# Miss Universe Philippines 2020

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 was the first edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant under its new organization. Previously, the Philippine franchise for Miss Universe was under Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. The coronation night was initially scheduled for 3 May 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it moved at least twice; first to 14 June 2020, and later to 25 October 2020, at the Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club in Baguio, Benguet.
Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados crowned Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City as Miss Universe Philippines 2020. The competition also featured the debut of the new Filipina crown, crafted by the Villarica family, who is known for running the Villarica Pawnshop.
Mateo eventually represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant and finished as a Top 21 semi-finalist.
Contestants from forty-six localities competed in this edition. The pageant was hosted by KC Montero. American Idol alumnus Jessica Sanchez and Filipino actors Allen Cecilio, Anjo Damiles, and Kevin Montillano performed as musical guests.

## Background
### Selection of participants

In December 2019, the organization launched its search for the next Filipina who would represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2020 competition. The deadline of the submission of applications was on 18 January 2020, and the screenings were set to take place from 20 January to 24 January 2020.
However, on 25 January 2020,the new owners of the franchise introduced an Accredited Partner Programme, where provinces and cities could send one contestant each locality through an accredited partner. Walk-in contestants are still accepted by the organization until 31 January 2020, after which the contestants went through a final screening on 1 February 2020. The walk-in contestants who passed the final screening were then adopted by an accredited partner and joined all other contestants that were determined by an accredited partner on 10 February 2020. On 14 February 2020, the fifty-two contestants of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 were presented during the Red Carpet Presentation at Manila Hotel.

#### Withdrawals

Six contestants withdrew from the pagant due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vincy Vacalares of Cagayan de Oro and Maria Isabela Galeria of Sorsogon were forced to withdrawn from the competition after they tested positive for COVID-19. Princess Marquez of Aurora and Chaira Lyn Markwalder of Leyte withdrew for personal reasons. Angela Aninang of Negros Occidental withdrew to focus on her studies, while Mariam Lara Hamid of Capiz withdrew due to breach of contract by your local accredited partner.

### Location and date

On 29 January 2020, the organization announced that the coronation was scheduled for the 3 May 2020 evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Metro Manila. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled twice;the first time to 14 June 2020, and later to 25 October 2020, at the Cordillera Convention Hall,inside the Baguio Country Club This edition was held entirely in a closed location and without the presence of the public, which prevented the candidates from carrying out any external activities and in the same way as the preliminaries . Also,many segments from the final competition were tapped before the broadcast.For the first time on history,a main pageant on Philippines was taken exclusively on a streaming.

### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

An eight-episode web series entitled Ring Light was released on September 27 on Empire.ph and could be viewed for a one-time fee. Marketed as a "fundraising online pageant series", part of the proceeds would be given to the pageants' beneficiaries and partner organizations. The series featured several aspects of the pageant's contestants bid to clinch the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 crown, including their trainings and other behind-the-scenes content.

## Results
### Placements

| Placement | Contestant |
| Miss Universe Philippines 2020 | Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo |
| 1st Runner-Up | Parañaque – Maria Ysabella Ysmael |
| 2nd Runner-Up | Quezon City – Michele Theresa Gumabao |
| 3rd Runner-Up | Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx |
| 4th Runner-Up | Cavite – Kimberly Hakenson |
| Top 16 | Aklan – Christelle Anjali Abello Albay – Paula Ortega Biliran – Skelly Ivy Florida § Cebu – Apriel Smith Cebu City – Tracy Maureen Perez Davao City – Alaiza Flor Malinao Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon Misamis Oriental – Caroline Joy Veronilla Pasig – Riana Agatha Pangindian Romblon – Maria Fee Tajaran Taguig – Sandra Lemonon |
§ – Lazada Fan Vote winner

### Appointment

| Title | Ambassadress |
| Ambassadress for Education | Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo |
| Ambassadress for Education | Parañaque – Maria Ysabella Ysmael |
| Ambassadress for Health and Fitness | Quezon City – Michele Gumabao |
| Ambassadress for Tourism | Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx |
| Ambassadress for Gender Equality | Cavite – Kimberly Hakenson |

### Special awards

| Award | Contestant |
| Best in National Costume | Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon |
| Best in Swimsuit | Iloilo City – Rabiya Mateo |
| Best in Evening Gown | Parañaque – Maria Ysabella Ysmael |
| Face of the Universe | Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx |
| Miss Photogenic | Cebu City – Tracy Perez |
| Best in Swimsuit Photo | Cebu City – Tracy Perez |
| Best in Runway | Mandaue – Lou Dominique Piczon |
| Miss Lazada Fan Vote | Biliran – Skelly Ivy Florida |
| Miss MG Philippines | Quezon City – Michele Gumabao |
| Miss Creamsilk | Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx |
| Downy Sweetheart Award | Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx |
| Miss Cetaphil Sun | Bohol – Pauline Amelinckx |
| Best Tourism Video | Batanes – Jan Alexis Elcano |

