Then & Now: 10 Stunning Filipina Miss Universe Queens of the Past 10 Years

Do you still remember these gorgeous women during their stints as Miss Philippines on the prestigious Miss Universe stage?

Elaine Carag-Calderon

November 8, 2020, 12:21 PM

There’s no denying that Filipinas are some of the most beautiful in the world. (The universe, rather.) With countless gorgeous women from our dense capital city to the farthest flung provinces of the country, the Philippines has no shortage of pageant-worthy faces; hence, the pageant-loving nation we’ve become today.

Yas, queens! Gazini Ganados, Shamcey Supsup-Lee, Janine Tugonon, Ariella Arida, and Venus Raj at the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines 2020 competition

Inasmuch as basketball is unofficially a national sport in the country, pageantry may as well be considered another “national sport” among Filipinos—the Big Four in international beauty pageants akin to the Olympics. We can even say that the fervor with which we support our candidates is on the same level as our support for athletes, which grows even more and more intense each year as the Philippines continues to cement its position as a pageant powerhouse.

Beauty pageants in the time of a pandemic

As the whole world continues to grapple with COVID-19 and the “new normal” this year, it would’ve been safe to assume that the country would be less interested in pageants. That’s not the case, however, as Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pressed on and crowned Rabiya Mateo—our 65th Miss Universe Philippines candidate and the first Miss Universe Philippines enthroned by the new Miss Universe Philippines organization.

With Rabiya set to represent the country in the upcoming Miss Universe beauty pageant, we couldn’t help but look back at the 10 queens that came before her—all of whom have brought pride to the country by carrying us consistently to the competition’s Top 20 since 2010. Here’s a look at the Philippines’ most beautiful then and now!

Then & Now: Filipina Beauty Queens

By Metro.StyleSeptember 16 2024, 7:26 PM

2010: Venus Raj

Then: Venus Raj stood out as the Filipina-Indian beauty with the gorgeous morena complexion and mega-watt smile. In 2010, she took the stage in Las Vegas during the Evening Gown competition with her hair up in a classic high chignon, dark smokey eyes, and nude lips that complemented her long gown. She won 4th Runner-Up in the pageant.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Venus Raj

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Now: Venus Raj

Now: At 32 years old, Venus is as stunning as ever. Though she refers to having gone through a “major major” transformation from her college days to the Miss Universe stage and until now, the statuesque Bicolana still radiates beauty to this day.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Venus Raj

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2011: Shamcey Supsup

Then: Shamcey Supsup (now Lee) was heavily favored to win with a fantastic showing during the preliminaries at Miss Universe 2011. She ultimately took home 3rd Runner-Up in the competition in her see-through evening gown, which she wore with her hair down in a cascade of waves, smokey eyes, and glossy lips.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Shamcey Supsup

Now: The wife to husband Lloyd Lee and already a mother of two, Shamcey looks ever so fresh at 34 years old. Though she can still carry more made up looks (as seen on her Instagram), the current National Director for hte Miss Universe Philippines Organization looks glowing with her makeup pared down to the basics.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Shamcey Supsup-Lee

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2012: Janine Tugonon

Then: Janine Tugonon turned heads as the next morena beauty to represent the Philippines on the Miss Universe stage. At the time, she was often likened to another Miss Universe placer Miriam Quiambao for their similar features. Janine eventually stood out on her own as she was named 1st Runner-Up in a beautiful icy blue gown, which she wore with a high ponytail, heavily lined smokey eyes, and a glossy, subtly mauve lip.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Janine Tugonon

Now: Now an accomplished international model, Janine often flaunts the signature “model off-duty look” on her Instagram: flawless skin with little to no makeup. During her appearance at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant, she also kept to the barely-there look with just a touch of peach on her eyes, lids, lips, and cheeks.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Janine Tugonon

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2013: Ara Arida

Ara Arida had everyone talking with her choice of evening gown during her stint as the Philippines’ representative to Miss Universe. Through the national costume, swimsuit, and long gowns, though, her signature look remained: fully lined eyes, smokey eye shadow, a pop of blush, and glossy MLBB lips. She placed 3rd Runner-Up by the end of the competition.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Ara Arida

