EMMA Mary Tiglao gave the Philippines its first back-to-back victory at the Miss Grand International 2025 as she received her crown from Filipina queen, Christine Juliane Opiaza.
Tiglao, a pageant veteran from Pampanga, made history as the first beauty queen to secure a back-to-back win at the Miss Grand International pageant, and also the first for Thailand-based pageant.
With her poise and sunny disposition, Tiglao easily won the hearts of her Thai fans and was an early favorite, eventually winning the âCountryâs Power of the Yearâ award, which was given at the start of the finale show, held at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand.
She will be the first queen to wear the new âUnity Torchâ crown of the Thailand-based global tilt, which positions itself as a beauty contest for entertainment, with the participants allowed to inject antics in their routines.
The 30-year-old TV host confidently bested 76 other candidates, including her Thai room mate, Sarunrat Puagpipat, who settled for first runner-up.
Tiglao entered the Top 22 by topping the online poll for âCountryâs Power of the Yearâ award, a first for the Philippines in Miss Grand International pageantâs history. For her final look, she donned an embellished gold cut-out tube gown by Rian Fernandez, which accentuated her svelte figure.
She then made a mark when she cited the corruption problem in the Philippines in her spiel for the Top 10 candidates, and then again at Top 5 question-and-answer portion, wherein she said that scammers should be made accountable by putting them behind bars.
âAs someone who reports these kinds of stories, I really want to use the power of balance. [For] us people to be educated and aware, for us to not be scammed, and a help [from] the government to enhance their justice system for the scammers to be behind bars, to be accountable. Because one day, I hope that we will live in a peaceful world where no one should deceive just to survive,â she said.
Opiaza, in turn, received a new diamond-and emerald encrusted crown of her own from Miss Grand International president Nawat Itsaragrisil, after she delivered an emotional farewell speech.
As the then first runner-up, Opiazaâs ascent to the Miss Grand throne was no less controversial after the then queen from India, Rachel Gupta, resigned, citing the supposed âtoxic environmentâ that she experienced with management.
Itsaragrisil is also currently the Vice President for Asiana of the Miss Universe Organization. He is also on top of organizing the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand next month.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Miss Grand International pageant will be held in India in October next year. The announcement was made during the grand finale of the 2025 competition. (Armin P. Adina © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
