Miss Universe Philippines 2020

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 was the first edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant under its new organization.^[1] Previously, the Philippine franchise for Miss Universe was under Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.^[2] The coronation night was initially scheduled for 3 May 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it moved at least twice; first to 14 June 2020,^[3] and later to 25 October 2020, at the Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club in Baguio, Benguet.^[4][5][6]

Miss Universe Philippines 2020
Rabiya Mateo
Date	25 October 2020
Presenters	KC Montero
Entertainment	Jessica Sanchez Allen Cecilio Anjo Damiles Kevin Montillano
Theme	The Filipino is Phenomenal
Venue	Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club, Baguio, Benguet
Broadcaster	GMA Network
Entrants	46
Placements	16
Withdrawals	Aurora Capiz Cagayan de Oro Leyte Negros Occidental Sorsogon
Winner	Rabiya Mateo Iloilo City
Best National Costume	Lou Dominique Piczon, Mandaue
Photogenic	Tracy Maureen Perez, Cebu City
2021 →

External videos
Finals Night (Official)

Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados crowned Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City as Miss Universe Philippines 2020.^[7][8][9] The competition also featured the debut of the new Filipina crown, crafted by the Villarica family, who is known for running the Villarica Pawnshop.^[10][11]

Mateo eventually represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant and finished as a Top 21 semi-finalist.^[12][13]

Contestants from forty-six localities competed in this edition. The pageant was hosted by KC Montero.^[14] American Idol alumnus Jessica Sanchez and Filipino actors Allen Cecilio, Anjo Damiles, and Kevin Montillano performed as musical guests.^[15]

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.^[1] The deadline of the submission of applications was on 18 January 2020, and the screenings were set to take place from 20 January to 24 January 2020.^[16][17]

However, on 25 January 2020,the new owners of the franchise introduced an Accredited Partner Programme, where provinces and cities could send one contestant each locality through an accredited partner.^[18][19] Walk-in contestants are still accepted by the organization until 31 January 2020, after which the contestants went through a final screening on 1 February 2020.^[20][21] 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 10 February 2020.^[18][22][23] On 14 February 2020, the fifty-two contestants of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 were presented during the Red Carpet Presentation at Manila Hotel.^[24][25]

Withdrawals

Six contestants withdrew from the pagant 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.^[26][27][28] Princess Marquez of Aurora and Chaira Lyn Markwalder of Leyte withdrew for personal reasons.^[29] Angela Aninang of Negros Occidental withdrew to focus on her studies,^[30] while Mariam Lara Hamid of Capiz withdrew due to breach of contract by your local accredited partner.^[29]

Location and date

On 29 January 2020, the organization announced that the coronation was scheduled for the 3 May 2020 evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Metro Manila.^[31][32] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled twice;the first time to 14 June 2020,^[33][34] and later to 25 October 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 .^[4][5][35] Also,many segments from the final competition were tapped before the broadcast.For the first time on history,a main pageant on Philippines was taken exclusively on a streaming.^[35][36][37]

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.^[38][39]

Results

Placements

The Philippine map results of Miss Universe Philippines 2020, colors shaded in each province/cities.

Placement	Contestant
Miss Universe Philippines 2020	Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo[40][41]
1st Runner-Up	Parañaque – Maria Ysabella Ysmael[40][41]
2nd Runner-Up	Quezon City – Michele Theresa Gumabao[40][41]
3rd Runner-Up	Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx[40][41]
4th Runner-Up	Cavite – Kimberly Hakenson[40][41]
Top 16	Aklan – Christelle Anjali Abello[42] Albay – Paula Ortega[42] Biliran – Skelly Ivy Florida[42] § Cebu – Apriel Smith[42] Cebu City – Tracy Maureen Perez[42] Davao City – Alaiza Flor Malinao[42] Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon[42] Misamis Oriental – Caroline Joy Veronilla[42] Pasig – Riana Agatha Pangindian[42] Romblon – Maria Fee Tajaran[42] Taguig – Sandra Lemonon[42]

§ – Lazada Fan Vote winner

Appointment

Title	Ambassadress
Ambassadress for Education	Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo
Ambassadress for Education	Parañaque – Maria Ysabella Ysmael
Ambassadress for Health and Fitness	Quezon City – Michele Gumabao
Ambassadress for Tourism	Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx
Ambassadress for Gender Equality	Cavite – Kimberly Hakenson

