Cheyenne Suarez

Miss Universe PH 2026 bet stands out in sardine can costume

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776401142588combo 3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Alex Colmenares/Facebook"/>Alex Colmenares/Facebook </div>This year&#x27;s Miss Universe Philippines national costume competition is centered around water, and one of the candidates stood out for her playful approach to the theme. Alex Colmenares of Negros Occidental was proclaimed one of the Top 6 winners of Best in National Costume, along with representatives from Tacloban, Baguio, Pangasinan, Iloilo Province, and Pampanga.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776401092146671856822_18174040660397868_1682706604085263089_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="MUPH/Facebook"/>MUPH/Facebook </div>While most of them drew inspiration from nature, culture, and history, Colmenares&#x27; costume honored the thriving sardine industry and the hardworking fishermen of Negros Occidental.Designed by Ruffy Itaas, &quot;Victorias: Pride of the Visayan Seas&quot; features a bright orange can silhouette, with an intricately designed plate of Spanish sardines serving as a headpiece.Underneath is a shimmering modern Filipiniana with -- you guessed it -- more Spanish sardines.&quot;Sardines are among the premier and most essential fish species, serving as an affordable and vital source of protein in the Philippines,&quot; read a post on Colmenares&#x27; Facebook page.&quot;More than a costume, it is a tribute to the pride, creativity, and identity of Negros Occidental.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776401064648combo 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Alex Colmenares/Facebook"/>Alex Colmenares/Facebook </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776401011088combo 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Alex Colmenares/Facebook </div>Celebrating her Top 6 victory, Colmenares expressed her gratitude to her designer for bringing &quot;this bold and meaningful concept to life.&quot;&quot;With this year’s theme, water, we chose to highlight the Philippine sardine industry, giving voice to the fishermen and coastal communities of our province,&quot; she said. &quot;Abanse, Negrense!&quot; she ended.The MUPH 2026 coronation night will be held on May 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.The winner will represent the Philippines in this year&#x27;s Miss Universe pageant, set to be held in Puerto Rico in November.She will succeed Ahtisa Manalo, who finished as third runner-up to Mexico&#x27;s Fatima Bosch in Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand.

This year's Miss Universe Philippines national costume competition is centered around water, and one of the candidates stood out for her playful approach to the theme.

This year's Miss Universe Philippines national costume competition is centered around water, and one of the candidates stood out for her playful approach to the theme.