Pageant veteran and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Anne De Mesa secured the Philippines’ second Miss Tourism Worldwide crown after a standout performance during the coronation night held Saturday, April 25, in Malaysia, marking a triumphant return for the country after an eight-year title drought.
De Mesa outshined 21 other candidates to claim the international crown, further dominating the competition by winning multiple special awards, including Best in National Costume, Best in Evening Gown, and Miss Celebrity. She captivated judges in a fully-beaded yellow gown designed by renowned Filipino fashion designer Leo Almodal.
Rounding out the winners were Kuma Ruth Ndain of Cameroon as 1st runner-up, Geili Meigas of Estonia as 2nd runner-up, Milana Roothooft of Belgium as 3rd runner-up, and Pakjira Kusolthipjaroen of Thailand as 4th runner-up.
Before her international win, De Mesa built a strong pageant résumé. She was a fan favorite at Miss World Philippines 2026, where she finished as 1st runner-up to Asia Rose Simson—a placement that later earned her the appointment as the country’s official representative to Miss Tourism Worldwide under the ALV Pageant Circle led by Arnold Vegafria.
She also competed in Binibining Pilipinas 2022 and placed in the top 12 and Binibining Pilipinas 2025 as a top 14 semifinalist.
Interestingly, both De Mesa and Carbonell share a unique parallel—both were 1st Princess winners in Miss World Philippines before clinching the Miss Tourism Worldwide crown, and both wore yellow gowns during their victories.
In an interview with Missosology, De Mesa expressed gratitude following her win, “I was just praying that God will give me what I deserve. I know I gave my best tonight. I’m so thankful to everyone who voted and supported me—my team, thank you so much. Ito na ‘yung para maiuwi na sa Pilipinas. Let’s go!”
The victory marks a historic return for the Philippines, which last won the crown in 2018 through Zara Carbonell—the inaugural titleholder of the pageant.
Another notable coincidence: both De Mesa and Carbonell were reigning 1st Princess winners in Miss World Philippines when they clinched the international title. The key difference lies in their paths—Carbonell competed independently, while De Mesa was officially appointed by Vegafria’s ALV Pageant Circle.
With her victory, De Mesa not only reinforces the Philippines’ dominance in international pageantry but also adds another historic milestone to the country’s growing list of global beauty titles.
