique Manto sent their well wishes for Pauline’s pageant journey in the comments section. 

As of writing, the Facebook post has over 178,000 reactions, 40,000 comments, and 22,000 shares. Following this, Pauline expressed her gratitude to the support she received. “I feel so blessed [because] of all of your love and support,” she wrote in her Instagram stories.

Pauline was named Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 in May following the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 coronation night. She will be competing in hopes of winning the Philippines’ second Miss Supranational crown, following Mutya Datul in 2013. 

The Miss Supranational 2023 coronation night is happening in July in Poland. – Rappler.com

“The decision to award India with this prestigious honor recognizes the nation’s rich cultural heritage, its commitment to promoting diversity, and its passion for empowering women,” they said in a press release on Thursday, June 8. 

The organizers added that the competition in India will “promote charitable causes through philanthropic activities, inspiring contestants to make a positive impact in their communities and contribute to society.” 

MWO added that candidates from over 130 countries are expected to gather in India to participate in a series of activities for the pageant – including “talent showcases, sports challenges, and charitable initiatives, all aimed at highlighting the qualities that make them exceptional ambassadors of change.” 

A final date for the competition has yet to be announced, but the grand finale is expected for November or December 2023. Organizers shared that the pageant will also have several rounds to shortlist participants a month before the finals night. 

In February, MWO announced that the 2023 edition of the pageant was supposed to take place in the United Arab Emirates in May. 

The organization, however, did not disclose the reason for the changes in the competition’s host.  

Karolina Beilawska of Poland will be crowning her successor. 

Negros Occidental’s Gwendolyne Fourniol, who was crowned in June 2022, will be representing the Philippines in the international pageant, in hopes of clinching the country’s second Miss World title. – Rappler.com

In this latest episode of Rappler Talk Entertainment, we chat with the winners of the recent Binibining Pilipinas 2023 pageant – Palawan’s Angelica Lopez, who is Binibining Pilipinas International 2023, Bataan’s Anna Valencia Lakrini, who is Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2023, Davao del Sur’s Katrina Anne Johnson, who is 1st runner-up, and Atasha Reign Parani of General Trias, Cavite, who is 2nd runner-up.

Catch the show live here on Thursday, June 8, at 2 pm or check out Rappler on Facebook! – Rappler.com

Wearing white ensembles, each candidate posed before a glamorous backdrop, as seen in the official photos posted on the pageant’s social media pages. 

“These young women exude confidence, grace, and beauty in every shot, and we are thrilled to have them as part of this year’s competition,” the organization said. 

Only 11 candidates made it to the pageant’s first screening. A second screening for interested applicants will take place on June 7.

Among the familiar faces in the first batch of delegates were Binibining Pilipinas 2022 1st runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol, Miss Environment International 2022 1st runner-up Michelle Arceo, and Miss Elite Philippines 2022 Shanon Tampon. 

Here are the photos of the 2022 candidates:

Michelle Arceo

Carla Tobias

Herlene Nicole Budol

Rona Lalaine Lopez

Jirah Bantas

Ejay Vergara

Laica Eupeña

Maria Gail Tobes

Gabrielle Runnstrom

Queen Mongcupa

Shannon Tampon

The coronation night is set for July 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, with Miss Grand Philippines 2022 Roberta Tamondong crowning her successor. 

The Miss Grand Philippines organization had earlier teased that two crowns would be up for grabs for its 2023 pageant, but additional details about this have yet to be announced.

The Miss Grand Philippines 2023 competition will be the first time the pageant is run under ALV Pageant Circle. The franchise was previously under Binibining Pilipinas Charities (BBPCI) until BBPCI withdrew in November 2022. 

Since Miss Grand International started in 2013, no Filipina beauty queen has taken home the golden crown. The Philippines’ highest placing in the pageant is 1st runner-up from Nicole Cordoves (2016) and Samantha Bernardo (2021).  – Rappler.com

Eleven hopefuls made it to the final cut during the pageant’s screening held at Teatrino, Greenhills on Friday, June 2. 

Among the familiar faces were Binibining Pilipinas 2022 1st runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol, Miss Environment International 2022 1st runner-up Michelle Arceo, and Miss Elite Philippines 2022 Shanon Tampon. 

Other candidates include:

• Carla Fatima Tobias
• Ejay Vergara
• Gabrielle Runnstrom
• Jirah Bantas 
• Laica Eupeña
• Maria Gail Tobes 
• Queen Jubilee Mongcupa 
• Rona Lalaine Lopez

A second screening for interested applicants will take place on June 7.

