This is a list of the Philippines' representatives and their placements at the Big Four beauty pageants.[1] The Philippines, widely considered a beauty pageant powerhouse,[2] [3] [4] [5] has won in all four pageants, with a total of 103 placements and 15 victories:
Hundreds of beauty pageant competitions are held yearly, but the Big Four are considered the most prestigious, widely covered and broadcast by media. Various news agencies collectively refer to the four major pageants as "Big Four", namely—Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth.[6] [7] [8]
The Philippine franchise holders of the four major beauty pageants are:
Precolonial and indigenous Philippines already had established, well-defined ideals and standards of beauty. Most of the precolonial and native languages of the Philippines saw and described beauty as natural—meaning, what is pleasing to the eyes and to the other senses, in nature, is considered beautiful. Precolonial Filipinos were recorded to describe what was the ideally beautiful person. For both men and women, precolonial Filipinos defined beauty with long, healthy, shiny black hair that was well-tended to and well-combed. Healthy skin, of good sunkissed complexion, was also a determinant of beauty. Excellent personal hygiene and observance of community sanitation, including bathing in the morning, before the day's activities, and bathing again in the evening, before retiring for sleep, was seen as a precursor to health and beauty. Bathing, too, was a necessity before and after sexual intercourse, and was heavily imposed socioculturally. Tattoos, especially in the Visayas, were also believed to elevate and accentuate one's beauty. A person's beauty, too, was not only limited to their physical appearance, but was also defined by their character, intellect, sense of community, altruism, and other values—which were greatly emphasized and required by indigenous Filipinos for one to be "truly beautiful". A darker sunkissed skin complexion than women's were seen on men as determinant of beauty. A harmonious and proportional distribution of well-developed muscles on the body, from working in the fields, hunting, or building, was also another determinant of beauty for precolonial Filipino men. For precolonial Filipino women, beauty of physique was determined by the overall harmony and symmetry of the body, healthy, sunkissed skin, long black hair, and how subdued they carried themselves. Elegance was seen as a paramount valuable trait, and was one of the precolonial Filipino woman's determinants of beauty beyond the physical. Men and women alike, in indigenous Philippines, adorned themselves with gold, jade, diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones believed to accentuate, emphasize, and elevate one's beauty.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]
The Philippines then inherited the practice and promotion of beauty pageants from the Kingdom of Spain and United States during its colonial history, and reflected their keen interest in pageantry through the Santero culture.[20]
The first officially recorded beauty pageant competition in the Philippines was held in 1908 during the Manila Carnival,[21] [22] which organized both American and Philippine diplomatic relations,[21] with the aim to exhibit achievements in commerce and agriculture.[22] The winner of the competition was crowned, and came to be known, as the “Carnival Queen.”[23] The competitions were held annually from 1908 to 1938.[22]
In 1926, the Manila Carnival conceptualized and held the first national beauty pageant using the title Miss Philippines to represent the Philippine islands; contestants came from all over the country with the following regional titles: Miss Luzon, Miss Visayas, and Miss Mindanao. This new competition gained greater popularity, resulting in the phasing out of the “Carnival Queen” title in 1938.[24]
The following are national pageants which serve as qualifiers for the Big Four pageants.
See main article: Miss Universe Philippines. The Philippine representatives to the Miss Universe pageant from 1964 to 2019 were chosen by Binibining Pilipinas. Starting 2020, a separate organization has been choosing the Philippine representatives to the Miss Universe competition: the new Miss Universe Philippines Organization, with Shamcey Supsup as national director.[25]
See main article: Binibining Pilipinas. In 1964, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated, (BPCI) headed by Stella Araneta became the official national franchise holder of the Miss Universe Organization in the Philippines, and had sent representatives to the Miss Universe pageant from 1964 to 2019. Its predecessor, the “Miss Philippines”, had been the official franchise holder from 1952 to 1963.[26] [27] [28]
In 1968, the same organization acquired the Philippine franchise of Miss International, and conducted a separate pageant called "Miss Philippines" to select a representative for the Miss International competition. In 1969, BPCI started to combine the Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Philippines competitions and awarded the title "Binibining Pilipinas" to the country's representative to the Miss Universe competition, while granting the "Miss Philippines" title to the representative for the Miss International competition. For the first time in 1972, both titles "Binibining Pilipinas Universe" and "Binibining Pilipinas International" were awarded to the winners in a single competition.
