The Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant was held last March 18, 2018, wherein six women were crowned as the country’s new representatives to various international beauty pageants. History was made as Catriona Gray, a Fil-Aussie model and singer, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines, becoming the first Filipina to represent the country in the two most prestigious international pageants—Miss World in 2016 (in which she placed in the Top 5) and the upcoming Miss Universe pageant.
Alongside Gray, Maria Ahtisa Manalo won the Binibining Pilipinas International title, while three-time contestant Jehza Huelar was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Supranational. Another Fil-Aussie beauty, Karen Gallman, won the Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental title, as Eva Patalinjug snatched the Binibining Pilipinas Grand International title, and Michelle Gumabao was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe. Additionally, the first runner-up is Vickie Rushton and the second runner-up is Samantha Bernardo.
As proven by this year’s diverse roster of titleholders, this year’s pageant was a celebration of modern, multi-faceted Filipinas. More than just beauty queens, these are career women, taking on industries that are far from the glamorous world of pageantry. During their reigns, they plan to highlight a myriad of issues the Philippines is faced with. Learn more about their advocacies and their backgrounds with these tidbits about our 2018 queens.
Catriona Gray
For three years, this Bicolana beauty and artist has been working with charities, like the PARAISO: Bright Beginnings Project, which gives underprivileged children in Tondo, Manila better access to free education. She has created artworks and held mini-concerts in which all proceeds have gone to various charitable foundations.
Maria Ahtisa Manalo
The Quezon-native wants to become a policewoman after her reign, proving that beauty queens are tough too. She plans to enroll in the Philippines National Police Academy, under their public safety program.
Jehza Huelar
Following in Pia Wurtzbach’s footsteps, this 3-time Binibini contestant hopes to inspire Filipinos to never give up on their dreams. But when she’s not pageant mode, she works as an executive assistant for a union of seafarers and as a sports coach for children in her province of Davao.
Eva Patalinjug
Despite already being a registered nurse, this Cebuana pageant veteran wants to study law after her reign. While both are equally valuable careers, she sees becoming a nurse as a backup in case becoming a lawyer doesn’t pan out.
Karen Gallman
Gallman is also a comeback kid, having competed back in Binibining Pilipinas in 2012 but only reaching the semifinals. Similarly to Gray, she is also working with a number of organizations to provide education for children, specifically in Bohol, where she grew up.
Michelle Gumabao
This former DLSU star volleyball player turned beauty queen advocates for better sports programs for the Philippines, like the volleyball camp she founded in 2012. She sees sports as a good avenue for children, especially the less fortunate ones, to grow and develop.
Each of these remarkable women aims to shed light on an issue that is near and dear to them, whether it’s promoting education for the less fortunate, upgrading the country’s sports programs, or making sure the justice is rightfully served. The Filipina is a multi-faceted woman, and even though she can be a beauty queen, she can be a lawyer, or an athlete, or a policewoman as well. For these young women, their crowns don’t define them, and they’re ready to show the world, or the universe rather, that they’re all-around boss queens.
