Reigning Miss Grand International Emma Tiglao said that she would like to see several Filipino beauty queens compete in the first edition of MGI All Stars, and on top of her list is Michelle Marquez Dee.
Dee, a finalist in both the 2019 Miss World and 2023 Miss Universe pageant, had already confirmed at a podcast episode with 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa that she has not closed her doors on pageantry yet.
This despite the recent controversies hounding the former Miss Universe Philippines titleholder, who was accused of mauling the driver of her friend and former housemate, actress Rhian Ramos and another beauty queen, Samantha Panlilio. Dee, Ramos and Panlilio have all denied the allegations.
“Siguro ang gusto kong makita doon is, number one si MMD, gusto nating makita lahat,” Tiglao told the media at the sidelines of her recent photoshoot for Jojo Bragais Shoes.
Tiglao was joined by her first runner-up, “Gotchabell” Sarunrat Puagpipat, who flew from Thailand, to shoot for the Filipino shoe brand’s upcoming international campaign earlier this month.
Asked about the groundbreaking global tilt that aims to gather alumnae from different international pageants in one competition, Tiglao said she only knows a few details for now.
“The winner of the first season will receive $100,000, and that winner will automatically be in the Top 25 of the second season. She needs to defend her title to win another $100,000. And on the third time, if she can defend the title, she can win $1 million,” she shared.
Tiglao also said that there will be no national costume competition, and the delegates will introduce themselves using their own names and not the countries that they come from. A country may have up to five representatives in the contest.
Tiglao said a typical “dilemma” that a pageant girl encounters after a competition is the lingering question of what comes next. “MGI All Stars is a platform where one can redeem herself,” she said.
So far, there are three official candidates from the Philippines: 2022 Miss International Queen winner Fuschia Anne Raven, 2025 Nobel Queen of the Universe Alexia Nuñez, and 2025 Universal Woman Arabia Keylyn Trajano.
The reigning Miss Grand International titleholder also shared that she is expected to fly to Thailand this month for the 2026 Miss Grand Thailand pageant, where Gotchabell will relinquish her national title to her successor. (Armin P. Adina © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
