All the familiar faces of Binibining Pilipinas 2022 and where you've seen them before
Pageant season is well underway and Binibining Pilipinas recently announced the 40 girls that will vie for the competition's four crowns.
The official candidates were unveiled on April 22 and some of the hopefuls in the lineup are familiar faces from the pageant and TV world. Here's where you might have seen them before.
From TV screens to the pageant stage
Known as the "Adventurous Anak ng Taguig City" during her stint in Pinoy Big Brother's 8th season, Diana Mackey joins the national pageant.
Aside from the popular reality show, the 24-year-old Fil-New Zealand beauty has some acting credits under her belt including Ang Probinsyano, Maalaala Mo Kaya's Tattoo episode, and the TV mini-series Section: St. Valentine - The Disappearance of Divine.
Before joining the TV scene, Mackey previously embarked on the pageant world, holding titles such as Miss Manila 2nd runner-up, Miss Earth 2015 runner-up, and Slimmer World's Miss Bikini Philippines - Special and Minor.
Fun fact: she's also close friends with Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados.
Another Bb. Pilipinas 2022 hopeful from the world of television is Nicole Budol, who is best known as "Hipon Girl" from her days hosting Willie Revillame's Wowowin.
Budol also showed off her acting chops when she starred in GMA Network's Magpakailanman and Madrasta.
For the upcoming pageant, the 22-year-old beauty said she plans to speak in Filipino during the Q&A segments.
Gwendoline Meliz Soriano first appeared on TV when she joined Eat Bulaga's Miss Millennial Philippines 2019 pageant. She then took on acting roles in the iWant series Hush and appeared in the viral Kwentong Jollibee series Space.
From playing for the Benilde Blazers in the National Collegiate Athletic Association to joining the Cignal HD Spikers in the Philippine Volleyball League, Janine Navarro takes some time off from her sport to vie for the Bb. Pilipinas crown.
A journalist by profession, Mary Justinne Punsalang joins Bb. Pilipinas 2022 while serving as a reporter for TV5 News. She said that she will be advocating to fight against disinformation and misinformation.
Pageant veterans
Among the faces that have graced the pageant screens before are last year's Binibining 2021 candidates, including 1st runner-up Gabrielle Basiano, Karen Laurrie Mendoza, Graziella Lehman, Jashmin Dimaculangan, Jane Darren Genobisa, and Francesca Taruc.
This year's hopefuls also come fresh from other pageants, including titleholders Miss Eco Teen International 2020 Roberta Tamondong, Miss Bikini Philippines 2020 Chelsea Fernandez, Miss Millennial Philippines 2019 Nicole Borromeo, Miss FIT Philippines 2021 Yllana Marie Aduana, Miss Tourism International 2019/2020 Cyrille Payumo, and Ambassadress of the World 2019 Christine Juliane Opiaza.
Miss World Philippines 2021 candidate Anne De Mesa and Miss Universe Philippines 2021's Nyca Mae Bernardo are also taking part in this year's national competition.