See main article: Miss World Philippines. The Philippine representatives to the Miss World pageant from 1966 to 1968 were chosen by various pageant organizers.[29] From 1969 to 1976, the title was awarded through the Miss Republic of the Philippines, then by Mutya ng Pilipinas, Inc. through Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant from 1977 to 1991, and Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc., through the Binibining Pilipinas pageant from 1992 to 2010.[30] In 2011, the Miss World Philippines organization was held by Cory Quirino's CQ Global Quest until 2016.[31] [32] [33] From 2017 onwards, the Miss World Philippines has been under the management of Arnold Vegafria's ALV Talent Circuit.[34] [35]
See main article: Miss Philippines Earth. The Miss Philippines Earth was founded in 2001 by Carousel Productions headed by its President Ramon Monzon,[36] who is also the president, CEO, and director of the Philippine Stock Exchange and chairman of the PSE Foundation, Inc.[37] [38] It is spearheaded by Ramon's wife Lorraine Schuck as executive vice president, with Peachy Veneracion as the vice president and project director.[39] [40] [41]
Carousel Productions established Miss Philippines Earth as a beauty pageant competition with the aim of actively promoting the protection and preservation of the environment. Consequently, Miss Philippines (currently called Miss Philippines Earth; not related to the defunct “Miss Philippines” of 1926) was created.[42] [43] [44]
From Venus Raj's participation at Miss Universe 2010 (marking the Philippines' first semifinal placement at the pageant in the 21st century and since Miriam Quiambao placed second to Botswana at Miss Universe 1999) to Beatrice Gomez's stint at Miss Universe 2021, the country placed in the Miss Universe semifinals each year, scoring 2 Top 10 placements in 2014 and 2017, 2 Top 5/6 placements in 2016 and 2021, 4 consecutive runner-up finishes in the Top 5 from 2010 to 2013, and 2 crowns in 2015 and 2018. As a result, the Philippines is the country from the Eastern Hemisphere with the longest overall streak of Miss Universe semifinal appearances (and third overall by any country in the world), totaling 12 consecutive years. It is also the first country in the world to place non-stop at Miss Universe semifinals for at least a full decade beginning any year of the 21st century.
The Philippines won multiple Big Four pageant crowns in the same year twice – in 2013 with Bea Santiago (Miss International) and Megan Young (Miss World), and in 2015 with Angelia Ong (Miss Earth) and Pia Wurtzbach (Miss Universe), making it the most recent country as of to win multiple Big Four pageant crowns in the same year.
From 2010 to 2019, the Philippines has only unplaced twice in each of the Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth competitions, and has won an additional 6 crowns from these pageants alone, making it the country with the single most successful decade in terms of Big Four beauty pageant results in the world. Since 2010, the Philippines has been gaining worldwide attention for its pageant training mechanisms.[45]
The Philippines currently holds the world's longest winning streak in the Big Four pageants by any country in history, from 2013 to 2018. The country's winning streak started in 2013 with Megan Young as the country's first ever, and currently only, Miss World titleholder, and also with Bea Santiago winning the Miss International crown. Jamie Herrell then won the Miss Earth 2014 crown. Angelia Ong garnered for the Philippines the first, and so far only, back-to-back victory in Miss Earth history by clinching the 2015 crown. In the same year, Pia Wurtzbach won the Miss Universe 2015 crown for the Philippines.
The streak continued in 2016 when Kylie Verzosa clinched the Philippines its sixth, and most recent, Miss International crown. The following year in 2017, Karen Ibasco won for the country its fourth, and most recent, Miss Earth crown – the most by any country in the pageant's history. Culminating this six-year winning streak is Catriona Gray's victory at Miss Universe 2018, claiming the Philippines' fourth, and most recent, Miss Universe crown. The Philippines is, to date, the country with the longest winning streak in history, and the only country in the world to win all of the Big Four pageants in any of their titles streak.[46] [47] [48]
The following table details the placements of the Philippines' representatives in the Big Four pageants.
