GUIMARAS – Ten stunning and empowered ladies will compete for this year’s edition of the Miss Guimaras, one of the highlights of the Manggahan Festival 2025 from May 16 to 25.
With the theme “Beauty Beyond the Island”, these candidates from the island province’s five municipalities – Jordan, Buenavista, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag – were presented to the media on Saturday, April 26:
* Candidate No. 1 – Zestah Shalom Espinosa of San Lorenzo
* Candidate No. 2 – Deserie Magan of Sibunag
* Candidate No. 3 – Mary Cathyrine Platon of Jordan
* Candidate No. 4 – Daicel Joy Asgar of Sibunag
* Candidate No. 5 – Sheila Muya of Buenavista
* Candidate No. 6 – Kirsten Marie Bosque of Buenavista
* Candidate No. 7 – Marcine Balinas of Jordan
* Candidate No. 8 – Renelyn Gellego of Nueva Valencia
* Candidate No. 9 – Princess Anne Magbanua of San Lorenzo
* Candidate No. 10 – Anne Leslie Tacda of Nueva Valencia
The festival costume competition will take place on May 18 at SM City in Iloilo City and the coronation night will be on May 23 at the Guimaras provincial capitol grounds.
Gov. JC Rahman Nava, who graced the media presentation together with Congresswoman Lucille Nava, expressed the provincial government’s full support to this year’s queen who will eventually represent Guimaras in national pageants to further promote not only the province’s sweet mangoes but also its tourist destinations.
The provincial government and the event organizer also envisioned Miss Guimaras to shine not just in local pageants but also on national and even international stages.
“Beyond beauty contests, Miss Guimaras will inspire our youth to dream big and go beyond our island’s borders. Carrying the essence of Guimaras, our Miss Guimaras proudly showcases our island to the world,” the governor said.
Last year, an education student from Buenavista was crowned Miss Guimaras.
Axyl Rose Gadian, a resident of the town’s Barangay New Poblacion, also won special awards Miss Photogenic and Fan Favorite.
She represented her town after she was crowned Lin-ay sang Buenavista during the Palayag Festival in January 2024.
A Buenavista beauty also coveted the Miss Guimaras crown in 2023. Anne Janet Mandreza who is taking Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English at Guimaras State University bested nine other candidates./PN