Miss Grand Philippines 2022 Roberta Tamondong will be crowning her successor. The coronation night is set for July 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Miss Grand Philippines 2023 pageant will be the first time the competition is run under ALV Pageant Circle. The franchise was previously under Binibining Pilipinas Charities (BBPCI) until BBPCI withdrew in November 2022. 

Since Miss Grand International started in 2013, no Filipina beauty queen has taken home the golden crown. The Philippines’ highest placing in the pageant is 1st runner-up from Nicole Cordoves (2016) and Samantha Bernardo (2021). 

Tamondong, who initially finished in the Top 20 of the international pageant, was appointed as fifth runner-up following the resignation of one of the original placers.

The Miss Grand Philippines organization had earlier teased that two crowns would be up for grabs, but additional details about this have yet to be announced. – Rappler.com

Miss CosmoWorld Philippines has opened applications for their 2023 pageant on Thursday, June 1. 

“This is your moment to step into the spotlight and inspire others with your story,” the caption read. 

“Whether you dream of becoming a role model, advocating for a cause close to your heart, or simply embracing the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, Miss CosmoWorld Philippines will undoubtedly be a life-changing experience for you.” 

Interested applicants should be female, a Filipino citizen, aged between 18 to 27 years old, and at least a high school graduate. Aspiring candidates should also have never been married or pregnant. There’s also no specific minimum height requirement for the screening process. 

Interested applicants can accomplish the form found on their website. 

The organization has yet to announce a deadline for its application process, as well as target date for its coronation night. 

The Miss CosmoWorld Philippines 2023 edition will be the first time for the pageant to hold a national edition. 

The winner will succeed Meiji Cruz, who’s also the reigning Miss CosmoWorld 2022 titleholder. 

Cruz won the crown in the international pageant held in Malaysia in November 2022.  – Rappler.com

The 25-year-old Filipina-German beauty queen from Bataan will be competing in the Miss Globe pageant in hopes of winning the Philippines’ third Miss Globe crown.

Personal life

Even though she grew up in Germany, Anna shared that she was able to stayed close to her Filipino roots thanks to her mother. 

“My mother did her best in raising me based on the country we were living in, but without really intending it, my mother taught me our Filipino values that I hold close to my heart to this day,” she wrote in an Instagram post. 

Anna said that it is her “strong bond” with her family that made her move across continents to reconnect with her “roots” and “home.” 

In Germany, Anna has participated in Santacruzan activities, and even shared photos of her posing with her mom and aunt during the event. She also modeled and walked the runway for the 2017 Vienna Fashion Week. 

When she’s away from the spotlight, she also works as a German teacher. During the Binibining Pilipinas 2023 press presentation, Anna also mentioned that she can speak English, Tagalog, and French. 

In her profile in the Binibining Pilipinas website, Anna listed nutrition, animals, nature, first-aid, and getting to know different cultures and countries as her interests. 

She’s also one sporty and talented gal as her hobbies include horse riding, running, doing sports, gym, hiking, diving, and playing the piano. 

In an Instagram post, Anna wrote that when she was growing up, she had always wanted to “do more for [her] community.” “I tutored kids in my school, became a school nurse…and worked during the pandemic at a company that provides ventilators to COVID-19 patients,” she said. 

For her, it’s “an even greater experience” to be able to give back to Filipino communities. “Since I received so much warmth and kindness, it is only fair to give it back in return, cause nothing great was ever accomplished without making a sacrifice,” she said.

Pageant journey

Anna entered pageantry after she got inspired by the journey of fellow Filipina-German beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach. Anna has listed the Miss Universe 2015 titleholder as one of her role models, and wrote that it was one of her “biggest dreams” to meet Pia. 

“I finally meet my idol,” she wrote, alongside a photo with Pia in June 2022. “It is because of you that I got interested in pageantry and I just want to be as determined and beautiful with a heart like you.” 

In 2022, Anna left Germany to pursue a pageant career in the Philippines. Her first foray into the national pageant scene was the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 competition, where she made it to the Top 12. 

During the question and answer round for the 2022 edition, Anna said that her “whole life changed” when she moved to the Philippines just “a couple of months ago” before the pageant. Despite uprooting her whole life, she said that didn’t see it as a “sacrifice.” 

“It was my dream and I always wanted to be in the Philippines, not only to join Binibining Pilipinas, but also to be closest to my family and to my Filipino heritage. And today, I am living the dream on this stage,” she said. 

When she joined Binibining Pilipinas for the second time, Anna took to Instagram to look back on her pageant journey, and how her “weakness, downfalls, and insecurities” made her stronger.

