These 3 beauty queens are vying for a spot in Miss Universe Philippines 2023
The Philippines may have fallen short of reaching Miss Universe 2022's Top 16, but the country seems to be gearing up for a good comeback in this year's competition.
This has become evident with the list of familiar faces who have recently announced their bid for a spot in Miss Universe Philippines 2023 since it opened applications in November of last year.
Registration to the pageant was scheduled to end on Feb. 5 before the organization extended it to Feb. 14. As the application round closed that day, some familiar personalities from the pageant world and TV announced their intent to join the competition, represent the country in the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador, and bring home the crown for Filipinos.
Michelle Dee
The fight for the coveted Miss Universe Philippines crown continues for Michelle Dee, who finished her race in last year's competition as the first runner-up next to winner Celeste Cortesi.
The 27-year-old beauty queen and actress shared the news in her Instagram Stories on Feb. 14, with the caption "now or never" and "#DEEpataposanglaban #forDEEuniverse."
In a press conference on the same day, Dee revealed that she is joining the pageant once again as she didn't want to miss the opportunity, considering that the pageant's upper age limit is 27 years old.
"For me, it's really about not having regrets in life 'cause last chance ko na this year. And it's the kind of example I want to show my supporters na just keep fighting until wala ka nang mabigay or hindi mo na kayang gawin," she said.
Prior to earning the Miss Universe Philippines Tourism title in last year's pageant, Dee was crowned Miss World Philippines 2019 and finished at the top 12 of the global competition.
Angelique Manto
Angelique Manto is no stranger to the pageant industry and she is out to prove that she is ready to take on the global stage after applying to Miss Universe Philippines 2023 on Feb. 13.
In one of her recent Instagram posts, Manto shared why she decided to try out for her "biggest dream" on the same day she experienced her "biggest heartbreak."
"Today feels like a full circle moment for me — my last memory with my dad was him carrying me on his wheelchair as I won Miss Pampanga back in 2014. Eight years ago, on February 13th, my dad took his last breath. I was seconds too late from catching the bus that would've brought me back home in his arms — I missed the opportunity to bid my last goodbye to him, it has been my biggest regret since," the beauty queen wrote.
On this day that "means the universe" to her, Manto said she is finally taking "the leap" towards her and her father's dream, noting that it's an opportunity she "dare not waste" and "will not forget" in the future.
Apart from winning Miss Pampanga in 2014, Manto was crowned Mutya Ning Kapampangan and Mutya Ning Lubao on the same year.
She was also the University of Santo Tomas' UAAP courtside reporter in 2017 and has been famous for her line, "Ibalik ang korona sa Espanya." Since Manto signed up for Miss Universe Philippines 2023 early this week, fans have been expressing their support to the beauty queen, with the phrase, "Ibalik ang korona sa Pilipinas."
Samantha Panlilio
"iSamPanLaban" is the battle cry of Samantha Panlilio as she vies for a post in Miss Universe Philippines 2023.
The beauty queen submitted her application during the organization's on-site screening at Estancia Mall in Pasig City last Feb. 13 and shared the news with her Instagram followers on the same day.
This comes two years after the 27-year-old competed in Binbining Pilipinas 2021 from where she earned her Miss Grand Philippines title. Panlilio went on to represent the Philippines in the global competition in Bangkok, Thailand but missed landing a spot in the top 20.
She is currently one of the talents of Viva Artist Agency and manages her own business, coming from an illustrious family running hotels and resorts in the Southern Tagalog Region.
Apart from her entrepreneurial skills, her expertise in pageantry was one she inherited from her family, with her late aunt Myrna Panlilio Borromeo being the first representative of the Philippines to the 1964 Miss Universe pageant.