| width=5% | Year | width=15% | Miss Universe | width=15% | Miss World | width=15% | Miss International | width=15% | Miss Earth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TBD | Krishnah Gravidez TBD | Myrna Esguerra TBD | TBD | |||||
| 2024 | Chelsea Manalo TBD | Angelica Lopez TBD | Irha Mel Alfeche TBD | ||||||
| 2023 | Michelle Dee Top 10 | Gwendolyne Fourniol | Nicole Borromeo 3rd Runner-Up | Yllana Aduana Miss Earth – Air | |||||
| 2022 | Celeste Cortesi | Hannah Arnold Top 15 | Jenny Ramp Top 20 | ||||||
| 2021 | Beatrice Gomez Top 5 | Tracy Perez Top 13 | Naelah Alshorbaji Top 8 | ||||||
| 2020 | Rabiya Mateo Top 21 | Roxie Baeyens Miss Earth – Water | |||||||
| 2019 | Gazini Ganados Top 20 | Michelle Dee Top 12 | Bea Magtanong Top 8 | Janelle Tee Top 20 | |||||
| 2018 | Catriona Gray Miss Universe | Katarina Rodriguez | Ahtisa Manalo 1st Runner-Up | Celeste Cortesi Top 8 | |||||
| 2017 | Rachel Peters Top 10 | Laura Lehmann Top 40 | Mariel de Leon | Karen Ibasco Miss Earth | |||||
| 2016 | Maxine Medina Top 6 | Catriona Gray Top 5 | Kylie Verzosa Miss International | Imelda Schweighart | |||||
| 2015 | Pia Wurtzbach Miss Universe | Hillarie Parungao Top 10 | Janicel Lubina Top 10 | Angelia Ong Miss Earth | |||||
| 2014 | Mary Jean Lastimosa Top 10 | Valerie Weigmann Top 25 | Bianca Guidotti | Jamie Herrell Miss Earth | |||||
| 2013 | Ariella Arida 3rd Runner-Up | Megan Young Miss World | Bea Santiago Miss International | Angelee delos Reyes Top 8 | |||||
| 2012 | Janine Tugonon 1st Runner-Up | Queenierich Rehman Top 15 | Nicole Schmitz Top 15 | Stephany Stefanowitz Miss Earth – Air | |||||
| 2011 | Shamcey Supsup 3rd Runner-Up | Gwendoline Ruais 1st Runner-Up | Dianne Necio Top 15 | Athena Imperial Miss Earth – Water | |||||
| 2010 | Venus Raj 4th Runner-Up | Czarina Gatbonton | Krista Kleiner Top 15 | Psyche Resus | |||||
| 2009 | Bianca Manalo | Marie-Ann Umali | Melody Gersbach Top 15 | Sandra Seifert Miss Earth – Air | |||||
| 2008 | Jennifer Barrientos | Danielle Castaño | Patricia Fernandez Top 12 | Karla Henry Miss Earth | |||||
| 2007 | Theresa Licaros | Maggie Wilson | Nadia Shami | Jeanne Harn | |||||
| 2006 | Lia Ramos | Anna Igpit | Denille Valmonte | Cathy Untalan Miss Earth – Water | |||||
| 2005 | Gionna Cabrera | Carlene Aguilar Top 15 | Lara Quigaman Miss International | Genebelle Raagas Top 16 | |||||
| 2004 | Maricar Balagtas | Karla Bautista Top 5 | Margaret Bayot Top 15 | Tamera Szijarto Top 8 | |||||
| 2003 | Carla Balingit | Mafae Yunon Top 5 | Jhezarie Javier | Laura Dunlap Top 10 | |||||
| 2002 | Karen Agustin | Katherine Manalo Top 10 | Kristine Alzar | April Perez Top 10 | |||||
| 2001 | Zorayda Andam | Gilrhea Quinzon | Maricarl Tolosa | Carlene Aguilar Top 10 | |||||
| 2000 | Nina Alagao | Katherine de Guzman | Joanna Peñaloza | ↑ No Pageant Held (established in 2001 in Manila, Philippines) | |||||
| 1999 | Miriam Quiambao 1st Runner-Up | Lalaine Edson | Georgina Sandico | ||||||
| 1998 | Jewel Lobaton | Rachel Soriano | Colette Glazer Top 15 | ||||||
| 1997 | Abbygale Arenas | Kristine Florendo | Susan Ritter Top 15 | ||||||
| 1996 | Aileen Damiles | Daisy Reyes | Yedda Kittilstvedt Top 15 | ||||||
| 1995 | Joanne Santos | Reham Tago | Gladys Dueñas Top 15 | ||||||
| 1994 | Charlene Gonzales Top 6 | Caroline Subijano Top 10 | Alma Concepcion Top 15 | ||||||
| 1993 | Dindi Gallardo | Ruffa Gutierrez 2nd Runner-Up | Sheela Santarin | ||||||
| 1992 | Elizabeth Berroya | Marina Benipayo | Jo-Anne Alivio | ||||||
| 1991 | Lourdes Gonzalez | Gemith Gemparo | Patricia Betita Top 15 | ||||||
| 1990 | Germelina Padilla | Jennifer Pingree | |||||||
