20 years ago, Precious Lara Quigaman beat the odds. Up until then, the Philippines had resigned to being an erstwhile powerhouse, content with being seen on-frame, jubilant over special awards and, God willing, the occasional semi-finalist. But that was the 2000s, an era when our Miss Universe chances were complete zilch and titleholders adhered to a single prototype, especially in Miss International. What chance did a 5’6-tall morena have over towering doll-faced deities? Obviously huge, as it turned out, and Lara sure dropped jaws with that victory – including her own countrymen’s and yes, even her own. 26 years after Melanie Marquez triumphed in all her “long-legged” glory, the Pearl of the Orient was back in the game. 

Two decades and two winning compatriots later, Lara’s now steadily building a family life in Canada. As for the country, it now takes on a more prominent role in the pageant. Last year, Stephen Diaz stepped in as the pageant’s Executive Director, after previously heading the International Cultural Association (ICA). This is the first staging handled predominantly by Pinoys, although still held in Tokyo – this time, in Shibuya’s Yoyogi National Gymnasium. 

Production’s more dynamic than ever. Gone are the snail-paced processions, where we had to go through the complete roster for three rounds. They now have the preliminaries for that. Instead, they served us something more show-worthy: an invigorating Parade of Nations and faster eliminations. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before, but it was the breath of life this pageant badly needed in this era. Even the elevator music was refreshingly ditched in favor of radio hits like Kehlani’s “Folded”. 

American voice actor Maxwell Powers served as host for the second straight year. Once again, his burst of energy and animated delivery provided much welcome vigor. Joining him were Venezuela’s 2023 winner, Andrea Rubio, who celebrated her birthday that very day, and former Miss International Japan Tomomi Okada, who reportedly walked out after missing the cut in 2019. If that’s the case, props to her for letting bygones be bygones and honoring her roots – more so, since her father, the late Matsumi Okada hosted the pageant for 17 years.  

Miss(ed) International

Of course, this wouldn’t be Miss International without its penchant for shockers. Sorely missed were Venezuela’s Alessandra Guillén and Brazil’s Loraine Lumatelli, despite even winning Miss Visit Japan Tourism Ambassador. Worse, they barely even had airtime past the opening, neither did the Miss Universe Philippines alumnae, Australia‘s Bella dela Cruz and Malaysia‘s Allyson Ee, nor the debutantes, Montenegro‘s Ana Dedvukaj and Réunion‘s Manon Kbidi.

Slightly more fortunate were the National Costume short-listers Rosangela Rizo of Cuba, Laura Herault ofFrance, and Irma Handal of Honduras, as well as the said award’s Top Three. Tanzania’s Eurasia Makena finished 3rd, nearly equalling her compatriot’s achievement 20 years ago; defending champ Vietnam had to settle for Kieu Day Nguyen’s 2nd place finish; while Ghana’s Portia Akua Mensah earned 1st place for her visually eye popping number. 

Best Sustainable Development Goal went to Kenya’s Friday Kariuki. With SDGs being this pageant’s BWAP, why that can’t be a fast-track of sorts? Miss Talent went to Zoe Hoff from the returning Cook Islands, and while we’re on the Pacific side of things, special mention goes to Hawaii, which has always been a mainstay here despite being a U.S. state. This was one year it could have had a shot, with Maya Kāneali’i. 

Pageant veteran Jessia Islam never followed through on her Miss World breakthrough, but at least she won Best in Evening Gown for Bangladesh. Czech Republic’s Simona Procháková settled for Miss Elegance, while Russia’s Miss Earth alum, Ekaterina Romanova curiously didn’t appear to accept her Miss Photogenic prize. It makes us wonder if she pulled a Tomomi. 

10 years later, this pageant’s take on Continental Queens still puzzles. Is it Miss Friendship with a regional spin? It sure once felt that way. But with the said accolade now reinstated, it seems it now boils down to their peers’ sentimental picks, regardless of criteria. If last year’s awardees all made the cut, this year wasn’t the case. Missing out were Macau’s Katrina Wan (Asia Pacific), Sophie Wallace from the United Kingdom (Europe), and Farrah Grant from debuting Turks and Caicos (Americas). Only Africa’s awardee survived the first cut, but the surprise didn’t end there. 

The Top 20

On the upside, recent years saw the pageant venturing outside their usual prototypes. One of this year’s benefeciaries was Jamaica’s Shanté Jarrett, whose pixie cut and impeccable catwalk gave her an edge. It was both a refreshing surprise and, indirectly, a source of hope, given that her Miss Universe compatriot Gabrielle Henry’s still recuperating from that fall. 

Making the cut via Continental Fan Vote were South Africa’s Sinamile Dlamini (Europe and Africa) and USA’s Nicky Kandola (The Americas). While continuously restoring tradition was Japan’s Ai Nozaki, who won Miss Friendship.

Miss Universe’s recent Top Two also passed muster. There’s Thailand’s Jarupiya Boribalburibhand and Mexico’s Natalia Garibay, if only to offset any bitter aftertaste left by you-know-what. 

Even without her country’s ambassador to Japan in the panel, Angola’s Lauriela Martins was already in contention. True enough, she managed to both score a breakthrough and improve on her Miss Universe 2017 finish. Also vindicating herself from a previous non-placement was the Netherlands’ Miss Supranational alumna, Serena Darder Aguilar, the lone European to make the cut. 

