Model from Pampanga wins maiden edition of Queen Universe Philippines
CEBU, Philippines — The Swan Lake-inspired evening gown designed by Harvey Cenit that Pampanga's Mikay Bautista wore at the coronation night of Queen Universe Philippines mirrored her pageant journey as someone who had always been the bridesmaid, but never the bride.
That changed on September 13 at Mactan Expo Center in Lapu-Lapu City, when she finally clinched her first national title as the inaugural Queen Universe Philippines.
“I have worn a lot of different gowns, and for this time, I told myself that I want to wear something where all eyes are on me,” Bautista explained in a post-coronation interview. “What if I combine my failures, my setbacks, and my successes, because my failures make me feel like an ugly duckling sometimes. But because of these failures, I can be beautiful as well.”
Bautista, a 21-year-old trans model and content creator, is known to be a repeater at Miss International Queen Philippines. In 2024, she was fourth runner-up. In 2025, she was a top five finalist. Earlier this year, she was first runner-up.
Other pageants that Bautista joined included Miss Gay Luzon 2026, where she won. She was also a semifinalist in the third season of Miss Q&A on “It’s Showtime” in 2022, as well as Queen of Quiapo 2026, where she was third runner-up.
Hoping to turn things around at Queen Universe Philippines, she focused on improving her communication skills. She told The FREEMAN: “God redirected me to Cebu. That’s why I decided to join this pageant. God has a better plan for me.”
At the final Q&A, when asked what truth could cost her the crown, Bautista said, “I will be honest. And that is, I will prove to those people who keep pulling me down saying that I am beautiful, but lacking...I am beautiful, but I am not ready. I know in myself that I have never been ready. So if ever I was crowned tonight, I would prove that everything can be learned,” she said.
“We don’t need to be the smartest one for you to be the queen, you just need a heart. As long as you have the heart and you’re ready to carry the responsibility of the crown, you are definitely worthy for the crown.”
She later told The FREEMAN, “I feel complete because after losing so many times, I feel like I redeemed myself. I am so happy that this organization believed in me. Even if I am not that eloquent candidate, they chose me as the winner.”
During the casual interview round with hosts Maria Gigante and OJ Cimafranca, they asked Bautista what motivates her to repeatedly join pageants
“There’s so many doors that have closed to [sic] me countless times. But my faith is strong. I believe when God closes the doors, he opens a window. When [I enter] that window, he showed me a path, and that path is here in Cebu,” said Bautista, who was also awarded Best in Swimsuit, among a slew of awards.
“That’s why I am so excited to make you all proud because I know what it takes, I got what it takes, and I am willing to do everything it takes to be the first ever Queen Universe Philippines,” she added.
As the inaugural titleholder of the pageant organized by beauty queen Jess Labares, Bautista earned the right to represent the Philippines at Queen Universe, tentatively scheduled to take place next year.
Asked what she would like to highlight about the Philippines as a transwoman during her reign, she said she hopes to champion the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Other winners
Winning Best in Evening Gown was Cebu City’s Maria Paula Vega Espina, who wore an elegant white creation by designer Jeanom Ursua.
Espina, who was crowned Queen Global Philippines, also serves as national director of Queen of Canada, a pageant for transwomen residing in The Great White North. For the same final question, Espina explained that while this may pose as a conflict of interest that could cost her the crown, she is “here for Queen Universe Philippines.”
“I would like to dedicate all of my time to fulfill my reign because I know it’s a great responsibility for the Queen Universe Philippines Foundation. I am here for two things: to tell my stories and the stories of transgender women, and to live by that purpose. I would use my leadership to do great things for the organization,” she added.
Yeng Lavitoria, a 29-year-old mother, seamstress, and virtual assistant from Tarlac City, completed the top three as Queen Grand Philippines.
She said her family responsibilities might come in the way of pageant duties, though she doesn’t believe she would need to sacrifice one for the other. “There are emergencies where family will come first, and that could cost me the crown,” she said during the final Q&A. “If ever I win, I will accept it as part of my family because it’s a responsibility and not just a title.”
Asked what can be considered right and wrong at the same time, she cited her existence as a trans woman, using the concept of yin-yang as an example. “Being an LGBT can be wrong for others, but right for me. Good things for others may not be for me. It does not mean I am not wrong, it just means you’re a human being and you should be accepted,” she said.
First runner-up is Sheila Magpale III from Davao City, who also won Miss Photogenic and Best in National Costume for her Philippine Eagle-inspired outfit designed by Andres Mabalon Jr. that symbolizes the unwavering spirit to soar amid adversity.
ML Tucay from Pangasinan was named second runner-up, while Vhanie Medalla from Las Navas, Northern Samar, was third runner-up.
Fourth runner-up went to Iarth Jones Ranis from Cagayan de Oro, fifth runner-up to RB Jean Buhian, and sixth runner-up to Jam Sy Mallari of Isabela, who was also named Miss Congeniality.
Top 14 semifinalist Staycee Ravena won Best in Tourism Video for her entry highlighting her municipality of Moalboal, Cebu.
A few candidates also managed to stand out despite not making it to the top 14.
Former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Rian Bacalla, who represented Cebu Province, jokingly introduced herself as a representative of the “rotational brownout capital of the Philippines.”
The clip posted by The FREEMAN on its Facebook page received 550,000 views, 15,500 reactions and 2,000 shares as of writing.
Bacalla shared on social media after her name wasn’t called: “Kidding aside, I hope this serves as a reminder to the electric companies to do better. We are trying our best by working hard just to make ends meet in order to pay our bills on time, and this is the kind of service that we get?”
Meanwhile, General Santos City delegate Angela Maria Madrigal also made the audience and netizens laugh by cosplaying GenSan pride, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, as her national costume.
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