LIVE UPDATES: Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Coronation Night

Miss Universe Philippines has named the next Filipina to represent the country on the global stage in December: Celeste Cortesi.

Prior to winning the elusive crown, the Filipino-Italian model has won three special awards: Miss Photogenic, Miss Havana, and Miss Aqua. She also snagged a spot in the top 3 of the casting video and swimsuit online challenges.

Cortesi will be going home with the La Mer en Majesté Crown by luxury jewelry brand Jewelmer, plus MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV, among others.

The Miss Universe Philippines 2022 has announced the Top 5 finalists of the competition. 

These five Filipina beauties managed to make it to the next round of the pageant:

1. Annabelle Mae McDonnell (Misamis Oriental)
2. Michelle Dee (Makati City)
3. Ma. Katrina Llegado (Taguig)
4. Celeste Cortesi (Pasay City)
5. Pauline Amelinckx (Bohol)

The Miss Universe Philippines 2022 is down to the Top 10.

Of the 31 candidates, these Filipina ladies made it to the Top 10 of the tilt:

1. Michelle Dee (Makati City)
2. Celeste Cortesi (Pasay City)
3. Ghenesis Latugat (Baguio City)
4. Ma. Katrina Llegado (Taguig)
5. Annabelle Mae McDonnell (Misamis Oriental)
6. Lou Dominique Piczon (Cebu Province)
7. Pauline Amelinckx (Bohol)
8. Chantal Elise Legaspi Schmidt (Cebu City)
9. Julia Calleja Saubier (Albay)
10. Vanessa Ann Ka’ihilani Caro (Iloilo Province)

We’ve finally arrived at the most elegant part of the competition.

Sixteen candidates walked down the Miss Universe Philippines runway in their most stunning evening wear, proudly made by Filipino designers.

The top 16 ladies strut down the stage as American Idol alum Francisco Martin serenaded the candidates and pageant fans.

By the end of the competition, Makati representative Michelle Marquez Dee was named the Best In Evening Gown winner.

Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez delivered an inspirational speech prior to taking her final walk in this night's pageant.

The beauty queen, who represented Cebu City in last year's pageant, looked back on how being crowned Miss Universe Philippines felt surreal. 

She recounted, "I joined Miss Universe with the mindset na kahit hindi ako manalo, I will still go home na sobrang saya kasi it’s the experience for me na nagdala ng magandang experience for me talaga winning the crown. But hindi siya nagsink-in agad."

"I remember, gumising ako the next morning and then hindi ako makapaniwala, panaginip lang lahat," she continued. "And then I stood up from my bed, saw the crown at the side table and then, napabuntong hininga ako and then I cried. Kasi when I was crowned, I was just smilig the whole time na akala ng mga tao, 'Alam ba niyang nanalo siya?' Parang at that moment, naproprocess pa lang siya and nagloloading pala siya na ako ang nanalo."

"Fruitful. Humbling. Memorable."

These are the three things that Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez used to describe her experiences during her reign. 👑 pic.twitter.com/Cnw6B4ttGE

— PhilSTAR L!fe (@philstarlife) April 30, 2022

Gomez earned the coveted crown following Miss Universe Philippines titleholders Rabiya Mateo (2020), Gazini Ganados (2019). Her win also comes years after Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray were crowned Miss Universe in 2015 and 2018 respectively.

Gomez wouldn't deny that she felt the pressure. Still and all, she gathered up her confidence to step into the global stage knowing that she has a supportive team as her backbone.

"Of course I felt the pressure, coming from a country which is a powerhouse in pageantry. Talagang sobra ang pressure ko kasi in the past years, we were able to able to bring home the Miss Universe crown," Gomez said. "But other than the pressure, I know na makakaya ko ma-represent ang Philippines sa Israel ‘cause I have the entire team of Miss Universe Philippines helping me in that competition."

"I only had two months to prepare since I won the Miss Universe Philippines competition and grabe yung paghihirap namin, not only me, but the entire team of Miss Universe Philippines. Ayoko na masayang ang paghihirap namin. But winning and making it to the Top 5 was not just an achievement for me, but for the entire team and the entire Philippines as well," she recalled.

Now that she's ending her reign, the beauty queen has found fulfillment in "paving the way for the pave the way for LGBTQ+ community and making the young women and children believe in themselves as well."

