Anna Marie Lukban

Cebu Province’s Nicole Borromeo on the 'right time' to join Miss Universe Philippines 2026

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>“I felt like everything just fell into place.”</p><p>This was how Miss Universe Philippines 2026 delegate Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province explained why she chose this year’s beauty competition to return to the pageant stage.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong> during the contract signing between Miss Universe Philippines and health and wellness brand New Moon, Nicole admitted that the moment felt right for her to once again pursue a pageant crown following her successful stint at Miss International.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772953928632Cebu-Province’s-Nicole-Borromeo-on-the-&#x27;right-time&#x27;-to-join-Miss-Universe-Philippines-2026-1.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><p>“I’m grateful, honestly, because I&#x27;ve had this dream for years and I never thought I&#x27;d get the chance to do it now. I always kept pushing it and pushing it until it felt like it was worth the time,” Nicole said. </p><p>She also shared how the people around her played a big role in making this year the perfect time for her comeback.</p><p>“To do it with an amazing community behind me, I feel extra special and I will fight for what I&#x27;m going to go after,” she added.</p><p>“I didn&#x27;t force anything. I think that&#x27;s what it was. I felt like everything just fell into place, I felt like the right team came my way, I felt like the right people came my way,” she emphasized.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772953942230Cebu-Province’s-Nicole-Borromeo-on-the-&#x27;right-time&#x27;-to-join-Miss-Universe-Philippines-2026-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>For Nicole, her journey is not only about representing herself and her province but also the people who have supported her along the way.</p><p>“No one can ever admit that just because there&#x27;s one girl on stage, it doesn&#x27;t mean she&#x27;s the only one standing there. She&#x27;s really standing behind her people, her team, her province, and to have that full support in all aspects, including my family, now is really the time. If not now, then when, right?” she expressed.</p><p>Nicole is among the delegates fans are looking forward to seeing this year after representing the Philippines at Miss International 2023, where she finished as third runner-up.</p><p>Talking about the overwhelming support from pageant fans, Nicole expressed deep gratitude to those who continue to believe in her.</p><p>“When I first competed, I never thought that years down the line, I would be showered, like drowning really in so much love and support. I&#x27;m so, so grateful and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I wouldn&#x27;t be standing here if it weren&#x27;t for the people that believed in me and you guys supporting me,” she stated. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-41" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVdWuwLkhMt/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A41%2C%22os%22%3A22967829%2C%22ls%22%3A62366.29999998212%2C%22le%22%3A62637.79999998212%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-41" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p><strong> </strong>She also shared that she remains open to hearing feedback from her supporters, adding: &quot;I will take that as motivation, as inspiration to keep fighting every day and giving my best.”</p><p>With the ongoing activities and preparations for Miss Universe Philippines 2026, Nicole teased that fans would see a different side of her on stage compared to the sweet persona she showed during Miss International.</p><p>“I&#x27;m so excited because we actually have a majority of things prepared in terms of designs for the gowns. I don&#x27;t want to give too much away, but of course, it&#x27;s going to be a different Nicole you&#x27;ll be seeing. Because most of what you&#x27;ve already seen is very sweet, very different,” she expressed. </p><p>“In terms of training, I do it daily for people, for pasarela. I know that it&#x27;s something that I need to work on for sure, and I&#x27;m not taking that lightly,” she added. </p><div> </div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-42" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVXnIyfElQy/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A42%2C%22os%22%3A22968612.299999982%2C%22ls%22%3A62366.29999998212%2C%22le%22%3A62637.79999998212%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-42" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>She went on: “I want people to know my journey as a journey of your own. That you have the ability to transform, to be more than who you are today, and I feel like this journey with this universe is going to take you there.&quot; </p><p>&quot;I will put in the work, and I&#x27;ll show the universe what I&#x27;m capable of.”</p>

<p><b>From Miss International to Miss Universe, Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province is grateful for fans' support on her pageant journey.</b></p>

From Miss International to Miss Universe, Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province is grateful for fans' support on her pageant journey.

EXCLUSIVE: Cebu Province’s Nicole Borromeo on the ‘right time’ to join Miss Universe Philippines 2026

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EXCLUSIVE: Cebu Province’s Nicole Borromeo on the ‘right time’ to join Miss Universe Philippines 2026

Nikka Sabio,

Push Team

Published March 08, 2026 03:13 PM PHT

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Nicole Borromeo

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