The Philippines continued its strong presence in international beauty pageants as Jayvee Lyn Lorejo and Gabrielle Galapia secured third runner-up finishes at Miss Global 2026 and Miss Asia Pacific International 2026, respectively, while Sophia Bianca Santos captured the Miss Elite 2026 crown.
The three queens celebrated their achievements during a victory press conference hosted by ALV Pageant Circle where they shared their experiences, challenges and preparations leading to their respective international competitions.
The event, led by national director Arnold Vegafria, recognized the queens’ accomplishments and the teams that supported them throughout their pageant journeys.
For Galapia, her placement at Miss Asia Pacific International was the result of years of preparation and the encouragement of people who stood by her throughout the competition.
“It really does take a village to raise a queen. Throughout the entire pageant, you really doubt yourself. You get hit by so many walls, and it really feels like, ‘Oh, my God, it couldn’t get worse.’ And then it gets worse,” she said.
She recalled how even a simple message of encouragement from supporters helped her regain confidence.
“Having the support of even just one comment online or seeing a smile on someone’s face and hearing that you’re doing well, it can really do so much for a beauty queen. Thank you so much for being that source of inspiration,” she said.
Galapia also thanked her family, friends and mentors, particularly her mother.
“My mom flew all the way to Cebu to support me. And I’m so, so, so grateful. I really could not have done it without her. I was training for three years with my mentors, and I’m so happy to be able to bring a crown home,” Galapia said.
Lorejo, meanwhile, faced a different challenge during her two-week Miss Global campaign in Thailand after falling ill and losing her voice.
The experience left her questioning whether she could finish the competition, but the encouragement of her team helped.
“Sometimes I ask them, ‘Do you think I can do this? I don’t have a voice. Maybe this is the sign that I can’t do this.’ But they always tell me, ‘No, you can do this. That’s just a challenge you have to take,’” she said.
Lorejo eventually secured third runner-up and the Miss Global Asia and Oceania title.
She also recalled the emotional moment she advanced to the Top 12, saying she had already considered herself fortunate to reach the Top 25 despite the strong competition.
During the final question-and-answer round, she said she was pleased with her performance, particularly because she had worked hard to improve her speaking skills.
“I was very happy with my performance because finally I didn’t stutter. That’s something that I was improving during my preparations. I was very happy with my performance, and I think I really made a good impression on the judges,” she said.
Santos, who captured the Miss Elite 2026 crown in Egypt, said her victory was the result of two years of preparation and determination to represent the Philippines.
“I felt pressured at the same time because the girls are so beautiful. They have their own story to tell. I think I trusted the process and gave my best to get the back-to-back,” she said.
Santos also revealed that there were moments when she considered giving up after waiting two years for the opportunity to compete.
“But the Lord gave me a sign that I just have to wait. Patience is a virtue,” she said.
Her victory marked the Philippines’ second consecutive Miss Elite title following Jannah Garcia’s win in 2025.
Santos said she was looking forward to returning to Egypt in December for a horse-riding event in Somabay, along the Red Sea coast. She also shared that the pageant organization was planning further international engagements for her, including a possible trip to Europe.
Beyond their individual experiences, the three queens offered advice to aspiring beauty contestants, emphasizing that international pageant preparation requires more than mastering runway walks, styling and question-and-answer sessions.
Galapia said future candidates must learn to manage the demanding schedules that come with international competitions, where long event days and early call times can leave contestants with little opportunity to rest.
“Let’s say that you get home at 10 p.m. and then your call time the next day is six. It’s not actually eight hours of sleep because you have to get undressed, you have to get unready. And then the next day, you have to prepare for two to three hours,” she said.
She added that contestants must learn to handle pressure without allowing exhaustion to affect how they treat other people.
“You have to be able to train yourself mentally to take on that load and not to snap because of it. There will be days like that because it’s part of the industry,” she said.
Santos also encouraged aspiring candidates to surround themselves with people who can provide support throughout the competition.
“Joining a pageant is not really easy. It’s not like using the treadmill. It’s like the Olympics. You have to have a team who will support you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually,” she ended.
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