Miss Filipina International 2023 is Matea Smith


Matea Smith was crowned Miss Filipina International 2023 in a glittering competition held on Saturday, August 5 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.

The 21-year-old model and a behavioral and cognitive neuroscience student at the University of Florida bested over 30 other competitors to win the beauty title. Aside from the title, she also bagged the Best in Swimsuit award. She succeeds last year's winner, Blessa Figueroa.

Amanda Russo was named Miss Filipina International Tourism 2023 while Lauren Skeoch, Patricia Tapia, and Rylen Steinbuch were announced as the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively.

Rounding out the Top 15 semifinalists were Beatriz Mclelland, Dakota Swart, Denise Samaniego, Hannah Marte, Heather Casignia, Issa Rose Mata, Jessica Zemanek, Kawina Kan-hai, Kelly McIlroy, and Mary Ann Monda.

Hosted by Jeannie Mai and Cheryl Burke, this year's competition marked the 10th-anniversary edition of the annual Miss Filipina International pageant. The winners are expected to compete in The Miss Philippines 2023 and Miss Universe Philippines 2024.

Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee, who will represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November, graced the event as a special guest.

The new Miss Filipina International was born in Coral Springs, Florida with family roots in Pililla, Rizal. According to her bio, she enjoys traveling, cooking exercising, dancing, spending time with her loved ones, and listening to music. Her goal is to become a trauma surgeon and have a positive impact on people's lives.

Photos: Miss Filipina International, Arturo Lorde / Matea Smith / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Former Miss Earth USA Bea Millan-Windorski joins Miss Universe Philippines 2026

Image
Filipino-American Bea Millan-Windorski has recently been appointed as the official representative for the province of La Union at Miss Universe Philippines 2026. At just 24 years old, she is well-acquainted with the world of pageantry, having participated in Miss Earth USA 2024 in Orlando, Florida, where she clinched the title while representing Wisconsin. This achievement made her the first Filipino-American to secure a national title. As Miss Earth USA, she went on to compete in Miss Earth 2024 in the Philippines, where she impressively placed in the Top 4 out of 76 contestants, earning the title of Miss Earth Water. Bea's grandparents on her mother's side were Filipino immigrants from La Union, Philippines. Following her Miss Earth journey, she relocated to the country. In a recent social media post, she paid tribute to Filipino migrants, stating: "As someone whose family history is shaped by migration, I grew up honoring the courage, homesickness, and hard work of Fili...
Read more

Miss World Philippines 2026 is Asia Rose Simpson from Quezon City

Image
Asia Rose Simpson from Quezon City was crowned Miss World Philippines 2026 during the national final of the pageant held on Tuesday, February 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The 18-year-old Filipino-American beauty also bagged the Best in Swimsuit, Best in Talent, and Beauty with a Purpose award. She succeeded Miss World 2025 Top 8 finalist and Miss World Asia Krishnah Gravidez from Baguio City. Anne De Mesa from Manila and Gabrielle Fuentes Galapia from Pampanga were named the first and second princesses, respectively. The rest of Top 10 were from Batangas, Nicole Kristine Lorzano, Davao Region, Jayvee Lyn Loreto, New York, Marizza Delgado, United Kingdom, Margarethe Elize Romano, Ifugao, Valerie West, Rizal, Lorraine Ojimba, and Sultan Kudarat, Olivia Grace Reilly. Completing the Top 15 were from Bukidnon, Gwen Marie Perion, Iligan, Christal Briseis Polancos, Naga, Zoe Sofia Gabon, Negros Island Region, Cindy Agnes Valencia, and Zamboanga City, Ansha Lichelle Jones. The...
Read more

