MANILA – The Philippines’ stellar performance in pageants in 2018 – highlighted by Catriona Gray’s Miss Universe win – is hard to match.

But this year’s batch of queens certainly put up a good fight.

Despite not getting a crown in any of the major pageants, Philippine representatives were able to secure at least a semi-final finish in 2019.

Among them are Gazini Ganados in the Miss Universe Top 20, Bea Patricia Magtanong in Top 8 of Miss International and, just recently, Michelle Dee in the Miss World Top 12.

It was in the smaller, lesser-known competitions where Filipina queens emerged victorious in 2019. The country was able to secure titles in Miss Intercontinental (the pageant was held twice this year), Noble Queen of the Universe and Miss Tourism World Intercontinental, to name a few.

Here’s a look back at how the Philippines fared in international pageants this year:

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A post shared by Patch Magtanong 🇵🇭 (@patchmag) on Nov 11, 2019 at 7:06pm PST

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GAZINI GANADOS

Top 20 and Best in National Costume, Miss Universe 2019 Paras Griffin, Getty Images/AFP

BEA PATRICIA MAGTANONG

Top 8, Miss International 2019 Instagram.com/patchmag

MICHELLE DEE

Top 12 and Head-to-head Challenge winner, Miss World 2019 Instagram.com/michelledee

JANELLE TEE

Top 20, Miss Earth 2019 Instagram.com/_janelletee

RESHAM SAEED

Top 25, Miss Supranational 2019 Photo courtesy for Miss Supranational

KAREN GALLMAN

Winner, Miss Intercontinental 2018/19 George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

EMMA TIGLAO

Top 20, Miss Intercontinental 2019/20 Instagram.com/emmatiglao

SAMANTHA LO

Unplaced, Miss Grand International 2019 Instagram.com/samantha_ashley_lo

LEREN BAUTISTA

Second runner-up, Miss Globe 2019 Instagram.com/lerenmaebautista

PATRICIA JAVIER

Winner, Noble Queen of the Universe 2019 Instagram.com/patriciajavier1

CYRILLE PAYUMO

Winner, Miss Tourism International 2019/20 Instagram.com/ms.payumocyrille

FRANCESCA TARUC

Winner, Miss Tourism World Intercontinental Instagram.com/francescataruc

KIMI MUGFORD

Top 5, Miss Multinational 2018/19 Instagram.com/kimimugfrdd

KLYZA CASTRO

Top 25 and Continental Queen of Asia, Miss Asia Pacific International 2019 Instagram.com/klyycastro

SOFIA LOREEN CRUZ

Winner, Miss Teen Hope International 2019 Facebook.com/Sofia-Loreen-Cruz