## Pageant
### Format

The results of the preliminary competition — which consisted of the swimsuit competition, the evening gown competition, and the closed-door interview determined the first fifteen semi-finalists selected at large. Internet voting was also used, with fans being able to vote for another delegate to advance into the semi-finals through the Lazada Fan Vote.
The sixteen semi-finalists competed in three rounds: question-and-answer, swimsuit and evening gown. The swimwear for the finals was designed by UAE-based couture label Amato Couture by Filipino designer Furne One in collaboration with luxury swimwear Amari Swim. From sixteen, five finalists were chosen to compete at the final question-and-answer round. Two questions were asked; the first being unique to each candidate and the second is the same question answered by all five finalists. Afterwards, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 and her runners-up were announced.

### Selection committee
#### Preliminary competition

* Mary Jean Lastimosa – Miss Universe Philippines 2014
* Katrina Salonga Verzosa – Owner and founder of the Verzosa Aesthetic Clinic.
* Maria Venus Raj – Miss Universe Philippines 2010
* Ariella Arida – Miss Universe Philippines 2013
* Jackie Aquino – General manager of JCA Productions and the president of Philippine Fashion Coalition
* Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr. – Co-founder and CEO of Frontrow
* Neil Perez – Mister International 2014

#### Final competition

* RS Francisco – Actor and co-founder of Frontrow
* Eric Yap – Representative of ACT-CIS Partylist and Legislative Caretaker of the Lone District of Benguet
* Harry Roque – Lawyer and Presidential Spokesperson
* Jackie Aquino – General manager of JCA Productions and the president of Philippine Fashion Coalition
* Venus Navalta – CEO of IPG Mediabrands Philippines
* Janine Tugonon – Miss Universe Philippines 2012
* Arlene Magalong – Wife of the mayor of Baguio
* Arthur Peña – Group Director for Media of Procter & Gamble Philippines
* Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr. – Co-founder and CEO of Frontrow

## Contestants

Forty-six contestants competed for the title.
| City/Province | Contestant | Age |
| Aklan | Christelle Anjali Abello | 26 |
| Albay | Paula Ortega | 24 |
| Angeles | Christine Nicole Silvernale | 19 |
| Antique | Joecel Marie Robenta | 23 |
| Batanes | Jan Alexis Elcano | 21 |
| Baguio | Bea Theresa Maynigo | 24 |
| Batangas | Nathalia Urcia | 26 |
| Biliran | Skelly Ivy Florida | 21 |
| Bohol | Pauline Amelinckx | 25 |
| Bulacan | Daniella Louise Loya | 20 |
| Cagayan | Mari Danica Reynes | 27 |
| Camarines Sur | Krizzia Lynn Moreno | 25 |
| Catanduanes | Sigrid Grace Flores | 27 |
| Cavite | Kimberly Hakenson | 26 |
| Cebu | Apriel Smith | 24 |
| Cebu City | Tracy Maureen Perez | 27 |
| Davao City | Alaiza Flor Malinao | 27 |
| Davao del Norte | We'am Ahmed | 20 |
| General Santos | Mariel Joyce Pascua | 23 |
| Ilocos Sur | Adelma Krissel Benicta | 26 |
| Iloilo | Kim Chi Crizaldo | 23 |
| Iloilo City | Rabiya Mateo | 23 |
| Isabela | Maria Regina Malana | 25 |
| Kalinga | Noreen Victoria Mangawit | 22 |
| La Union | Trizha Ocampo | 25 |
| Laguna | Jo-Ann Flores | 26 |
| Makati | Ivanna Kamil Pacis | 24 |
| Mandaue | Lou Dominique Piczon | 24 |
| Manila | Alexandra Abdon | 25 |
| Marinduque | Maria Lianina Macalino | 27 |
| Misamis Oriental | Caroline Joy Veronilla | 25 |
| Muntinlupa | Maricres Castro | 25 |
| Oriental Mindoro | Adee Hitomi Akiyama | 27 |
| Palawan | Jennifer Linda | 18 |
| Pampanga | Patricia Mae Santos | 26 |
| Pangasinan | Maria Niña Soriano | 24 |
| Parañaque | Maria Ysabella Ysmael | 24 |
| Pasay | Zandra Nicole Santa Maria | 27 |
| Pasig | Riana Agatha Pangindian | 24 |
| Quezon | Faye Dominique Deveza | 23 |
| Quezon City | Michele Theresa Gumabao | 28 |
| Rizal | Ericka Evangelista | 25 |
| Romblon | Marie Fee Tajaran | 25 |
| Surigao del Norte | Carissa Quiza | 19 |
| Taguig | Sandra Lemonon | 26 |
| Zamboanga del Sur | Perlyn Cayona | 22 |