Miss Universe Germany 2022 is Soraya Kohlmann

Image
Soraya Kohlmann was crowned Miss Universe Germany 2022 in a casting event held on Saturday, July 2 at Holiday Inn Hotel Düsseldorf-Neuss. The 24-year-old former Miss Germany (2017) and business owner who hails from Leipzig succeeds last year's titleholder Hannah Seifer. She will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Universe 2022. Mona Schafnitzl and Roxanna Saiedeh were the rest of the Top 3 finalists while Jelena Tontic and Maren Tschinkel completed the Top 5. "So proud and thankful to represent my country at the Miss Universe competition this year. I still can’t believe it. It’s like a dream come true having the opportunity to raise my voice on such a huge platform," the new Miss Universe Germany shared on social media. Germany has yet to win its second Miss Universe title next to Marlene Schmidt (Miss Universe 1961). The country's last placement was Top 10 with Natascha Börger in 2002. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SORAYA ...
Read more

LIVE UPDATES: Miss Universe Thailand 2023 Final Competition Results

Image
The Miss Universe Thailand 2023 final competition is taking place tonight at MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi. One of the 53 contestants vying for the coveted title will walk away with an opportunity to represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2023 this November in El Salvador. Hosted by DJ and media personality, the spectacular show is streaming live on the official Miss Universe and TPNG YouTube channels. A distinguished selection committee who will have the most difficult task of selecting the winner includes former titleholders Miss Universe Thailand 2017 Maria Poonlertlarp (Miss Universe 2017 Top 5 finalist) and  Miss Universe Thailand 2021  Anchilee Scott-Kemmis, and Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi. Who will be the next Miss Universe Thailand? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Thailand (@missuniverse.in.th) --- FINAL RESULTS --- TOP 20 14 MUT Uttaradit - Worawalan Phutklang 23 MUT Khon Kaen -...
Read more

From Graduation Gown to the Galaxy Crown: Progress With Purpose

Image
Graduating from Loughborough University with a Distinction in her MBA and receiving the Top Student Prize, Aishwarya Ashvinikumar (popularly known as Ash) is set to make her debut in the pageant industry as a finalist in the UK Galaxy Pageant 2025/26.  Building on the insights from her dissertation, which sparked her passion for advocating gender equality in the workplace, Ash is now focused on using the UK Galaxy platform to raise awareness of ongoing gender-based discrimination in professional environments. Under the guidance of Professor Ian R. Hodgkinson, Ash achieved a Distinction (84/100) for her research dissertation, in which she developed a practical framework to help organisations close gender-based gaps, empower women to overcome workplace barriers, and foster inclusive, productive cultures.  Ash feels immensely grateful and privileged to have collaborated with Professor Ian R. Hodgkinson from Loughborough University, a multidisciplinary scholar at the forefront of ...
Read more

Miss Cosmo 2025 is Yolina Lindquist from the USA

Image
Miss Cosmo USA Yolina Lindquist beat 70 other contestants to win the Miss Cosmo 2025 pageant on Saturday, December 20 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 22-year-old from Illinois was crowned by her predecessor Ketut Permata Juliastrid from Indonesia. She became the first ever American woman to hold the international beauty title. Chelsea Fernandez of the Philippines finished as runner-up while Gabriela Borges of Brazil, Myint Myat Moe of Myanmar, and Italy Mora of Panama were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. Completing the Top 10 were the contestants from Colombia, Dayana Cárdenas, Cuba, Amys Nápoles Ochoa, Thailand, Chotnapa Kaewjarun, Vietnam, Hoang Phuong Linh Nguyen, and Zimbabwe, Lisa Sibanda. Beauties from Cambodia, Sreypii Phorn, Dominican Republic, Delisa Francisco, Ecuador, Alexandra Mina, Germany, Chloé Ëlyse, Greece, Ioanna Sarantopoulou, India, Vipra Mehta, Indonesia, Salma Ranggita, Laos, Christina Lasasimma, Mexico, Angela Yuriar, New Zealand, Katharina Weischede, and ...
Read more