| 1989 | Sara Paez | Estrella Querubin | Lilia Andanar | ||||||
| 1988 | Perfida Limpin | Dana Narvadez | Anthea Robles | ||||||
| 1987 | Geraldine Asis Top 10 | Lourdes Apostol | Lourdes Enriquez | ||||||
| 1986 | Violeta Naluz | Sherry Byrne Top 15 | Alice Dixson Top 15 | ||||||
| 1985 | Joyce Burton | Elizabeth Cuenco | Sabrina Artadi | ||||||
| 1984 | Desiree Verdadero 3rd Runner-Up | Aurora Sevilla | Bella Nachor | ||||||
| 1983 | Rosita Capuyon | Marilou Sadiua | Flor Pastrana | ||||||
| 1982 | Maria Isabel Lopez | Sarah Areza Top 15 | Adela Manibog | ||||||
| 1981 | Caroline Mendoza | Suzette Nicolas | Alice Sacasas Top 15 | ||||||
| 1980 | Rosario Silayan 3rd Runner-Up | Milagros Nabor | Diana Chiong Top 12 | ||||||
| 1979 | Criselda Cecilio | Josefina Francisco | Melanie Marquez Miss International | ||||||
| 1978 | Jennifer Cortez | Louvette Hammond | Luz Policarpio | ||||||
| 1977 | Anna Kier | ||||||||
| 1976 | Elizabeth de Padua | Dolores Ascalon Top 15 | |||||||
| 1975 | Rose Marie Brosas 4th Runner-Up | Suzanne Gonzales | Jaye Murphy Top 15 | ||||||
| 1974 | Guadalupe Sanchez Top 12 | Agnes Rustia | Erlynne Bernardez | ||||||
| 1973 | Margie Moran Miss Universe | Evangeline Pascual 1st Runner-Up | Elena Ojeda 4th Runner-Up | ||||||
| 1972 | Barbara Crespo Top 12 | Evangeline Reyes Top 15 | 2nd Runner-Up | ||||||
| 1971 | Vida Doria | Onelia Jose | Evelyn Camus 2nd Runner-Up | ||||||
| 1970 | Minerva Cagatao Top 15 | Aurora Pijuan Miss International | |||||||
| 1969 | Gloria Diaz Miss Universe | Feliza Miro | Margaret Montinola Top 15 | ||||||
| 1968 | Rosario Zaragoza | Cecilia Amabuyok 4th Runner-Up | Nenita Ramos Top 15 | ||||||
| 1967 | Pilar Pilapil | Maita Gomez | Margarita Romualdez | ||||||
| 1966 | Clarinda Soriano Top 15 | Vivien Austria | align="center" | ||||||
| 1965 | Louise Vail Top 15 | ↑ No Pageant Held (established in 1951 in England, United Kingdom. The Philippines sent their first delegate in 1966.) | Isabelle Santos | ||||||
| 1964 | Myrna Panlilio | Gemma Cruz Miss International | |||||||
| 1963 | Lalaine Bennett 3rd Runner-Up | Monina Yllana Top 15 | |||||||
| 1962 | Josephine Brown | Cynthia Ugalde | |||||||
| 1961 | × | Pilar Arciaga | |||||||
| 1960 | × | Edita Vital Top 15 | |||||||
| 1959 | × | ↑ No Pageant Held (established in 1960 in California, United States and then it was transferred in 1968 in Tokyo, Japan) | |||||||
| 1958 | × | ||||||||
| 1957 | Carmen Corrales | ||||||||
| 1956 | Isabel Rodriguez | ||||||||
| 1955 | Yvonne delos Reyes | ||||||||
| 1954 | Blesilda Ocampo Top 16 | ||||||||
| 1953 | Cristina Pacheco | ||||||||
| 1952 | Teresita Sanchez | ||||||||
| 1951 | ↑ No Pageant Held (established in 1952 in California, United States and then it was transferred in 1960 in Florida, United States) |
| Pageant | Placements | Best result |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Universe | 27 | Winner (1969 • 1973 • 2015 • 2018) |
| Miss World | 21 | Winner (2013) |
| Miss International | 35 | Winner (1964 • 1970 • 1979 • 2005 • 2013 • 2016) |
| Miss Earth | 20 | Winner (2008 • 2014 • 2015 • 2017) |
| Total | 103 | 15 Titles |
The Philippines first hosted its major international pageant in 1974 for Miss Universe. It has also hosted Miss Earth several times, as the pageant originated in the country.[20] [49]
| Year/s of hosting | Pageant | |
|---|---|---|
| 1974, 1994, 2016 | Miss Universe | |
| 2001–2009, 2011–2014, 2016–2019, 2022 | Miss Earth |
Crossover winners of a national pageant wins in another major national pageant and then participate in the line of international beauty pageants.[50]