Philippines' Maria Luisa Varela wins Miss Planet International 2023


Miss Planet Philippines Maria Luisa Varela was crowned Miss Planet International 2023 on Sunday, January 29 at Koh Pich Theater in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The 26-year-old entrepreneur who also bagged the Social Media award became the first Filipina representative to win the international pageant. She succeeded the first winner from 2019, Monique Best of South Africa.

Jemima Ruth Mandemwa of Zimbabwe and Ono Aya of Japan were named the first and second runners-up respectively. Rounding out the Top 7 were Tiffany Ha of Vietnam, Katarina Juselius of Finland, Alina Safronova of Latvia, and Srey Leak Pok of Cambodia.

Miss Planet International was founded in Cambodia and according to its official website, the pageant's advocacy focuses on environmental protection, multiculturalism, poverty, ethical economic progress, clean renewable energy, world peace, and education.

This year's edition was supposed to be held last November in Uganda but due to some controversial incidents with the host organizers, several contestants backed out and the pageant was canceled.

The original representative from the Philippines was Binibining Pilipinas 2022 first runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol.

Meet the new Miss Planet International:

Photos: Miss Planet International, Maria Luisa Varela / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Vanessa Pulgarin of Colombia crowned MGI All Stars 2026

Image
Vanessa Pulgarin from Colombia was proclaimed the winner MGI All Stars 2026 on Saturday, May 30 at MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. The 34-year-old model bested over 50 other contestants to win the first edition of the pageant. She is expected to return for the second edition to defend her title. Faith Maria Porter of Ghana and Nguyen Huong Giang of Vietnam were respectively named the first and second runners-up while Mariana Bečková of the Czech Republic and Gazini Ganados of the Philippines completed the Top 5. Beauties from Colombia, Priscilla Londoño; Dominican Republic, Yamilex Hernández; Peru, Suheyn Cipriani; Thailand, Tharina Botes; and Venezuela, Gabriela de la Cruz made the Top 10. The rest of the Top 18 were from China, Zewen Qin; Dominican Republic, Nicole Puello; Ecuador, Samantha Quenedit; Mongolia, Azzaya Tsogt-Ochir; Mexico, Francia Cortés; Myanmar, Thet San Andersen; Philippines, Fuschia Anne Ravena; and Venezuela. Isabella Santiago. A distinguished panel o...
Read more

Miss Universe Croatia 2026 is Antea Mršić from Zagreb

Image
Antea Mršić edged out 14 other contestants to win Miss Universe Croatia 2026 on Monday, May 25 at Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb. The 24-year-old sports management graduate from Zagreb will now prepare to represent Croatia at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant in Puerto Rico this November. Monika Vojvodić was named first runner-up while Laura Vujica, Magdalena Fofić and Beata Šimat were the second, third and fourth runners-up, respectively. "I am endlessly grateful for every single person who believed in me," the new Miss Universe Croatia shared online. "I am excited to have the opportunity to represent Croatia on the world stage," she added. This year's pageant marked the 30th anniversary edition of the national competition. Last year's winner Laura Gnjatović crowned her successor at the end of the event. She made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2025 last November in Thailand. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared ...
Read more

Czech Republic's Isabella Rossini wins Miss Aura International 2026

Image
Isabella Rossini, 20, from Czech Republic, was crowned Miss Aura International 2026 at the conclusion of the pageant on Friday, May 22 at FashionTV Luxe Resort in Antalya, Turkey. The professional model, singer and theater actress bested over 40 other contestants to win the international title. She succeeds Krishan Pauline Alerre of the Philippines. Barbara Wolfenson of Chile was named first runner-up while Azaliya Timergalieva of Bashkortostan, Aleksandra Kochergina of Tatarstan, Melanie Portocarrero Cury of Colombia were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 11 finalists were the contestants from Japan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Spain and Thailand. The rest of the Top 20 were from Brazil, Latvia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the USA. Prior to winning the title, the new Miss Aura International was proclaimed first runner-up and bagged the Miss Sympathy award at Miss České Republiky 2025. Isabella became the sec...
Read more

71st Miss Universe: Major standouts from pre-pageant events and activities

Image
The 71st Miss Universe contestants have been very busy with their pre-pageant events and activities ahead of the preliminary, national costume, and final competitions. Brennan's, a famous New Orleans restaurant located in the heart of the French Quarter, hosted the contestants a special dinner where they enjoyed delicious and authentic Creole cuisine. In addition to touring, filming, and rehearsing for the big show, a welcome press conference was held for the 84 contestants on Monday, January 9 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Present were Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Jerry Reyes (President of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Board of Commissioners) Kelly Schulz (Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Relations at New Orleans & Company), Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart, and outgoing queen Harnaaz Sandhu. The contestants were also taken to a welcome reception at Gallier Hall, a historic building on St. Charles Ave...
Read more

