Dannyka Manangan

EXCLUSIVE: MUPH 2026 delegates open up about their journey from sisterhood to vying for the crown

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Beyond the competition for the <em>Miss Universe Philippines 2026</em> crown, several delegates looked back at the friendships they have formed, the pressure they faced, and the moments that made their journey truly memorable.</p><p>In a previous interview with<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz"> <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></a><strong> </strong>during the pageant’s contract signing with health and wellness brand New Moon, delegates Allyson Herland of Pampanga, Zestah Espinosa of Iloilo City, Megan Baldevia of Bacolod, Janica Aquino of Tuguegarao City, and Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province opened up about the camaraderie they have built with their fellow queens.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778483920292MisS Iloilo and Miss Pampanga.png" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><strong><br/></strong>For Allyson, finding common ground through shared experiences helped strengthen their friendships. “I feel like it’s the experience that we all can relate with, so I feel like that in that sense there is a bond already. But I would say that most of our friendship (was formed when) we make tiktoks, we chika-chika (with each other). Those were the moments that we savored in this journey.”</div><p>Zestah shared that conversations about their respective provinces, such as about food and travel destinations, helped ease the competitive atmosphere and allowed them to connect more deeply. “We find common ground. It&#x27;s really great. They tell me how their city has great food too and we bond with that, because as girls whose diet is now intense, we really need a kind of cute story about food so we will remember it and then we share it to others.”</p><div><strong></strong><strong></strong><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FPushAlerts%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0RzYfZUchg8wcAHD1xoNxzQky8cKdQr21Rk3yH7kyqiZSUvDj6dd6Gq3LgwJY5DBRl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <strong></strong></div><p>Megan, for her part, said their shared purpose brought them closer together: “Sharing the same passion for the crowd and also for the people who are guiding you. So, we can break this into that part. We&#x27;re here for women empowerment. We&#x27;re here to join the journey together.”<strong><br/></strong></p><div><strong></strong></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778483977171Miss Tuguegarao and Miss Bacolod.png" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>Janica credited her outgoing personality for helping her build connections with other delegates: “I&#x27;m naturally talkative kasi and I love to talk with other people. Kung mayroon man akong skill na isasabuhay araw-araw, ‘yun ‘yung pagsasalita.” </p><p>Nicole echoed a similar sentiment, sharing how her personality evolved throughout the competition. “I always felt like I looked at myself as sort of a black cat energy. I was hoping I&#x27;d give a more mysterious, soft girl (vibe), but I found out just recently from one of the co-candidates that I apparently give golden retriever energy. I wanted to be mysterious, I wanted to be a bit on the wild side but turns out, I&#x27;m just a bubble of energy apparently and I&#x27;m happy to share that sunshine.”</p><div><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><div> <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778484015893Miss Cebu.png" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><strong></strong></div><p>While the delegates found comfort in their growing friendships, they also opened up about the pressure that came with competing on the national stage. </p><p>Allyson admitted that while the experience was rewarding, the pressure was also present but she chose to see it in a positive light.</p><div><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVSSW7Uk3wS/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%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A2301203.3999999985%2C%22ls%22%3A42065.599999997765%2C%22le%22%3A42065.599999997765%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="901" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" 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><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Zestah, meanwhile, shared that representing Iloilo City came with high expectations, especially following the success of past queens, but she drew strength from her supporters: “I always remember that I’m not competing alone, I’m competing with the whole Iloilo city at my back and they are ready to support me whatever I do, whatever I go, and whatever happens in this journey.”</p><div><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVQb9dtD6iB/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%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A2301243.8999999985%2C%22ls%22%3A42065.599999997765%2C%22le%22%3A42065.599999997765%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" 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><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><p><strong></strong>For Megan, staying grounded was key in handling the spotlight: “The pressure is always there, even when we are outside in the crowd. We are always worried about paano ba namin ipuput ‘yung self namin out there. But we also have to remind ourselves to stay true to our core, be ourselves confidently and everything will follow.” </p><div><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Tr87Etld/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%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A2301269.799999997%2C%22ls%22%3A42065.599999997765%2C%22le%22%3A42065.599999997765%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" 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;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Tr87Etld/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-5" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Tr87Etld/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Tr87Etld/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Megan Larisse Baldevia (@meganxaivedlab)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Janica, on the other hand, chose to focus on the experience rather than the pressure: “This is just a once in a lifetime opportunity so might as well enjoy every moment… I want to share as much as possible all the learnings and all the lessons.”</p><div><strong></strong></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVQ2ycBD8OD/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%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A2302098.1999999993%2C%22ls%22%3A42065.599999997765%2C%22le%22%3A42065.599999997765%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" 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><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Miss Universe Philippines 2026 has officially crowned Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union as the successor of Ahtisa Manalo. </p><p>Following her win, Bea said her focus now shifts to her advocacy as she prepares for the international stage in Puerto Rico this November. She also expressed determination to bring home another crown for the Philippines.</p><p>“It will be a long and intensive seven months, but I’m very driven to bring back the fifth crown to the Philippines,” she declared. “We’re going through so much right now, and we deserve a win. This crown would not just be for me, but for every Filipino within our country and beyond our borders.”</p><p>Joining her in the Top 7 were Apriel Smith of Cebu City, Allyson Herland of Pampanga, Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province, Jenrose Javier of Sultan Kudarat, Marian Arellano of Tarlac, and Ysabella Ysmael of Taguig.</p>

<p><b>Look back at how some of Miss Universe Philippines 2026 queens created a sisterly bond with their fellow beauty queens and how they handled the pressure of vying for the MUPH crown.</b></p>

Look back at how some of Miss Universe Philippines 2026 queens created a sisterly bond with their fellow beauty queens and how they handled the pressure of vying for the MUPH crown.