Get to know Sasha-Juli Belle Lacuna, Binibining Pilipinas 2026 Globe
The Binibining Pilipinas 2026 pageant has crowned a new set of queens—among them is Tarlac's Sasha-Juli Belle Lacuna, who will soon represent the country on the Miss Globe international stage.
During the 62nd edition of the pageant held on July 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Lacuna was named Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2026, succeeding Annabelle McDonnell. Baguio's Gwendoline Meliz Soriano took home the Binibining Pilipinas International 2026 title, followed by first runner-up Julianne Raine Antonio (Dumaguete City) and second runner-up Tracy Mae Sunio (Bacolod City).
Read on to know more about the new Binibining Pilipinas Globe.
For charity and public service
For Lacuna, wearing the Binibining Pilipinas Globe crown goes beyond representing the country on the international pageant stage—it also means carrying on the organization's legacy of service.
During the final question-and-answer round, she emphasized that charity and public service are values she strongly believes in.
"The values of Binibini Pilipinas [are] all about charity work and [are] all about serving the Filipino people. And my life's purpose is to put myself in situations of inconvenience in order to be of service to the Filipino people. And Binibining Pilipinas is already set on that legacy," she said.
"And I stepped into this pageant in order to be a vessel, to be part of that legacy, and continue up with the work of the organization that it is already built upon," she added.
Growing up on a farm
Contrary to her glamorous appearances on the pageant stage, Lacuna's story began far from the spotlight.
In her introduction video for when she joined Miss Universe Philippines last year, Lacuna shared that she actually grew up on a farm where "every day was an adventure" as she chased chickens and collected eggs.
"In those quiet moments, I found the space to dream big, and discover who I could become," she said.
Tech enthusiast
But apart from being a farm girl, she is also a tech enthusiast.
In the same video, she described herself as a future IT professional.
"As a future IT professional, I bridge tradition and innovation with every step. From the farm to the digital world, I'm here to show the universe that dreams can grow with passion and purpose," she said.
An LGBTQ+ ally
Lacuna has also used her platform to express her support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
During Pride Month, the newly crowned queen participated in the "aRUNeta Pride Run" and shared a message of appreciation for her queer friends and supporters, saying their presence has played an important role in shaping who she is today.
"Some of the most wonderful people in my life are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They have supported me, inspired me, challenged me to grow, and played such a big role in shaping who I am today, both personally and throughout my pageantry journey," she wrote in a post.
"I often think about how much brighter my life is because of them. Their courage to be themselves, love openly, and keep showing up despite challenges is something I deeply admire," she added.
Lacuna underscored that the community "deserves to feel safe, respected, and accepted exactly as they are."
Fitness junkie
Balancing the responsibilities of a beauty queen requires discipline, and Lacuna makes sure to set aside time to take care of her health and fitness.
Amid her pageant preparations, appearances, and other commitments, the Tarlac beauty queen squeezes in workout sessions at the gym to stay active and maintain her strength and confidence on and off the stage.
The 62nd edition of Binibining Pilipinas was hosted by Nicole Cordoves, Catriona Gray, Mary Jean Lastimosa, and Miriam Quiambao. The night was made even more memorable with performances by P-pop group ALAMAT, Kyle Echarri, and Jericho Rosales.
Check out PhilSTAR L!fe's full coverage here for the highlights of the coronation night.
