Pageant veteran Angelica Lopez of Palawan made history on Friday, August 7, after being crowned the first-ever Reina Filipinas Grand International 2026, earning the honor of representing the Philippines at the Miss Grand International 2026 pageant.
File Photo
Lopez emerged victorious over 20 other delegates during the inaugural grand coronation night held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, topping a competitive field of 21 candidates from across the country. Her victory also marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Reina Filipinas organization, which debuted this year as the country's official platform for selecting representatives to Miss Grand International and MGI All Stars.
The Palawan beauty queen delivered one of the strongest performances throughout the competition, consistently impressing both the judges and the audience. She swept several special awards, including Best in Swimsuit, after receiving a perfect score from the judges, as well as the Reina Pasarela and Reina Urban Smiles awards.
During the final question-and-answer round, Lopez highlighted the opportunities that Reina Filipinas provides for women beyond beauty competitions.
"Reina Filipinas gives women the chance to learn new skills, grow, and elevate themselves beyond the pageant stage. It is a win-win situation for women seeking both personal development and meaningful opportunities," Lopez said.
Lopez's latest victory is another milestone in an already impressive pageant career. She first competed in Miss Universe Philippines 2022, where she finished as a Top 16 semifinalist, establishing herself as one of the country's promising beauty queens.
She returned to the national pageant stage the following year and joined Binibining Pilipinas 2023, where she captured the Binibining Pilipinas International 2023 title. The win earned her the right to represent the Philippines at Miss International 2024 in Japan. Although she delivered a strong performance throughout the competition, Lopez fell short of advancing to the semifinals, ending her Miss International journey without a placement.
Joining Lopez in the winners' circle were Alexie Brooks of Iloilo City and Anne Patricia Diaz of Manila, who were crowned Reina Filipinas MGI All Stars 2026 titleholders and will represent the Philippines in the second edition of MGI All Stars.
Brooks also delivered a standout performance during the competition, winning Best in Evening Gown with another perfect judges' score, along with the Best Seller and Reina Kserene awards. In her final answer, she spoke about redefining beauty standards, saying the pageant proves that "someone who is as broken as a glass can rise as beautiful as a flower."
Meanwhile, Diaz made history as the competition's sole transgender contestant to win a major title. A former Miss International Queen 2025 Top 6 finalist, she emphasized Reina Filipinas' commitment to equality and inclusivity during the final question-and-answer segment, saying that providing opportunities for all women is what makes the pageant "number one."
File photo
Completing the inaugural Reina Filipinas court were Cleopatra Barrera as first runner-up, Isabelle Ortega as second runner-up, Zeah Nestle Pala as third runner-up, and Luisa Benavides as fourth runner-up.
The inaugural winners were selected through a combination of judges' scores and public votes. The distinguished panel included internationally renowned Filipino designer Michael Cinco, Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza, inaugural MGI All Stars winner Vanessa Pulgarin of Colombia, and MGI All Stars first runner-up Nguyen Huong Giang of Vietnam, among other personalities from the pageant industry.
With her victory, Lopez now sets her sights on the Miss Grand International 2026 crown, hoping to continue the Philippines' winning tradition following the successes of Filipino titleholders CJ Opiaza and Emma Mary Tiglao on the international stage. Her triumph also establishes Reina Filipinas as a new force in Philippine pageantry, ushering in its first generation of national queens.
