Miss Iloilo pageant brings together beauty queens from various national contests

ILOILO CITY — Titleholders from different national pageants gathered in the “City of Love” to take part in the Miss Iloilo 2024 competition, which chose the city’s delegates to various national contests this year.

Rabiya Mateo, the first winner of the standalone Miss Universe Philippines competition, returned to the Miss Iloilo stage four years since she became the city pageant’s first queen in 2020. But this time, she hosted the ceremonies that was held at the jam-packed West Visayas State University’s Cultural Center on Jan. 13. She shared hosting chores with 2016 Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves.

The judging panel also had Cordoves’ Binibini sister and “tukayo,” 2023 Miss International third runner-up Nicole Borromeo, as well as 2022 Miss Philippines Earth Jenny Ramp.

The Miss Iloilo 2024 pageant also united the two established pageant training camps in the Philippines by having “Kagandahang Flores” founder Rodgil Flores and “Aces and Queens” head Gerry Diaz as judges. Also in the selection committee was international “pasarela” (pageant walk) coach Ian Mendajar.

They were tasked to choose Iloilo City’s representatives to this year’s edition of the Miss Universe Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas, Miss Philippines Earth, Reyna ng Aliwan, and The Miss Philippines pageants.

National athlete and Southeast Asian Games heptathlon veteran Alexie Mae Brooks from Leon received the Miss Iloilo crown, and her national pageant assignment will be known through an announcement on the pageant’s social media pages next week.

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The Miss Iloilo pageant last year also held a separate event to announce the winner’s respective national pageant assignment, with her two runners-up also appointed to represent the city on the national stage.

This year, four “Heartfelt Queens” were also proclaimed, who will also receive their respective national assignments along with Brooks—Nicklyn Jutay from Tigbauan, Angel Jed Latorre from Sta. Barbara, Raniella Louise Aquila from Cabatuan, and Hamda Judicpa from San Miguel.

Pearl Angel Franco from Pototan finished as first runner-up, while Shaima Al Yansuri from Guimbal rounded up the winners’ circle as second runner-up.

Brooks asserted her dominance early in the competition by taking four of the first nine special awards bestowed. She later scored a convincing victory, and also eventually amassed the lion’s share of special awards.

During the final round of question when the Top 7 delegates were asked what they would tell the Ilongga women of the past, Brooks responded: “One thing that I’m proud of is ever since from the past, we’ve always kept the spirit of ‘Dinagyang,’ we’ve always kept the spirit of ‘pagpalangga.’ And the food that we have that we have that we are selected as a ‘creative city of gastronomy,’ it is the reason why, this was from our past, that we preserved it, we deliver it to what it is right now. And one thing that I also want to say is, I want women to move forward, ‘abanse babae!’ This is something that comes from my heart. I want empowered women to educate, to advocate women from the past and right now, that women can be so much more, we’re capable of so much more, ‘abansa babae!’ My name is Alexie Mae Camaiso Brooks, and my heart will always beat in Iloilo City.”