The Miss Philippines 2026 titleholders officially crowned

Image
The coronation ball for The Miss Philippines 2026 took place on Sunday, May 10, at the Grand Ballroom in City of Dreams Manila. Hosted by former titleholder and Miss Supranational runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, the glittering event was graced by reigning international queens Miss Cosmo 2025 Yolina Lindquist and Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco. Following their participation in the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines 2026 competition, eight new queens have been crowned to represent the Philippines in various international pageants overseas. Meet the new queens: Miss Supranational Philippines 2027 - Allyson Hetland for Miss Supranational 2027 Miss Cosmo Philippines 2026 - Bella Ysmael for Miss Cosmo 2026 Miss Charm Philippines 2026 - Apriel Smith for Miss Charm 2026 Miss Eco International Philippines 2027 - Jenrose Javier for Miss Eco International 2027 Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2026 - Trexy Paris Roxas for Miss Eco Teen International 2026 Miss Tourism World Philippines 2026 - Ma...
Read more

Savannah Gankiewicz officially crowned Miss USA 2023 in Hawaii

Image
Hawaii's Savannah Gankiewicz has officially received her sash and crown as the new Miss USA 2023. Her coronation ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 15 at 'Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach in Honolulu with the presence of Governor Josh Green. The Miss USA organization recently announced the Maui native as the new titleholder following the resignation of Noelia Voigt to prioritize her mental health. Savannah, who was first runner-up at last year's competition, decided to take over the remaining months of Noelia's reign and is expected to pass her crown at Miss USA 2024 in California this August. Her successor will represent the United States of America at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant to be held in Mexico later this year. "I promise to always be transparent with you and to share my experience. I still believe in the Miss USA organization and its future, and my intention is to make positive changes from within and rebuild its legacy," she wrote on social media. ...
Read more

Miss World Thailand 2026 is Kanteera Techaphattanakul of Chiang Mai

Image
Kanteera "Namphueng" Techaphattanakul was proclaimed Miss World Thailand 2026 on Sunday, May 10 at MCC Hall of The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Bangkok. The 25-year-old medical technologist representing Chiang Mai beat 20 other contestants to win the national title. She was crowned by her predecessor Opal Suchata Chuangsri who became Thailand's first Miss World last year. Malaika Khan and Jirapat Dathumma were respectively announced the first and second runners-up while Atina Khontarosaphan Vasnaarchasakul and Pannika Boonsiritakorn rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The newly crowned Miss World Thailand will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss World 2026 competition this August in Vietnam. Road to the 73rd Miss World: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss World Thailand Official (@missworldthailand.official) Photos: Miss World Thailand / Instagram
Read more

Meet the 5 winners of Miss Czech Republic 2026

Image
The final show for Miss Czech Republic 2026 took place on Saturday, May 23, at Forum Karlín in Prague. A total of ten beautiful women were chosen to compete in the esteemed national beauty pageant, and last night, five of them were crowned. FINAL RESULTS: View this post on Instagram A post shared by MISS CZECH REPUBLIC (@missczechrepublic) Miss Czech Republic 2026 (Miss World Czech Republic 2027) - Lucie Pisková for Miss World 2027 Miss International Czech Republic 2026 - Laura Anna Glozarová for Miss International 2026 Miss Earth Czech Republic 2026 - Hana Dědková for Miss Earth 2026 Miss Supranational Czech Republic 2026 - Barbara Plintová for Miss Supranational 2026 Miss Grand Czech Republic 2026 - Dominique Alagia for Miss Grand International 2026 Barbara Plintová, Dominique Alagia, Lucie Pisková, and Aneta Vizinová were also awarded Top Model, Miss Popularity, Miss Photogenic, and Best Start Up Winner respectively. Last year's winners, along with the ...
Read more

Miss Universe 2023: Meet the contestants

Image
A total of 85 beauties from around the world will compete in the highly anticipated 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador this November. This year's competition will mark the debut of Pakistan and the returns of 10 countries consisting of Denmark, Egypt, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, and Zimbabwe. For the first time in its history, both the Netherlands and Portugal will be represented by transgender women following Spain's Angela Ponce who participated in 2018. The current Miss Universe Colombia and Guatemala will be the first married women and mothers to compete since the Miss Universe Organization changed its rules to become more inclusive. Miss Universe 2023 final will be streamed on The Roku Channel while Telemundo will broadcast the show within the United States as well as local channels around the world. The reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States of America will crown her successor at the culmination of this...
Read more

Singer-songwriter Sigga Ózk crowned Miss Iceland 2026

Image
Sigríður Ósk Hrafnkelsdóttir, also known as Sigga Ózk, was crowned Ungfrú Ísland 2026 (Miss Iceland 2026) on Wednesday, April 22 at at Gamla Bíó in Reykjavík. The singer-songwriter from Garðabær will now prepare to represent Iceland at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant to be held in Puerto Rico this November. Aníta Mist Davíðsdóttir was named first runner-up while Elínborg Hrannarsdóttir, Nadía Líf Pálsdóttir, Soffía Ellín Stella Gísladóttir were the second, third and fourth runners-up, respectively. "Wow I'm speechless. I am so endlessly grateful for all the girls in the group, the girls on the team, the judges and everyone who cheered me on," the new Miss Iceland shared online. Sigga holds a bachelor's degree in education and speaks Swedish fluently. She participated in Iceland's national contest, Söngvakeppnin, in both 2023 and 2024, making it to the finals each time. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared b...
Read more