Klyza Castro — From Mutya ng Pilipinas to Miss Universe Philippines 2023


The Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Top 40 contestants were officially announced last February 18 in Manila and one of them is former Mutya ng Pilipinas winner Klyza Castro.

Klyza is 23 years old, pure Filipina beauty with indigenous Mandaya tribe roots, and born in Mati City, Davao Oriental. She is a graduate of Ateneo de Davao University with a degree in political science.

No stranger to pageantry, the Miss Universe Philippines aspirant won the 51st Mutya ng Pilipinas while representing Davao del Sur and went on to compete in Miss Asia Pacific International 2019 where she placed in the Top 25 and bagged the Continental Queen of Asia title.

Her advocacy is focused on supporting and sustaining the livelihood of her indigenous communities.

She recently shared that in 2021, she started a charity drive using her own savings for the Mandaya tribe of Sangab Davao Oriental where she met the woman chieftain of one of the last remaining communities to fully preserve the Mandaya culture.

"Her ability to lead an entire tribe has inspired me so much and to this day, we still communicate on how to further help their community," she wrote on social media.

"I joined Miss Universe Philippines to speak my cause for indigenous livelihood to a national audience and act upon it. This is the ultimate force that drives me towards the crown," she shared in another post officially announcing her bid for Miss Universe Philippines 2023.

The final date and venue for the fourth edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant have yet to be announced. Last year's winner, Celeste Cortesi of Pasay City will crown her successor who is expected to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador next December.

Meet Klyza Castro:

Photos: John Joseph, Brian Mamawan / Klyza Castro / Instagram

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