The Philippines’ favorite fairytale of kings and queens 

Carlos Reyes

Once upon a time in a land where the streets turned into rivers, when the rains arrived and the islands were as countless as its fair maidens and sires, beauty was tested by blood traces and identity was often treated as a measure of success. Those who emerged victorious were crowned and praised.

In this land, the Philippines, the fairest in the land cannot simply be asked through a magic mirror, it is a test of not just beauty, but grace, intelligence, and stamina. To have what it takes, some believe that the skin must be as white as snow, the voice should be as enchanting as the misty skies, the nose must be as pointed as a tree bark, and the way you speak should sound foreign like an unknown passer.

A crown born from carnivals

The tale is as old as time, pageantry in the Philippines has long been present and embedded into the country’s history. This display of grace and beauty can be traced all the way back to 1908. Its first iteration was the election for the first carnival queen during a Philippine Exposition to exhibit the progress of trade and industries all over the country. But the first time the title of Miss Philippines was made into fruition was in 1926, where the simple carnival queen election turned into a National Beauty Contest. 

Carnival queens of the time didn’t carry the burden or honor of representing over a 100 million Filipinos. They did not have to show the world, the universe rather, that they deserve a crown on their head. Back then, elected Carnival Queens would lead the promotion of the trade and industry exhibited at the grounds. 

The Philippines’ love for beauty continues today. But in today’s time where beauty is no longer in the eyes of the beholder, standards have also changed…or have they?

The mirror and the mestizo

The fairest in the land have always been those who stood out. In a tropical country where melanin is often looked down upon for simply doing its job and a lower nose bridge is seen as undesirable, the mirror has long praised the mestizos and mestizas. Their foreign features stood out in a country taught that what is common is rarely desirable.

For years, this belief became embedded into the norm, and some began to wonder whether the Philippines could continue its pageant success without candidates of mixed heritage. Brandon Espiritu, Mister Supranational Philippines 2024, believes this to be the reality. Without them, the so-called “halfies,” he argues, the Philippines would not perform well in international pageants.

However, every fairytale has its conflict.

Queens who needed no foreign blood 

The first to ever claim a happily ever after beneath the Miss Universe crown was Gloria Diaz back in 1969. She was neither the tallest, nor did she have the whitest skin, but her charm and wit won over the judges’ heart making her the first Filipina to ever conquer the universe. 

She would not be the last heroine of this tale as many queens have found a happily ever after with the Philippines name on their chest. They did not wait for prince charming to hand them a green card, nor did they rely in foreign blood to validate their worth. They embodied the grace, strength, and resilience of Filipinas across all ages. 

Years before international crowns became a familiar sight in Filipino households, Gemma Cruz had already introduced the world to the Filipina beauty through her victory at Miss International 1964. Decades later, Mutya Datul became the country’s first and so far only Miss Supranational in 2013, while Wynwyn Marquez etched her name into history as the first Filipina Reina Hispanoamericana in 2017.

The tradition continues even today. Anne De Mesa claimed the Miss Tourism Worldwide crown in 2026, while Dia Maté brought home the Reina Hispanoamericana title in 2025. Their victories serve as reminders that the Philippines continues to produce queens capable of competing on the global stage.

Kings of the islands

But the islands of the Philippines do not raise queens alone.

They also raise kings who are capable of dominating the international stage. Neil Perez was the first king from the Philippines to win the coveted Mister International title in 2014. Otherwise known as “Mamang Pulis,” Perez showcased the Filipino charm and aura to an international stage without the need of a foreign surname.

He would be joined by other Filipino titleholders in the years that followed, including June Macasaet, who won Manhunt International in 2012, RJ De Vera at Man Hot Star International 2023, Dom Corilla at Mister Global 2024, and Prince Hernandez at Masters of the World 2025. 

Together, they demonstrated that the Philippines’ success in pageantry extends far beyond a single crown, a single face, or a single definition of beauty.

The kingdom behind the jewels

Yet crowns are never won by kings and queens alone.

Behind every victorious candidate stands an entire kingdom of dream-makers, designers, stylists, trainers, and mentors. The Philippines’ reputation as a pageant powerhouse was built not only by those who wore the crown, but also by those who helped place it upon their heads.

Names such as Jojo Bragais, Rian Fernandez, Leo Almodal, and Ian Mendajar have become fixtures in the international pageant scene. Their work has dressed, trained, and transformed candidates from around the world, proving that Filipino excellence extends far beyond the spotlight. If pageantry is the Philippines’ favorite fairytale, these individuals are among the craftsmen who continue to keep the story alive.

Filipino identity not determined by fractions

The Philippines is a melting pot of different cultures, colonized by not just one, but three nations. The country has adapted many cultures, ideologies, and even features from their colonizers. But that does not erase the true Filipino identity that continues to burn inside every Filipino’s heart.

Full, half, a quarter — these labels attempt to measure Filipino identity in fractions. Yet being Filipino has never been determined by numbers and percentages. It is measured by how one embraces their identity, carries their culture, and represents their people.

Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach are both half-blooded Filipinos, but this distinction did not stop them from seeing the Philippines with pure admiration and pride. It did not stop them from finding silver linings and raising awareness for causes the Philippines urgently needs.

The fairytale we keep on telling

Pageants are Filipinos’ favorite fairytale because they show that even in darkness and distress, beauty can still exist. The fairytale was never about wearing a crown. It was about seeing a fellow Filipino on stage, being recognized and applauded for wearing the Philippines’ name.

And in that moment, every Filipino watching becomes royalty too.