“When I take time to reflect [on] where I am today and where I used to be, I am truly amazed [by] the empowered Pinay I’ve become. It makes me feel so accomplished,” she wrote. 

During the pageant’s talent competition, Anna did a pandanggo dance, saying that she’s proud to have been able to present her culture and the beauty of folk dance. 

“I strongly wantd to make an effort to keep folk dances alive as an important cultural and religious piece of our history. Little Anna would be so proud to see me showcase and return to the traditional heritage of our ancestors,” she wrote. 

For her national costume, Anna drew inspiration from the legend of the alitaptap or fireflies. The ensemble is meant to be a “representation of hope and courage in the face of adversity.” 

Like a firefly, Anna is described as someone who can “radiate her own light” and “spread hope and positivity wherever she goes.”

Anna’s main advocacy is lobbying for accessible and affordable nutrition. During the press presentation, she shared that her journey as a nutritional scientist and advocate for proper nutrition stemmed from her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. 

“This experience made me realize the importance of making a change. That is why I inspire [sic] to have more feeding programs all across the country to teach more people about healthy diet,” she said.  

When she was asked at the 2023 question and answer segment about the ways that a beauty pageant candidate aiming for a crown could be similar to a politician running for an electoral post, Anna again drew attention to proper nutrition. 

Her winning answer was: “As someone who’s joining for the second time, I know that a beauty pageant has a platform on which we can talk about causes that are dear to our heart. My cause that is dear to my heart is nutrition, and as a nutritional scientist, as an advocate for proper nutrition, I know that in advocating with this platform from Binibining Pilipinas we can inspire so many people. And a politician can inspire a whole community. And so can we.” 

Aside from the Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2023 title, Anna was also named Best in Swimsuit in the 2023 pageant. – Rappler.com

The three beauty queens caught the attention of pageant fans and viewers with their stunning ensembles during their hosting stint. The pageant’s 2023 edition served as the third consecutive year for Gray and Cordoves to host its finals night, while it was Lastimosa’s first time joining them. 

Check out some of their remarkable looks throughout the night:

Catriona Gray

Styled by Justine Aliman, Catriona’s first look was a red-hot one-shoulder gown by Anthony Ramirez, accented with jewelry from Tiffany & Co. Given her voluminous slicked-back hair by stylist Brent Sales, makeup artist Jelly Eugenio gave Catriona a timeless makeup look to match.

Later on, Catriona changed into an elegant corseted number with a soft violet skirt by Jaz Cerezo. She also debuted Tiffany’s Lock collection in the Philippines, with a Lock pendant and earrings to match.

Catriona went for a dramatic finale look in a green Resty LaGare couture gown, with a deep cut down front and a high slit. The gown was highlighted with beads and feathers, and a Bulgari serpenti necklace completed the look. 

Nicole Cordoves

Nicole sported a red cut-out mermaid dress with gloves by Bonita Penaranda and sparkling custom jewelry by Drake Dustin Ibay. With a glossy makeup look by Eugenio and updo by hair stylist Paul Nebres, Nicole exuded Old Hollywood glam.

To introduce the swimsuit portion, Bonita Penaranda styled Nicole in a glittering, sheer Boom Sason gown with a white bathing suit underneath. Wavy hair by Nebres completed the look. “We wanted to serve a look that hasn’t been done on the pageant stage,” Nicole shared. 

For her third look, Nicole was stunning in an abstract mermaid gown by Martin Bautista, which featured a soft fin detail at the back.

MJ Lastimosa

MJ opened the night in full-on Barbie Core – a bright pink latex dress with matching gloves by Bonita Peranda! Makeup artist Kim Roy Opog complemented this ensemble with a full glam face, while hair stylist Arvee Yadao gave MJ a flowing high pony.

MJ finished the night wearing Bonita Penaranda again, donning a silky blue dress with a hood.

Penaranda shared on Instagram that she had taken a year off from styling but made the exception for Binbining Pilipinas 2023. “This humbling experience has allowed me to work with incredible individuals, reminding me of the profound impact of collaboration and the beauty of shared creativity,” she wrote.

In a separate Instagram post, Catriona said that it was an “absolute joy” to share the stage with Nicole and MJ. 

Angelica Lopez of Palawan was named Binibining Pilipinas International 2023, while Bataan’s Anna Valencia Lakrini was hailed Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2023. – with additional reports from Pie Gonzaga/Rappler.com

Pie Gonzaga is a Rappler intern.

The 22-year-old stunner from Palawan bested 39 other candidates to succeed Cebu’s Nicole Borromeo. 