Now: These days, Ara is most known as a TV personality and fashion model. While the 31-year-old beauty seems to favor less makeup now, this beauty’s come-hither eyes are still as striking as ever. This look from her recent showing in the Miss Universe 2020 pageant proves it!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Ariella Arida

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2014: MJ Lastimosa

Then: MJ Lastimosa was the first Binibining Pilipinas Universe to have joined the pageant three times before being able to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe where she reached the Top 10. During the Swimsuit Competition of the pageant, the 5’7 beauty wore her hair in bombshell waves with glittering lids and barely-there lips!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ANC Alerts

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Now: MJ Lastimosa

Now: MJ continues to wow her fans even after almost six years since she donned the Binibining Pilipinas Universe crown. The now-32-year-old TV personality still experiments with many different looks for the camera—each one a winner, including her fresh-faced makeup in this recent Instagram photo that brings out her Filipina-Arabian features beautifully!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of MJ Lastimosa

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2015: Pia Wurtzbach

Then: Everyone knows Pia Wurtzbach’s journey to the Miss Universe crown. It wasn’t perfect given the “controversial win,” but we all know that the Filipina-German beauty was truly worthy. Her look, the striking royal blue gown paired with natural smokey eyes, long lashes, and glossy pink lips—was definitely fit for a queen!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Pia Wurtzbach

Now: At 31 years old, Pia hasn’t changed much since she was crowned Miss Universe 2015. Since then, she’s actually grown into an even more gorgeous woman—still confidently beautiful (with a heart, strong brows, long lashes, just a pinch of blush, and a beautiful rose lip.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Pia Wurtzbach

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2016: Maxine Medina

Then: Maxine Medina or just Maxine had big shoes to fill following Pia’s win as Miss Universe the previous year. Like a true queen, however, she rose above the pressure and made a strong showing as she finished in the Top 6 looking gorgeous in a red bejeweled number topped off with gorgeous waves, heavy eyeliner, and a bold red lip.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Maxine Medina

Now: One of the bolder changes on this list, Maxine’s bob looks so different—but in the best possible way! Many of her recent posts on Instagram show off how fit she still is as she poses on the beach, but it’s her bare-faced beauty that caught our attention even more!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Maria Mika Maxine Medina

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2017: Rachel Peters

Then: Rachel Peters, the Filipino-British bombshell who represented the Philippines at Miss Universe three years ago, finished in the Top 10 and continued the country’s consecutive streak in the beauty pageant. During the Swimsuit Competition, the 5’9 beauty strutted onstage confidently as she showed off her beautiful figure and mesmerized the audience with her cascading long waves, smokey eyes, and nude lips.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Rachel Peters

Now: These days, the now-29-year-old beauty seems to be spending more time outdoors (with fiancé Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte) and getting gorgeously sun-kissed as the days go by. We’re loving the au naturel look!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Rachel Peters

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2018: Catriona Gray

Then: Only a few years ago, Catriona Gray lava walked her way to the Miss Universe 2018 crown. The Filipino-Australian is now the fourth beauty queen to have achieved this feat, doing so in fiery fashion with her Mayon Volcano-inspired evening gown, a gorgeous cat eye, and bold red lips.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Catriona Gray

Now: As a headliner in a Sunday noon time show,’ the 26-year-old keeps busy with her career as a model and singer. Two years since winning Miss Universe, not much has changed; but we’re loving all the looks she’s serving—including this blotted lip moment!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Catriona Gray

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2019: Gazini Ganados

Then: Gazini Ganados took the Miss Universe stage in last year’s pageant where she ended her run with a spot in the Top 20. The Filipina-Palestinian model stood out for her strong features, which she showed off confidently with a relatively pared-down look during the finals: pin-straight long hair, glittering smokey eyes, and nude lips.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

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Now: Gazini Ganados

Now: Just a few weeks since passing on her Miss Universe Philippines crown to Rabiya Mateo, Gazini still looks as beautiful as ever. We’re loving the strong brows and long lashes in this look. Plus, the straight hair is very reminiscent of her look on the Miss Universe stage!

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Gazini Ganados

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