Special awards

Award	Contestant
Best in National Costume	Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon[43][44]
Best in Swimsuit	Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo[43][44]
Best in Evening Gown	Parañaque – Maria Ysabella Ysmael[43][44]
Face of the Universe	Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx[43][44]
Miss Photogenic	Cebu City – Tracy Perez[43][44][45]
Best in Swimsuit Photo
Best in Runway	Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon[46]
Miss Lazada Fan Vote	Biliran – Skelly Ivy Florida[47]
Miss MG Philippines	Quezon City – Michele Gumabao
Miss Creamsilk	Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx[43]
Downy Sweetheart Award
Miss Cetaphil Sun
Best Tourism Video	Batanes – Jan Alexis Elcano[48]

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.^[42]

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.^[49][50][51] 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.^[52] Afterwards, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 and her runners-up were announced.^[40]

Selection committee

Preliminary competition

• Mary Jean Lastimosa – Miss Universe Philippines 2014^[53]
• Katrina Salonga Verzosa – Owner and founder of the Verzosa Aesthetic Clinic.^[54]
• Maria Venus Raj – Miss Universe Philippines 2010^[53]
• Ariella Arida – Miss Universe Philippines 2013^[53]
• Jackie Aquino – General manager of JCA Productions and the president of Philippine Fashion Coalition^[54]
• Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr. – Co-founder and CEO of Frontrow^[54]
• Neil Perez – Mister International 2014^[54]

Final competition

• RS Francisco – Actor and co-founder of Frontrow^[55]
• Eric Yap – Representative of ACT-CIS Partylist and Legislative Caretaker of the Lone District of Benguet^[55]
• Harry Roque – Lawyer and Presidential Spokesperson^[55]
• Jackie Aquino – General manager of JCA Productions and the president of Philippine Fashion Coalition^[55]
• Venus Navalta – CEO of IPG Mediabrands Philippines^[55]
• Janine Tugonon – Miss Universe Philippines 2012^[55]
• Arlene Magalong – Wife of the mayor of Baguio^[55]
• Arthur Peña – Group Director for Media of Procter & Gamble Philippines^[55]
• Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr. – Co-founder and CEO of Frontrow^[55]

Contestants

Forty-six contestants competed for the title.^[56]

City/Province	Contestant	Age[a]
Aklan	Christelle Anjali Abello[57]	26
Albay	Paula Ortega[58]	24
Angeles	Christine Nicole Silvernale[58]	19
Antique	Joecel Marie Robenta[58]	23
Batanes	Jan Alexis Elcano[59]	21
Baguio	Bea Theresa Maynigo[58]	24
Batangas	Nathalia Urcia[58]	26
Biliran	Skelly Ivy Florida[60]	21
Bohol	Pauline Amelinckx[61]	25
Bulacan	Daniella Louise Loya[58]	20
Cagayan	Mari Danica Reynes[58]	27
Camarines Sur	Krizzia Lynn Moreno[58]	25
Catanduanes	Sigrid Grace Flores[58]	27
Cavite	Kimberly Hakenson[62]	26
Cebu	Apriel Smith[63]	24
Cebu City	Tracy Maureen Perez[64]	27
Davao City	Alaiza Flor Malinao[65]	27
Davao del Norte	We'am Ahmed[66]	20
General Santos	Mariel Joyce Pascua[58]	23
Ilocos Sur	Adelma Krissel Benicta[58]	26
Iloilo	Kim Chi Crizaldo[67]	23
Iloilo City	Rabiya Mateo[68]	23
Isabela	Maria Regina Malana[58]	25
Kalinga	Noreen Victoria Mangawit[58]	22
La Union	Trizha Ocampo[58]	25
Laguna	Jo-Ann Flores[58]	26
Makati	Ivanna Kamil Pacis[58]	24
Mandaue	Lou Dominique Piczon[69]	24
Manila	Alexandra Abdon[70]	25
Marinduque	Maria Lianina Macalino[58]	27
Misamis Oriental	Caroline Joy Veronilla	25
Muntinlupa	Maricres Castro	25
Oriental Mindoro	Adee Hitomi Akiyama	27
Palawan	Jennifer Linda	18
Pampanga	Patricia Mae Santos	26
Pangasinan	Maria Niña Soriano	24
Parañaque	Maria Ysabella Ysmael[71]	24
Pasay	Zandra Nicole Santa Maria	27
Pasig	Riana Agatha Pangindian	24
Quezon	Faye Dominique Deveza	23
Quezon City	Michele Theresa 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

Notes

1. Ages at the time of the pageant