Personal life, advocacy

On several accounts, Angelica has opened up about growing up in a “very simple family.” But despite the hardships that they faced, she said that her parents helped her become the resilient and tenacious woman that she is today. 

“I didn’t have a golden childhood,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “I had to start working very hard at an early age to help lessen my mother’s pain from the stress of her job.” 

In different interviews, Angelica said that she started working as a dishwasher and waitress at 14 years old. During the Binibining Pilipinas 2023 press presentation, she also mentioned that she had personal experiences as a cashier, an office clerk, and a model. 

“Coming [from] a financially-strained household, I clearly understand the challenges and the struggles of the less fortunate,” she said during the press presentation. “To the marginalized children of the society, I believe in empowering them to break the cycle of poverty.” 

In a previous interview with PEP, Angelica recalled that one of the reasons she joined pageantry at an early age was to help out with the household expenses. “I was able to become independent as well,” she said. “I used pageantry as an avenue to support myself, to earn money, to support my sister, as well as my mother.” 

Her mother, who passed away four years ago, continues to serve as one of Angelica’s role models. Meanwhile, her father already has a different family. Despite these, the beauty queen shared that she has moved on from these losses. 

“I have experienced a lot, actually, but that’s also the reason why I consider myself as someone who’s resilient,” she told PEP. “Because with those experiences, I learned to stand up on my own and build myself, regardless of the struggles and experiences I’ve had in the past.” 

Her personal experiences in dealing with hunger and poverty pushed her to advocate for low-income communities, saying that it’s something that’s “close to her heart.” 

In an Instagram post, Angelica wrote how she made a promise to her eight-year-old self that “whenever [she] had the opportunity to help, [she] wll do so since [she understands] what it’s like to have nothing.” 

According to her bio on the Binibining Pilipinas website, she is in “pursuit of inspiring, empowering, and educating the less-fortunate children to be resilient and limitless amidst life challenges.”

In her Labor Day tribute post for her father and grandfather, Angelica also paid homage to workers who lobby for better working conditions. “Today, we honor everyone who has put in a lot of effort to advance the working conditions towards bettering our nation,” she wrote. “We appreciate your tenacity, labor, and commitment to your families.” 

Having overcome several obstacles, Angelica also knows how to have fun. In her Instagram, the beauty queen spends most of her time enjoying the beaches in Palawan, and says that she’d always prefer the simplicity of living in the province. 

The second-year Psychology student from Palawan State University also shared that she’s a fan of true crime documentaries, as she’s interested in learning about human behavior. She also mentioned that she and her parents were both music and art aficionados and that she learned and mastered playing the guitar by herself. 

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Her other interests, as listed on the Binibining Pilipinas website, includes reading inspirational books, exploring the philosophy of life, and watching documentary series and beauty pageants. 

Pageant journey

Binibining Pilipinas 2023 wasn’t Angelica’s first foray into national pageantry. 

She had previously competed in Miss Universe Philippines 2022, where she finished as part of the Top 16. During her MUPH stint, Angelica also made waves online with her Fashion and Runway challenge video, wherein she did her parasela beside an airplane, a jeepney, and at the beach. She was part of the Top 3 finalists in the said challenge. 

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Angelica also represented the Philippines in the Miss Asia Global 2022 pageant, where she was hailed 1st runner-up. 

Joining Binibining Pilipinas, though, Angelica said, was “realizing a lifelong dream.” “The once dark and scrawny kid from Palawan walked on the same pathways that many beautiful Filipinas once passed through and my heart is filled with gratitude and pride.” 

Throughout her Binibining Pilipinas 2023 journey, Angelica took to Instagram to share how lovely it is to meet other queens. “Every word they’ve given to us made me realize that to be a Binibini is a great opportunity to empower others, especially women,” one of her posts read. 

In a separate post, she wrote: “Before, I was only watching the previous Binibinis signing their own glam photos in the same venue, and now I am one of them. My heart is bursting with pride and happiness, I am indeed a Binibini.” 

During the pageant’s talent competition, Angelica did her own rendition of “This is Me,” a song from the 2017 movie The Greatest Showman. She also said in an Instagram post that her talent in singing and dancing was something she got from her parents.

Her “Perlas ng Palawan” national costume drew inspiration from the rich marine life of the Tubbataha Reefs, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

During the coronation night’s question and answer portion, Angelica was asked: “What makes you a Binibini who walks the talk and who is beyond mere self-promotion?”

Her winning answer was: “I stand here tonight because it is my mother that instilled in me the values and the morals that I’m using to be the woman that I am now today. A woman who has the strength, courage, and tenacity. The strength to decide for herself what she wants really works hard to achieve it.

