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EXCLUSIVE MUPH candidates on personal journeys, purpose ahead of coronation night

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>With the coronation night of Miss Universe Philippines 2026 fast approaching, several candidates have openly shared their stories and motivations that have led them to the national stage.</p><div><br/></div><p>Delegates from Nueva Ecija, Negros Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, Tarlac, Cebu City, and Manila recently spoke with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></a><strong> </strong>during an event hosted by the pageant’s official women’s health partner, New Moon, reflecting on their journeys, personal growth, and dreams of wearing the crown.</p><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1311522877567712%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>For Nueva Ecija’s Michelle Burchelle, joining this year’s competition is more than just a pageant. It is also a journey to know and connect more deeply with her Filipino roots.</p><p>“I honestly feel so honored to be part of this year&#x27;s list of candidates. I&#x27;ve come all the way from the United Kingdom and I honestly never thought that it would be an opportunity for me to compete here in the Philippines where my mother&#x27;s side of the family is from, and so I am honestly just so elated and grateful to have this opportunity,” Michelle said.</p><p>The beauty queen said her decision to join was driven by her admiration for Filipino pageantry. “I think this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I always like to challenge myself and to try something new. Especially in Filipino culture, pageantry is so notable, so popular in our culture. I truly think that there&#x27;s nothing like pageantry in the Philippines.”</p><p>“I think it&#x27;s something so special being able to reconnect with your motherland, and just tasting the food, experiencing the traditions. The Philippines, our country, is so diverse. We all have our own thing to bring to the table, and that&#x27;s something that I love about the Philippines,” she added.<strong></strong></p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776008277848Negros-ocriental.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>For Negros Occidental’s Alexandra Colmenares, her MUPH journey is her way to fulfill the  the dream of her younger self and her late mother. “I feel so overwhelmed and very, very happy (being part of the competition). I&#x27;m living a dream that a young Alex was actually dreaming when she was younger.”</p><p>She added, “Pangarap ko po talaga maging part ng Miss Universe. When I was younger, I used to watch pageants talaga and also it was my mom who was pushing me. It was her dream for me then.”</p><p><strong></strong>She also shared that pageantry once served as a practical way to support her family, especially growing up in the province. “When I started in pageantry, parang side hustle ko siya. Alam mo ‘yung ‘pag nasa probinsya ka, you really need a racket. So ‘yung prices ng pageants kasi are very big. That really was like the way to provide for myself and my family, and my mom, who is now in heaven and is super proud of me, I believe.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776008210124Negros-ocsidental.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2026/3/8/exclusive-ara-arida-on-how-being-muph-director-allows-her-to-inspire-aspiring-beauty-queens-2152" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Ara Arida on how being MUPH director allows her to inspire aspiring beauty queens</strong></a><strong></strong></div><p>Sultan Kudarat’s Jen Rose Gomez Javier said that helped her step out of her comfort zone. “I started joining pageants when I was in 8th grade. I never joined any school pageants because I&#x27;m a very shy girl. That&#x27;s why pageantry for me is really challenging, but at the same time I&#x27;m enjoying it.”</p><p>With encouragement from her mother, Jen Rose found the confidence to pursue her passion, adding: “It was my mom (who) inspired me kasi when you have the passion to continue it because you have the reason why you&#x27;re doing this, (you overcome it.) I&#x27;m very grateful that this journey is for my mom.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776008138546sultan-kudarat.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%">Tarlac representative Marian Arellano is also embracing the experience as a first-time national contestant. “It&#x27;s my first national pageant, so more on discovering myself more, and also I&#x27;m enjoying the behind the scenes with my sisters.”</span></div><p>From local pageants to the national stage, Marian said she remains focused on growth while making the most of her journey. “To be honest, pressure is part of the journey but I&#x27;m still in my mind that pressure is very normal. So I will just do my best, enjoy the moment and of course, be grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776008088564tarlac.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>Meanwhile, Apriel Smith of Cebu City proves how taking the challenge to step on Miss Universe Philippines stage again is both exciting and rewarding.</p><p>“Six years ago, I already joined Miss Universe Philippines 2020. This is my second time around joining, and I knew it&#x27;s kind of my dream, and at the same time, I realized the purpose that I have in my heart to really advocate my fitness in sports and also the representation. So that&#x27;s why I&#x27;m coming back again, because I want to continue and fight for it,” Apriel said.<strong><br/></strong></p><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%">The beauty queen expressed that this year feels like the right time for her to return and try to win the crown once more. “It&#x27;s just, maybe, it&#x27;s just like the calling and the answering, and maybe it&#x27;s the right time to show my transformation.”</span></div><p>Apriel also reacted to the changes in her since her first try. Fans have noticed that she now shows a bolder and fiercer aura for her MUPH comeback. “Ang laki ng changes, when it comes to my physical appearance. I&#x27;m so proud of myself that, you know, na those areas that I was able to improve. Para, ang ganda ng outcome, and from there, I received some good feedback from my supporters.”<strong></strong></p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776008042626cebu-city.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>For Manila bet Justine Felizarta, the journey feels like a full-circle moment. “It&#x27;s a dream of mine 12 years ago. I&#x27;m so happy to be here and grateful for all the supporters. I actually joined Miss Manila as my first pageant. So, 12 years later, I&#x27;m Manila again in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant. It&#x27;s such a full circle moment for me and I&#x27;m just taking every moment with gratitude.”</p><p>“I&#x27;m really proud because people who follow pageants know that this is not my first rodeo. Miss Universe is one of the most prestigious pageants out there and of course, an experience I&#x27;ve always wanted to do,” she added.</p><p>Justine also shared that the “golden batch of Filipina beauty queens” inspired her, including MUPH director Ara Arida.</p><p>“One of the reasons why I joined was actually Ariella Arida. I watched her year, the Golden Batch, and when she won, I was inspired because someone who&#x27;s beautiful as her is not only capable of being beautiful but being smart and influencing other people just because of that platform. I was always inspired by powerful women who can use their voice, so, I wanted to give it a shot,” she explained.<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zI9Mk1kPSOajboConrHumifF42MRXn-t/view?usp=sharing"><strong></strong></a></p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776007929093Manila.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>The pageant recently unveiled its Top 40 candidates from more than 50 delegates nationwide. The preliminary evening gown competition was held on April 5, followed by the swimsuit competition on April 12 and the closed door interview on April 19.</p>

<p><b>MUPH candidates share how their pageant journey started and express excitement amid pressure.</b></p>

MUPH candidates share how their pageant journey started and express excitement amid pressure.

EXCLUSIVE: MUPH candidates on personal journeys, purpose ahead of coronation night

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EXCLUSIVE: MUPH candidates on personal journeys, purpose ahead of coronation night

Nikka Sabio,

Push Team

Published April 12, 2026 11:39 PM PHT

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Miss Universe Philippines

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