Miss Earth USA 2026 is Gia Soleil Espinoza from Texas

Image
Gia Soleil Espinoza of Texas was crowned Miss Earth USA 2026 in a national competition held on Saturday, January 3 at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida. The 20-year-old criminal justice major and third-generation business owner from El Paso succeeds last year's winner Haley Poe. She will represent the USA at Miss Earth 2026 later this year. April Rodriguez of Lone Star State was named Miss Earth USA Air, while Angel Marie Strong of West Coast, Alanna Lynch of West Virginia, and Autumn Fisher of Kentucky were announced Miss Earth USA Water, Fire, and Eco, respectively. For the teen division, talented young model Mia Navarro, also from El Paso, clinched the title of Teen Miss Earth USA 2026. She was crowned by her predecessor Jordyn Campion. The new Miss Earth USA is also passionate advocate for animals. She co-founded Cars & Canines, a community-focused initiative that promotes adoption, sustainability, and meaningful connections. Having recently been accepted into the El Paso Po...
Read more

Russia's Varvara Yakovenko wins Miss Intercontinental 2025

Image
Varvara Yakovenko beat over 50 other contestants to win Miss Intercontinental 2025 on Thursday, January 29 at V Hotel Sahl Hasheesh in Egypt. The 18-year-old model became the fourth woman from Russia to hold the international beauty title. She succeeds last year's winner María Cepero from Puerto Rico. Lorena Suárez Lara from Cuba was named first runner-up while Vanessa Natcha Wenk of Thailand and Faidha Kassim Kivuyo of Tanzania were the second and third runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 7 were Christina Vanhefflin of the Philippines (fourth runner-up), Kika Marques Das Neves of Ecuador (fifth runner-up), and  Brilliant Mukanda Maroko of Kenya (sixth runner-up). Completing the Top 12 finalists were the contestants from Cameroon, Colombia, USA, India, and Romania. Germany, Brazil, Spain, Macau, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Vietnam made the Top 23. Aside winning the crown, the new Miss Intercontinental also bagged the Mis...
Read more

Meet the winners of Miss Turkey 2025

Image
The glittering Miss Turkey 2025 national competition was held last December 19 at the Lazzoni Hotel in Istanbul. A total of 20 stunning finalists were chosen to compete for the national titles that were at stake — Miss Turkey World and Miss Turkey Supranational. Sıla Saraydemir, a 22-year-old student, was crowned Miss Turkey World 2025. She is expected to represent Turkey at the 73rd Miss World competition whose date and venue have yet to be announced. The new Miss Turkey World received her crown and sash from former titleholder, Miss Turkey World 1995 Demet Şener. Last year's winner Idil Bilgen was unable to attend the show and pass the crown to her successor because she is currently abroad for her studies. "Today I received not a crown, but a responsibility. Winning Miss Turkey is a shared story of women who believe in their dreams, aren't afraid to make their voices heard, and empower each other," Sıla shared online after the competition. "I thank everyone who...
Read more

Mister International titleholders from 2006-2024

Image
The Mister International pageant, a celebrated event in the world of male beauty, was established in 2006 in Singapore by Alan Sim, its original president and founder. After the unfortunate passing of Sim, the pageant relocated its headquarters to Bangkok, Thailand, where it is now guided by the current president, Pradit Pradinunt. In a significant change starting in 2023, the Mister International organization opened its doors to fathers, married men, and divorced men aged 18-33, allowing a broader range of contestants to participate. The annual Mister International competition is recognized as one of the premier male beauty pageants in the world. Meet the titleholders from 2006-2024: 2006: Lebanon - Wissam Hanna 2007: Brazil - Alan Bianco Martini 2008: Vietnam - Ngo Tien Doan 2009: Bolivia - Bruno Kettels 2010: Great Britain - Ryan Terry 2011: Brazil - César Curti 2012: Lebanon - Ali Hammoud (resigned) 2013: Venezuela - José Anmer Paredes 2014: Philippines - Neil Perez 2015: ...
Read more