“To also have the courage to face any obstacles of life and tenacity to hold on to her wisdom of choice. And I believe that it’s always a dream come true to be here and that is why I am a binibini that I’ve always meant to be.”

Following her winning moment, Angelica dedicated her success to her late mother. In an interview after the pageant, Angelica said that she was looking forward to making a mark on the Miss International stage. “I really want to break the stereotype that the Miss International (winner) should be a fair-skinned girl,” she said. 

Although she succeeded Nicole, Angelica will be joining the Miss International pageant in 2024 as it is Nicole who will be representing the Philippines in the pageant happening in Japan in October. – Rappler.com

Must Read

IN PHOTOS: Highlights of Binibining Pilipinas 2023 coronation night

The night’s festivities opened with a supercharged dance number from the 40 candidates, the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 queens, and reigning Miss International 2022 Jasmin Selberg, with Darren Espanto singing “Win Your Heart,” Binibining Pilipinas’ theme song. 

(All photos by Rob Reyes)

Wearing lilac ensembles, each delegate also had lively introductions, wherein they mentioned their names and hometowns. Near the end of the opening number, the 2022 queens – Nicole Borromeo, Chelsea Fernandez, Gabrielle Basiano, Roberta Angela Tamondong  – and Selberg joined the 2023 delegates. 

The hosts – Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Miss Grand International 2016 1st runner-up Nicole Cordoves, and Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastismosa then made their grand entrance. This is the third consecutive year for Gray and Cordoves to host the Binibining Pilipinas coronation night. 

Judges for the Binibining Pilipinas 2023 pageant were introduced: Olympic-winning athlete Hidilyn Diaz, William Vincent Marcos, Miss International 2022 Jasmin Selberg, businessman Peter Zwiener, Hon. Honey Lacuna, actor Piolo Pascual, influencer Small Laude, editor-in-chief Anton San Diego, Golden Globe nominee Dolly de Leon, and Josh Cullen of P-pop powerhouse SB19. 

The delayed telecast started at 9:30 pm but the fast-paced program was quick to make up for it as they went straight to announcing the special awardees and semifinalists. From the 40 delegates, the Top 10 were called. Gray then announced that Bulacan’s Loraine Jara, the recipient of the Binibining Bingo Plus award, would be part of the semifinalists. 

The Top 11 then showed off their physiques, wearing orange swimwear as Vice Ganda performed the track “RAMPA.” The comedian-host later shared that they personally wrote the song for the Binibining Pilipinas stage. Bataan’s Lakrini won the Best in Swimsuit award. 

The ladies then channeled elegance and grace as they modeled stunning dresses by local designers in the evening gown segment. Laguna’s Trisha Martinez took home the Best in Evening Gown award. 

After the highly-anticipated swimsuit and evening gown segments, the hosts announced more special awardees: Albay’s Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano was named Best in National Costume, Mary Chiles Balana of Hermosa, Bataan was Binibining Friendship, Catanduanes’ Candy Marilyn Vollinger was named Binibining Talent, while the Face of Binibini awardee was Julia Mae Mendoza of Roxas City, Province of Capiz. 

The Top 11 candidates then faced the much-awaited Question and Answer portion. 

As deliberations on the winner were underway, the Binibining Pilipians 2022 queens did their final walks. First to take the stage was Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2022 Gabrielle Basiano, who finished in the Top 20 in her international stint. She was followed by Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2022 Chelsea Fernandez, who ended her international stint in the Top 15. 

Binibining Pilipinas 2022 Nicole Borromeo also had her final walk. Borromeo is set to represent the Philippines in the Miss International 2023 pageant happening in Japan in October. She will be competing in the hopes of winning the country’s seventh Miss International crown. 

While it wasn’t aired in the telecast, P-pop group ALAMAT graced the Binibining Pilipinas stage and treated the live audience to performances of “Maharani,” “Sa Panaginip Na Lang,” and “Say U Love Me.” 

The hosts also had a quick chat with German beauty queen Selberg while the judges were deliberating the results. 

At the end of the night, it was Palawan’s Angelica Lopez and Bataan’s Anna Valencia Lakrini who were named Binibining Pilipinas International 2023 and Binibining Pilipinas Globe, respectively. Lopez will be representing the country in the Miss International 2024 pageant. 

Meanwhile, Davao del Sur’s Katrina Anne Johnson and Atasha Reign Parani of General Trias, Cavite were declared 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively. 

Only two titles were awarded during the 2023 edition of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. The past year saw BPCI withdrawing from the Miss Grand International franchise while the Miss Intercontinental franchise was taken over by Mutya ng Pilipinas.

– Rappler.com