From the built excitement of the passionate pageant fans to the trending preliminary interviews, down to the beautiful roster of candidates who presented themselves confidently on stage this year, the pageant night was indeed, a success. We can’t deny the fact that there are accusations and issues surfacing right now, but we should also take this moment to look back at the five most iconic highlights from the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant.
1. When THE queens made a little reunion
Great to have spent time with these ladies. pic.twitter.com/c1H8RvVYwl
— Janine Mari Tugonon (@janine_tugonon) October 25, 2020
As this year celebrates a new organization under the leadership of former Binibining Pilipinas 2011 and Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Lee, it was refreshing to watch the reigning queens back together in one frame. Binibining Pilipinas 2012 and Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up Janine Tugonon, who now has a modeling career, came back to judge the pageant along with former titleholder and Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner-up, Ariella Arida. Other past beauty queens such as Maria Venus Raj and Mary Jean Lastimosa, were also at the reunion.
2. When the candidates brought it in the preliminary swimsuit competition
My Top 5 For The Swimsuit Competition!??
1.Davaohttps://t.co/Ll7kW9snjS Union
3.Ilo-ilo City
4.Pasig
5.Zamboanga Del Sur#GoodJobQueens!???#PreliminaryCompetition!???#MissUniversePhilippines2020!??#MissUniversePhilippines2020 pic.twitter.com/l6ONaCUoIw— Buffy C. Gonzales (@buffy_gonzales) October 25, 2020
Despite Baguio City’s freezing cold temperature, the top 16 candidates still managed to rock their swimsuit wear! Created by Dubai-based designer Furne One, the ladies looked angelic with their all-white two-piece and one-piece swimsuits, with a fringed hem and sheer cover-up. To say that they killed it by being confident with their bodies is an understatement, really.
Netizens on Twitter can’t help but make predictions while the competition was ongoing.
3. When Miss Cavite proved that it does take nerve
“i am not here to just be a voice, i am here to amplify voices, because we will not be silenced by fear anymore, we are here to be empowered by truth.”
THE SHADE. CROWN HER ALREADY. NILAMON NA SILA NI MISS CAVITE. #MissUniversePhilippines pic.twitter.com/SbBZ1zIB7h
— mark geronimo (@markgeronimo_) October 25, 2020
Since the preliminaries, pageant fans have been eyeing on Kimberly Hankenson’s strong performance. Her brave choice of sporting a pixie cut for the pageant was used wisely, as it opened several conversations about her confidence, as well as her sexuality, which were being asked about often during her interviews. She definitely lived (and is still living) by her truth, uttering the remarkable words, “…I am not here to just be a voice, I am here to amplify voices because we will not be silenced by fear anymore…” during the question and answer portion.
It’s not just her physical attributes that made her shine that night, but her personality.
4. When Miss Parañaque’s twirled her way into the hearts of viewers
still thinking about her walk and her signature ikot-ikot hayst ganda ni teh!!! #MissUniversePhilippines ? pic.twitter.com/1qbvgvo3Ew
— mark geronimo (@markgeronimo_) October 25, 2020
As a ballet dancer, Miss Parañaque, Ysabella Roxas Ysmael had to give a sneak peek of her ballerina skills during the pageant! Several netizens found her twirl during the swimsuit competition really amazing, as she twirled three times while being in-sync with the background song, “Magandang Dilag”, while the verse, “Oh, paikot-ikot ka dito sa isipan ko,” simultaneously played as she turned.
5. And last but not the least, Rabiya Mateo’s phenomenal crowning moment.
This is what she meant when she said,
"I feel that a phenomenal woman is RED because red is power and I am RED"
RABIYA MATEO is RED ❤️
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY CROWNED MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES 2020 ?#MissUniversePhilippines pic.twitter.com/2YWqs033UB
— B È M (@nnjae_) October 25, 2020
“As a candidate I know I’m not just the face of Iloilo City, but I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest times, and as of the moment, I want to help my community, I want to use my strength to make an impact, and that is the essence of beauty pageants, it gives us the power to make a difference.”
Physical therapist from Iloilo, Rabiya Mateo’s answer to the question, “This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential and non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?”, is one of the factors that sealed her triumph in the pageant. Not to mention her poise, her rocking body (she also won the swimsuit competition), her innate charm, her glowing skin color, as well as her timeless Filipina features, are just some of the few things that made her the queen that she is right now.
Her crowning moment, with her in a beautiful red gown by Iloilo-based designer Jung Candelario, has complimented the beautiful ‘Filipina’ crown, making it the perfect culmination of all the candidates’ journeys, whilst also starting her own as Miss Universe Philippines 2020.
Several fans are happy for her, celebrating her success, and admiring her performance.
