The Philippines has always had a pageantry problem.
Take the Filipino hype around Miss Universe, for example. This particular international beauty pageant seems to bring out the more competitive (and perhaps more aggressive) side of Filipino audiences. There’s an overwhelming sense of national pride when it comes to Miss Universe, perhaps partly due to the Philippines being among the countries with multiple wins. This success has fostered a deep connection to the pageant, but it has also strengthened a sense of light-skinned colorism within Filipino culture.
Since the first Miss Universe pageant in 1952, five contenders of Filipino descent have taken home the crown. However, three out of the five winners were mixed-race, featuring Eurocentric traits and fair complexions. Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey, the 2015 Miss Universe winner, was born to a German father and Filipina mother. Catriona Gray, who took home the title in 2018, is of mixed Scottish, Australian, and Filipino descent. R’Bonney Gabriel, although representing the United States in Miss Universe 2022, is the first Filipina-American to win the crown.
The issue of colorism and race is also evident in regional pageants like Miss Universe Philippines. Celeste Cortesi, who won the Miss Universe Philippines title in 2022, is the daughter of a Filipina mother and Italian father. Zoe Honeyman, recently named Miss Universe Philippines Quezon City 2025, is Filipino-Australian.
In the Philippines, colorism remains a deeply rooted issue, especially in pageantry. Many have attributed this bias for lighter skin to the country’s colonial history, where Spanish and American influences reinforced the notion that white is right. This preference for lighter skin has persisted through generations, shaping beauty standards in Filipino culture.
Because of this deeply ingrained colorism, contestants with darker skin tones often face harsher scrutiny and unfair criticism from Filipino audiences, regardless of their skills or achievements. One notable example is the racial harassment experienced by Nova Stevens, a Black Canadian model and Miss Universe Canada 2020 titleholder. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Stevens publicly called out the Filipino pageant fans who left offensive comments such as “nognog,” “akalo ko engkanto,” and other racial slurs on her post.
While there are numerous examples highlighting the racial bias within the Philippines’ relationship with Miss Universe, there also appears to be a shift in recent years. In 2024, Bulacan-born model Chelsea Anne Manalo became the first Black Filipino to take home the Miss Universe Philippines crown. Her victory was seen as a groundbreaking moment — not just for the pageant, but for the broader conversation around beauty standards in the country. Her victory was seen as a groundbreaking moment, not just for the pageant but for the broader conversation around beauty standards in the country.
Despite the longstanding issues of colorism and racial bias within the Philippines’ pageantry culture, the recent victories of more diverse contestants suggest that change is on the horizon. The road to true inclusivity remains long, but these milestones are a testament to the resilience of those challenging the status quo.
