North Luzon frontrunners win Binibining Pilipinas 2026 crowns
MANILA, Philippines — Gwedolyn Meliz Soriano of Baguio City won the Binibining Pilipinas International title. She was crowned by outgoing Binibining Pilipinas International Katrina Anne Johnson, who will be competing in Tokyo towards the end of the year.
Soriano was also awarded the Best in Swimsuit, Best in Evening Gown, Miss Urban Smile, and Miss Philippine Airlines earlier in the evening of Saturday, July 18, at the coronation night held in Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Sasha Juli-Belle Lacuna of Tarlac Province was proclaimed Binibining Pilipinas Globe. She was crowned by outgoing Binibining Pilipinas Globe Annabelle McDonnell.
While last year’s titleholders were both from Mindanao, the newly crowned queens were both from North Luzon. The runners-up, on the other hand, were from the Negros Island Region.
The 1st runner position went to Julianne Rainne Antonio of Dumaguete City and received her title from last year’s 1st runner-up Dalia Varde Khatteb, while the 2nd runner-up placement went to Tracy Sunio of Bacolod City and got her crown from last year’s 2nd runner-up Kathleen Enid Espenido.
The other lucky delegates who made it to the Top 12 were:
- Anne Klein Castro (who won an automatic placement as People’s Choice awardee and named Binibining Nustar)
- Angelica Evora (Oriental Mindoro)
- Gwyneth Jemimah Chan (Cagayan de Oro)
- Anjali Pradeep Kumar (La Union)
- Patricia Lynn Beerda (Iloilo, Best in National Costume)
- Jarina Sandhu (Cauayan, Isabela, Binibining Theme Club)
- Mylene Manchus (Tanza, Cavite, Best in National Costume) and
- Pauline Thea Ann Ibuyan (Aklan, Binibin8ng Tourism)
The other non-placing delegates who received minor awards were:
- Zilliani Eve Rojas (Zamboanga City, Face of Binibini)
- Georgette Nicole Coronacion (Carmona, Cavite, Binibining Friendship)
- Iris Oresca (Bicol Region, Best in National Costume)
- Samantha Marie Zabarte (Dasmariñas, Cavite, Manila Bulletin Reader’s Choice Award and Best in National Costume) and
- Ain Niqyla Abad (San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Best in National Costume)
There were five recipients of the Best in National Costume Award. The organization decided not to break the tie and honor them all.
It is also the first time in Binibining Pilipinas history that a Top 4 was chosen for another question and answer round where the finalists were made to answer a common question.
This year’s selection committee was composed of Oliver Buenviaje, Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman, Paul Cabral, Sen. Rissa Hontiveros, Erica Lipton, Amb. Jose Romualdez, Miss Globe 2025 Cheraim Saradatta, Scottie Thompson, Jeanine Gutierrez, Miss International 2925 Catalina Duque, and Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz.
Presented by Nustar Online and hosted by Miss Universe 1999 1st runner-up Miriam Quiambao, Miss Philippines Universe 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa, Miss Grand International 2016 1st runner-up Nicole Cordoves, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, the 62nd Binibining Pilipinas grand coronation night unfolded from the Smart Araneta Coliseum and was streamed via the Binibining Pilipinas channel on YouTube.
