Miss Universe Philippines 2020 was the first edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant under its new organization. Previously, the Philippine franchise for Miss Universe was under Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. The coronation night was initially scheduled for May 3, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it moved at least twice; first to June 14, 2020, and later to October 25, 2020, at the Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club in Baguio, Benguet.
Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City won the competition, succeeding Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Gazini Ganados of Talisay, Cebu The competition also featured the debut of the new Filipina crown, crafted by the Villarica family, who is known for running the Villarica Pawnshop.
Mateo eventually represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant and finished as a Top 21 semi-finalist.
Contestants from forty-six localities competed in this edition. The pageant was hosted by KC Montero. American Idol alumnus Jessica Sanchez and Filipino actors Allen Cecilio, Anjo Damiles, and Kevin Montillano performed as musical guests.
Background Selection of participants In December 2019, the organization launched its search for the next Filipina who would represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2020 competition. The deadline of the submission of applications was on January 18, 2020, and the screenings were set to take place from January 20 to 24.
However, on January 25, the new owners of the franchise introduced an Accredited Partner Program, where provinces and cities could send one contestant from each locality through an accredited partner. Walk-in contestants are still accepted by the organization until 31 January 2020, after which the contestants went through a final screening on February 1. The walk-in contestants who passed the final screening were then adopted by an accredited partner and joined all other contestants that were determined by an accredited partner on February 10. On February 14, the fifty-two contestants of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 were presented during the Red Carpet Presentation at Manila Hotel.
Withdrawals Six contestants withdrew from the pageant due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vincy Vacalares of Cagayan de Oro and Maria Isabela Galeria of Sorsogon were forced to withdrawn from the competition after they tested positive for COVID-19. Princess Marquez of Aurora and Chaira Lyn Markwalder of Leyte withdrew for personal reasons. Angela Aninang of Negros Occidental withdrew to focus on her studies, while Mariam Lara Hamid of Capiz withdrew due to breach of contract by your local accredited partner.
Location and date On January 29, the organization announced that the coronation was scheduled for May 3 evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled twice; the first time to June 14, 2020, and later to October 25, 2020, at the Cordillera Convention Hall, inside the Baguio Country Club. This edition was held entirely in a closed location and without the presence of the public, which prevented the candidates from carrying out any external activities and in the same way as the preliminaries. Also, many segments from the final competition were tapped before the broadcast. For the first time on history, a major pageant on Philippines held exclusively behind closed doors.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic An eight-episode web series entitled Ring Light was released on September 27 on Empire.ph and could be viewed for a one-time fee. Marketed as a "fundraising online pageant series", part of the proceeds would be given to the pageants' beneficiaries and partner organizations. The series featured several aspects of the pageant's contestants bid to clinch the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 crown, including their trainings and other behind-the-scenes content.
Results Placements
Placement Contestant Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo 1st Runner-Up Parañaque – Bella Ysmael 2nd Runner-Up Quezon City – Michele Gumabao 3rd Runner-Up Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx 4th Runner-Up Cavite – Kimberly Hakenson Top 16 Aklan – Christelle Abello Albay – Paula Ortega Biliran – Skelly Ivy Florida § Cebu – Apriel Smith Cebu City – Tracy Perez Davao City – Alaiza Flor Malinao Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon Misamis Oriental – Caroline Joy Veronilla Pasig – Riana Agatha Pangindian Romblon – Maria Fee Tajaran Taguig – Sandra Lemonon § – Lazada Fan Vote winner
Appointments Title AmbassadressAmbassadress for Education Iloilo City – Rabiya MateoAmbassadress for Arts and Culture Parañaque – Bella YsmaelAmbassadress for Health and Fitness Quezon City – Michele GumabaoAmbassadress for Tourism Bohol – Pauline AmelinckxAmbassadress for Gender Equality Cavite – Kimberly Hakenson
Special awards Award Contestant Best in Evening Gown Parañaque – Bella Ysmael Best in National Costume Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon Best in Runway Best in Swimsuit Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo Best in Swimsuit Photo Cebu City – Tracy Perez Miss Photogenic Best Tourism Video Batanes – Jan Alexis Elcano Downy Sweetheart Award Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx Face of the Universe Miss Cetaphil Sun Miss Creamsilk Miss Lazada Fan Vote Biliran – Skelly Ivy Florida Miss MG Philippines Quezon City – Michele Gumabao
Pageant
Format The results of the preliminary competition, which consisted of the swimsuit competition, the evening gown competition, and the closed-door interview, determined the first fifteen semi-finalists selected at large. Internet voting was also used, with fans being able to vote for another delegate to advance into the semi-finals through the Lazada Fan Vote.
The sixteen semi-finalists competed in three rounds: question-and-answer, swimsuit and evening gown. The swimwear for the finals was designed by UAE-based couture label Amato Couture by Filipino designer Furne One in collaboration with luxury swimwear Amari Swim. From sixteen, five finalists were chosen to compete at the final question-and-answer round. Two questions were asked; the first being unique to each candidate and the second is the same question answered by all five finalists. Afterwards, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 and her runners-up were announced.
Selection committee
Preliminary competition Mary Jean Lastimosa – Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Katrina Salonga Verzosa – Owner and founder of the Verzosa Aesthetic Clinic. Maria Venus Raj – Miss Universe Philippines 2010 Ariella Arida – Miss Universe Philippines 2013 Jackie Aquino – General manager of JCA Productions and the president of Philippine Fashion Coalition Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr. – Co-founder and CEO of Frontrow Neil Perez – Mister International 2014
Final competition RS Francisco – Actor and co-founder of Frontrow Eric Yap – Representative of ACT-CIS Partylist and Legislative Caretaker of the Lone District of Benguet Harry Roque – Lawyer and Presidential Spokesperson Jackie Aquino – General manager of JCA Productions and the president of Philippine Fashion Coalition Venus Navalta – CEO of IPG Mediabrands Philippines Janine Tugonon – Miss Universe Philippines 2012 Arlene Magalong – Wife of the mayor of Baguio Arthur Peña – Group Director for Media of Procter & Gamble Philippines Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr. – Co-founder and CEO of Frontrow
Contestants Forty-six contestants competed for the title.
Province/CityContestantAgeAklan 26 Albay 24 Angeles 19 Antique 23 Batanes 21 Baguio 24 Batangas 26 Biliran 21 Bohol 25 Bulacan 20 Cagayan 27 Camarines Sur 25 Catanduanes 27 Cavite 26 Cebu 24 Cebu City 27 Davao City 27 Davao del Norte 20 General Santos 23 Ilocos Sur 26 Iloilo 23 Iloilo City 23 Isabela 25 Kalinga 22 La Union 25 Laguna 26 Makati 24 Mandaue 24 Manila 25 Marinduque 27 Misamis Oriental Caroline Veronilla 25 Muntinlupa Maricres Castro 25 Oriental Mindoro Adee Hitomi Akiyama 27 Palawan Jennifer Linda 18 Pampanga Patricia Santos 26 Pangasinan Niña Soriano 24 Parañaque Bella Ysmael 24 Pasay Zandra Nicole Santa Maria 27 Pasig Riana Pangindian 24 Quezon Faye Deveza 23 Quezon City Michele Gumabao 28 Rizal Ericka Evangelista 25 Romblon Marie Fee Tajaran 25 Surigao del Norte Carissa Quiza 19 Taguig Sandra Lemonon 26 Zamboanga del Sur Perlyn Cayona 22
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