Meet The First 10 Semifinalists Who Are One Step Away From The Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Crown

The countdown is almost over!

Miss Universe Philippines is set to crown its next queen today, May 2, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, and you can already feel the pressure building. After weeks of screenings, challenges, and stage moments, it all comes down to one final night where one Filipina will take the crown after Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo, who represented the country on the global stage and secured a third runner-up finish.

Whoever earns the title tonight will represent the Philippines at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in November, which will be held at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Puerto Rico.

The Philippines has four Miss Universe crowns to its name, with Catriona Gray securing the most recent win in 2018. So the big question now is: can the Philippines reign again this year?

The Miss Universe Philippines journey has been building up for weeks, starting with 50 delegates representing cities, provinces, and Filipino communities around the world. Through a mix of runway segments, interviews, and public voting via the Maya app, the competition has steadily narrowed, testing not just beauty but confidence, communication, and consistency across every round.

Ahead of tonight's coronation, 10 delegates have already secured their spots in the semifinals after topping the third round of public voting—but the final lineup is far from complete.

More semifinalists will be announced live tonight, starting with the Best in Swimsuit winner, also determined through online voting. Another 10 delegates will be chosen by the selection committee based on their overall performance throughout the competition, followed by five brand award winners and five wildcard picks—completing a total of 30 semifinalists who will move forward on stage.

And while the official list is still unfolding, pageant fans, experts, and veterans are already watching a few strong contenders closely. Names like Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union, Cebu Province bets Nicole Borromeo and Apriel Smith, Bella Ysmael of Taguig City, and Mutya Ning Kapampangan 2025 winner Allyson Hetland from Angeles, Pampanga, are definitely ones to keep an eye on tonight!

Jencel's journey is deeply personal, shaped by growing up as a young breadwinner and learning responsibility early. She has openly shared her struggles with depression and body shaming, but is choosing to rebuild herself instead of being defined by those experiences.

She eventually found healing through yoga, which became both her lifestyle and advocacy. As the representative of Cavite, she promotes wellness that starts from within, grounded in mental, physical, and emotional balance.

Cherieze is the reigning Miss Universe Philippines Hawaii 2026 and a graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She's currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Communicology after completing degrees in Human Development and Philippine Language and Culture.

She serves as co-chair of the Oahu Filipino Community Council Youth Task Force. Cherieze is also active in the Filipino Mental Health Initiative, using her platform to encourage Filipino youth to embrace their identity. This year, she represents both Hawaii and Ilocos Norte in the pageant.

Lyneree holds the title of Miss Universe Philippines Mountain Province 2026. But ICYDK, she previously earned the Miss Universe Philippines Benguet Tourism 2026 title and proudly represented her roots in Benguet and Sagada.

The 28-year-old mother is returning to the Miss Universe Philippines stage after a seven-year break. Her platform highlights growth and intention, which includes championing indigenous culture and showing that modern Filipina identity can hold both family and ambition.

Alex officially took the crown as Miss Universe Philippines Negros Occidental 2026 after initially placing first runner-up and stepping in when the original winner withdrew. The move garnered wide support from the local pageant community. She also earned Miss Citadines Bacolod City and remains active in cultural events like the Pasalamat Festival. She also a staunch advocate for children's mental health and early support.

As she shared, "I've been through a lot of experiences, and it has shaped me to be the woman I am today. I think Miss Universe is an organization that looks for a transformational woman, and with that, I think I could be fit for that kind of role to inspire other people to transform themselves and be out of the box."

Donna secured her spot after being crowned Miss Universe Philippines Pangasinan 2026, representing Dagupan City, with a winning answer that focused on family acceptance and support for LGBTQIA+ children.

Her coronation look in a detailed Rian Fernandez gown stood out, while her interests in leadership and creative work reflect her goal to use her voice for meaningful conversations.

Ella brings over a decade of pageant experience, from early titles like Bb. Pasayahan 2012 to her recent win as Ms. Philippines Australia 2025.

She is also a licensed civil engineer with a master's degree in Project Management from the University of Sydney, representing both Quezon Province and the Filipino community in Australia with a mix of academic strength and pageant training.

Alicia began her pageant journey in 2022 despite being told she was "too short." She has since walked runways in New York, Milan, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles for various Filipino designers.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and is a certified fitness instructor, bringing discipline and international exposure as she represents Rizal and the Filipino community in Southern California.

Jayka combines academic excellence with years of experience in media and performance. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Journalism and a minor in English, completing her studies in just three years. Before pageantry, she was already in the public eye as a child model and later gained recognition through the Kids React and Teens React series on YouTube.

She is also a figure skater with over a decade of experience, bringing strong posture and stage control as she represents both Negros Oriental and the Filipino community in Bellevue, Washington.

Jenrose represents Sultan Kudarat while embracing her Filipino-Pakistani heritage, using her platform to promote inclusivity and cultural diversity.

She is a third-year Tourism student and a former Hiyas ng Pilipinas candidate, bringing early pageant experience along with a strong focus on culture and community engagement.

Chrystel placed in the Top 15 at Miss Philippines Earth 2023 and later represented the Philippines at Miss Planet International 2024, where she finished fourth runner-up and won Best in National Costume.

She is a registered psychometrician (she passed the boards in 2017!) and has become a fitness ambassador who openly shares her experience living with a goiter diagnosis. Her platform is centered on environmental protection advocacy, which is deeply inspired by her coastal upbringing.

The coronation night will be live at the SM Mall of Asia Arena tonight, May 2, starting at 7 PM. You may also watch it from home by streaming it for free on One PH via Cignal Play, or tune in on the official YouTube channel of Empire Philippines.