Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Singapore to Zimbabwe)
The National Competition took place on October 7, hours before the pivotal Preliminary rounds. If anything, it adheres to recent trends, where fantasy and spectacle now take precedence over culture and tradition. On a side note, it also, in effect, … Continue reading Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Singapore to Zimbabwe)
Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Mexico to Sierra Leone)
++++++++++++++++++++ MEXICO – Pety Vianey Juárez. Look, it’s not like the country’s completely Nawat’s mortal enemy. And, remember, he preferred last year’s candidate to make the Top Five instead. This physician stands a chance at stretching the streak for a … Continue reading Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Mexico to Sierra Leone)
Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Georgia to Malta)
In what inevitably channeled flashbacks of the pandemic edition, the MGI 2026 Swimsuit Competition took place at the Lebua Bangkok roof deck. That’s where the Grand Queens brought their confidence and showcased their struts. By the end of the parade, … Continue reading Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Georgia to Malta)
Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Albania to France)
“Subtle” is a word we don’t associate with Miss Grand International. Yet, despite the noise and drama, most notably, its recent entanglements with Miss Universe, the pageant’s becoming harder and harder to dismiss. Because, whether or not you enjoy – … Continue reading Miss Grand International 2026 Candidate Round-Up (Albania to France)
My Miss World 2026 Wish List
So it finally comes to this. After four weeks of activities and spectacle, the moment of truth finally beckons. Shake-ups came aplenty after the Beauty with a Purpose gala and the extravagant Dances of the World production number. Looking at … Continue reading My Miss World 2026 Wish List
Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Asia and Oceania
60 years ago, Reita Faria became the first Indian and Asian to win the Blue Crown. What followed was nothing short of legendary – for the country first, at least. And it wasn’t like the door had completely opened. Within … Continue reading Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Asia and Oceania
Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Europe
Throughout Miss World’s 75-year-run, two winners have been officially replaced by their 1st Runners-Up. The record case would be Germany’s Gabriela Brum, who reigned for merely 18 hours, making it the shortest in the contest’s history. The precursor six years … Continue reading Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Europe
Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Africa
People tend to forget that Egypt is in Africa, more so, that it once actually won a crown. It was in 1954, the early years of global pageantry, when the Cypriot-born Antigone Constanda rose to the challenge and became her country’s … Continue reading Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Africa
Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Americas and Caribbean
In 1970, Jennifer Hosten from then-debuting Grenada, became the first black woman to win the title. What was supposedly a monumental victory was marred by protests by feminist groups. The controversy didn’t end there. In a dispute mirroring the recent … Continue reading Miss World 2026 Candidate Round-Up: Americas and Caribbean
Miss World 2026: A Prelude
To be clear, it’s the 75th anniversary, not the 75th edition. There’s a difference. Many would recall the several hitches – pandemic included – that messed up the organization’s timeline and propelled them to skip years. To summarize, 2021 was … Continue reading Miss World 2026: A Prelude
Triumph Unforeseen: A Review of Miss Supranational 2026
Purple was the prevailing color of the 17th Miss Supranational pageant, which took place in Nowy Sacz, Poland last July 31. More than its association with royalty, it also happens to be the color of the stunning new Fioletowa crown, … Continue reading Triumph Unforeseen: A Review of Miss Supranational 2026
Illuminate/Ruminate: Emotional Healing for July’s New Moon
Having read Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass, more than once, owning these decks feels apt. The Wonderland Tarot was a New York souvenir from my friend and co-reader, Tere, in 2018. While … Continue reading Illuminate/Ruminate: Emotional Healing for July’s New Moon
Back to First Draft
At 20, I was sure I wanted to start a magazine. Call it a by-product of being features editor then, which itself was a random turn. In the first place, I joined our school paper simply because I wanted to … Continue reading Back to First Draft
Illuminate/Ruminate: Your Courageous Next Step
There’s this tricky push-pull energy whenever Mercury Retrograde begins in a Full Moon. The former pinpoints where we should pause or slow down, while the latter reveals what we should break away from. Nonetheless, the consensual point is to keep … Continue reading Illuminate/Ruminate: Your Courageous Next Step
Illuminate/Ruminate: Your New Moon in Gemini Message
It’s not that it I never outgrew bedtime stories. In the first place, there’s that argument that they were never truly for kids. Case in point: Read Brothers Grimm. So, that’s why acquiring Yoshi Yoshitani’s Tarot of the Divine … Continue reading Illuminate/Ruminate: Your New Moon in Gemini Message
Illuminate/Ruminate: Your Blue Moon Message
Last month was marked by a rare double full moon or Blue Moon, hence that idiomatic expression. The phenomenon is said to amplify habits, situations, or patterns that longer serve us and force us to evolve. For this activity, you’ll … Continue reading Illuminate/Ruminate: Your Blue Moon Message
Illuminate/Ruminate: A Simple Truth You’ll Soon Discover
Choose one of the four images. +++++++++++ PILE 1 – Resume in Silence That goal exhausted you and you paused for a sound reason. Rest assured, that prolonged break doesn’t make your mission or dream less valid. It’s still your destiny. … Continue reading Illuminate/Ruminate: A Simple Truth You’ll Soon Discover
Miss Universe Philippines 2026: The Final Wishlist
BUBBLING UNDER: Iligan, Negros Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pateros TOP 30. Albay, Bohol, Camiguin, Cavite, Cotabato Province, Ilocos Norte, Los Baños (Laguna), Luisiana (Laguna), Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Quezon Province, Rizal, Samar Island, San Jose (Negros Oriental), Tandag City (Surigao … Continue reading Miss Universe Philippines 2026: The Final Wishlist
Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Candidate Round-Up, Part 5 (In the Running)
MANILA – Justine Beatrice Felizarta. Just when we thought her Miss Tourism World stint already capped off her pageant journey, here comes this esteemed veteran once again, this time representing the capital. Chances are, she’ll maintain her batting average (we’ll … Continue reading Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Candidate Round-Up, Part 5 (In the Running)
Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Candidate Round-Up, Part 4 (In the Running)
ALBAY – Alexandra Oriño. This psychology major may still be awaiting her fate, but it’s easy to assume the outcome. She strongly held her own as Bicol’s lone bet, with her breathtaking Evening Gown performance and poignant Closed Door interview. … Continue reading Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Candidate Round-Up, Part 4 (In the Running)