She has this as advice for this year's MUPH aspirants who, like her, have joined the competition for a purpose that goes beyond the runway: "One important lesson that I may impart in this batch of uniquely beautiful Filipinas is that there will be times that your beliefs will be easily shaken especially with the noise around you, but it’s very important that you go back to your core and remember your purpose for joining this specific platform."

 "And lastly, I want to be remembered for advocating the uniqueness and beauty of every Filipina," Gomez concluded.

The top 16 candidates of the Miss Universe PH 2022 pageant brought the Mall of Asia Arena on fire at the swimsuit competition.

Sixteen ladies pranced down the runway in their best swimsuits and pasarelas, with the dashing popstar Sam Concepcion performing the song Dalisay in the background. 

Among the candidates, Pasay City representative Celeste Cortesi brought home the Best in Swimsuit Award.

Another special award for Celeste Cortesi. 🔥 The Pasay City representative’s fiery swimsuit and pasarela stood out among the top 16. Congratulations!

More updates at https://t.co/4kHDlSEwm3#MUPH2022 #UniquelyBeautiful pic.twitter.com/EeXp6XA48d

— PhilSTAR L!fe (@philstarlife) April 30, 2022

Following MUPH's announcement of its special awardees on Wednesday, April 27, the organization has named the three women adding to its list of outstanding delegates. 

Ilocos Sur's Jewel Alexandria Pacat is Miss Friendship for bringing fun and light to the competition. Meanwhile, Pasay's Celeste Cortesi is Miss Photogenic — one who registers well on camera and exudes physical attractiveness in photographs.

Last but definitely not the least is Albay's Julia Calleja Saubier, who was awarded Best in National Costume for her Haliya-inspired costume designed by Erjohn Dela Serma and Omar Sali.

Miss Universe Philippines 2022 has announced the top 16 candidates who made it to the next round of the pageant. The list is as follows:

• Nueva Vizcaya, Gillian Katherine De Mesa
• Taguig, Ma. Katrina Llegado
• Cebu City, Chantal Elise Schmidt
• Aklan, Jona Sweett
• Makati, Michelle Dee
• Albay, Julia Calleja Saubier
• Palawan, Angelica Lopez
• Iloilo Province, Vanessa Ann Caro
• Baguio City, Ghenesis Latugat
• Cebu Province, Cebu Dominique
• Misamis Oriental, Annabell Mcdonnell
• Bohol, Pauline Amelinckx
• Ilocos Sur, Jewel Palacat
• Laguna, Sonja Jeyn Tanyag
• Pasay, Celeste Cortesi
• Iloilo City, Dorothy Gemillan

Bamboo has brought the Miss Universe PH 2022 stage on fire.

The OPM icon started off the Miss Universe PH 2022 coronation night with a sizzling performance along with the 32 finalists.

Aside from Bamboo, Sam Concepcion, Francisco Martin, Morissette Amon, Jim Bales, and Arthur Nery are expected to perform at the pageant’s coronation night.

Adding sizzle to the night are Miss Universe titleholders Pia Wurtzbach, Iris Mittenaere (2016), and Demi-Leigh Tebow (2017) who all took the stage as tonight's hosts.

Three Miss Universe queens are on the stage to host #MissUniversePhilippines2022! ✨

Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere 🇫🇷
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach 🇵🇭
Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Tebow 🇿🇦

LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/DryV2Asskq#MUPH2022 #UniquelyBeautiful pic.twitter.com/UinZKkQKIy

— PhilSTAR L!fe (@philstarlife) April 30, 2022

When Miss Universe Philippines national director Shamcey Supsup said that this year's coronation night is the organization's "biggest pageant ever," the beauty queen meant business.

Four hours before the big event happening at 7 p.m. tonight, the Miss Universe Philippines Organization announced on social media that Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is gracing the event as a special guest.

"Here’s something you shouldn’t miss, Universe! Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will be having a special participation tonight!" the post read.

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A post shared by Miss Universe Philippines (@themissuniverseph)

Apart from Gray, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu will take part in the coronation ceremony as a special guest. Meanwhile, Miss Universe titleholders Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Iris Mittenaere (2016), and Demi-Leigh Tebow (2017) will be hosting the event.