It should have been a continuous streak for Peru,if not for Sofia Cajo’s jaw-dropping shutout last year. Luckily, Nathie Quijano came to the rescue and, arguably, should have placed higher. Wish the same can be said for India’s Roosh Sindhu, a pre-arrival favorite briefly pegged to earn her country’s overdue win. Sadly, the spark dissipated when it mattered, but at least she ended the decade-long drought. To further the twist, she was edged by another South Asian. 

The Top 10

India may have been a pre-pageant frontrunner, but it was India’s Teardrop, Sri Lanka, which pulled all stops. Shenely Romana was quite the catwalk dynamo and earned her country’s best finish since 2012.  
And, speaking of 2012, that was the year Myanmar returned to pageantry through this very tilt. Finally, after a decade-long wait, it landed a spot thanks to Nan Inzali’s Continental Fan Vote and Miss Popularity wins.  

Two Latinas broke the odds and outdid the usual suspects. The Dominican Republic maintained its streak with Anita Maspons, who was Miss Fitness, Anita Maspons, while Nicaragua secured its best post-Sheynnis finish thus far with Veronica Iglesias.  

Then there’s Canada’s Rachel Murgel, who was ignored in Miss Supranational 2023, despite looking radiant. As in the Dutch’s case, it’s great to see her finally recognized. And, perhaps, a more fleshed-out advocacy speech would have given her better chances. 

The Diamond Queen Dazzles

The Philippines’ Myrna Esguerra entered the race bearing two distinctions. She was a winner in Bb. Pilipinas’ 60th edition and the first to give the province of Abra global mileage. While not the absolute favorite, she was consistently a Top Five pick, thanks to her on-point styling and impeccable presentations. Well, she finished within the expected tier all right. It’s just too bad her final answer went beyond the time limit and she was, thus, relegated to 4th Runner-Up. But was her response really the weakest? Some die-hards might insist otherwise.

Yogyakarta’s Streak

Indonesia didn’t have to grieve too long for Sanly Liu’s Miss Universe shutout, for here came Melliza Xaviera Yulian with all the props to sustain the streak. And perhaps having her compatriot, 2024’s 4th Runner-Up Sophie Kirana, around was her lucky charm. She pulled through as expected, and even managed to one-up said predecessor’s finish by one notch. Grouse if you wish about her equally choppy answer, but she still exuded the polish to make it. 

Bolivia’s Best Era

With several South American favorites out, Bolivia’s Paola Guzman rose to the occasion and held her own. With her 2nd Runner-Up finish, she now follows the footsteps of her two predecessors, 2024 1st Runner-Up Camila Roca and 2023 4th Runner-Up Vanessa Hayes. At this point, three straight Top Five placements is no longer a fluke. This is The Heart of South America’s Golden Era, as far as this pageant is concerned. Wouldn’t it be a thrill to see them win eventually?  

Almost for Africa Yet Again

If this were the 20th century or even the 2000s, Yollanda Chimbarami frankly never would have stood a chance. But with the pageant now more attuned to current standards, the 28-year-old economist blew the powers-that-be away with her poise and eloquence. Her 1st Runner-Up finish is now Zimbabwe’s best pageant placement yet. And it happened here, a contest long reputed to not favor sub-Saharans. Sure, she wasn’t quite there yet. But, looking back, four almosts in a decade (Kenya 2015, South Africa 2018, Uganda 2019, and Cabo Verde 2022) only shows they’re finally paying attention. Hopefully, in time, we’ll finally see an African win it all.

Always the Bridesmaid, Sometimes the Bride

There’s this quip about Colombia always being the bridesmaid, given its propensity to settle for runner-up – take Miss Universe 1992 to 1994 as one triggering example. But then, let’s not forget: it’s not exactly never the bride, since it’s won the said pageant twice in a span of five decades. Here, it bears the glorious distinction of being the first country to earn the crown (Stella Marquez, 1960), the last to win in the 20th century (Paulina Galvez, 1999), and the first to ever send a winner of color (Jeymmy Vargas, 2004).   

Since then, the victory drought resumed. The country continued amassing runners-up, with 2017’s heavy favorite even missing the cut altogether. So, it’s hard to avoid the “Will they or will they not” undertones whenever we see a Colombian frontrunner. 

Enter Catalina Duque and it’s the first time we were this sure since Paulina Vega. Even before the pageant, the Medellin model was always one of the hot picks and she further strengthened the hype upon arrival. 

Come finals night, each advancement was a no-brainer. And by the time she took the mic for the final Q&A, she hit two birds with one stone by addressing her family in the audience and sharing her learnings: 

“I used to think that the big moments were the only ones that mattered. But, learning about Japanese culture, I learned about mono noawari, the little things, just how the leaves fall in autumn and how they make things beautiful, how kids hug me and they smile at me, and how every yummy, tasty ramen I have reminds me to have a glorious life and to enjoy every single moment. I’m so thankful for being here and having so much fun.” 

Nothing tugs at local heartstrings more than a frontrunner doing her homework. By equating her cultural immersion to a life-changing experience, she sealed the deal. As the fourth Colombian to win the crown, Catalina now puts her country closer behind Venezuela (9) and the Philippines (6) in the overall tally, breaking away from the sextuple tie once shared with Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain, and USA. 

It only proves that there’s no mutual exclusivity between being a bridesmaid and a bride. Colombia was never less than a powerhouse, despite years of narrowly missing out. May this milestone herald better fortunes in years to come.