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In this blog, we will look back who are those beautiful ladies who represented our country (Philippines) in the Miss Universe Pageant from 2008-2018.

Let's start the ball rolling with...

Jennifer Tarol Barrientos, Miss Universe Philippines 2008

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Jennifer Tarol Barrientos

Jennifer represented the Philippines to the Miss Universe pageant last July 14, 2008 that was held in Nha Trang, Vietnam but she was not able to place in the Top Fifteen of the Semi-finalists. She was born on January 10, 1986 and graduated as Bachelor of Science in Tourism at University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

Bianca Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2009

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Pamela Bianca Ramos Manalo

Bianca represented Philippines in the Miss Universe Competition last 2009. She was the crowd favorite because of her confidence during the catwalk and swimsuit competition. In addition, she was the most applauded contestant of that night in Bahamas. Although she confidently represented the Filipina beauty and shown her pageantry skills, she wasn’t able to bring home the crown.

She is a sister of Katherine Anne Manalo, Top 10 Finalist of Miss World 2002 and Nichole Marie Manalo, Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2016 which proves that beauty truly runs in their blood.

Venus Raj, Miss Universe 2010, 4th Runner-Up

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Maria Venus Raj y Bayonito, Miss Universe 2010, 4th Runner-Up

Venus Raj represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe Competition last 2010 where she was crowned as 4^th Runner-Up. Her winning brought back the hope of the country in the Miss Universe beauty pageant as we had experienced a 10-year drought (since 1999 to 2010) of being one of the Top 15.

She became the talk of the town because of the phrase “major major” in her response to the question of judge William Baldwin about the biggest mistake that she made in her life.

Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 2011, 3rd Runner-Up

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Shamcey Gurrea Supsup-Lee, Miss Universe 2011, 3rd Runner-Up

It was in São Paulo, Brazil where Shamcey amazed the Filipino Community in the Miss Universe Competition last September 12, 2011. The community became even prouder as she finished the competition as the 3^rd Runner-Up.

Aside from being successful in her television career as host in local shows and news programs after the competition, she also win life as she married her boyfriend, Lloyd Lee last December 29, 2013 and as she gave birth to their baby girl, Nyke last January 24, 2016.

Janine Tugonon, Miss Universe 2012, 1st Runner-Up

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Janine Marie Raymundo Tugonon, Miss Universe 2012, 1st Runner-Up

Janine who was born in Orion, Bataan continued the success of the Philippines in the Miss Universe Competition as she bagged the 1^st Runner-Up last December 19, 2012 because of her beauty and wit.

This was the remarkable answer of Janine in the final question when she was asked if English language should be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe: “For me, being Miss Universe is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language – it is being able to influence and inspire other people. So whatever language you have, as long your heart is to serve and you have a strong mind to show to people, then, you can be Miss Universe.”

Ariella Arida, Miss Universe 2013, 3rd Runner-up

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Ariella "Ara" Hernandez Arida, Miss Universe 2013, 3rd Runner-Up

Ariella represented the Miss Universe pageant last November 9, 2013 at the Crocus City Hall, Moscow, Russia. She won the 16^th spot in the semifinals through the online voting and finished the competition as the 3^rd Runner-Up.

She tried her luck in the Miss Philippines Earth last 2012 but she wasn’t able to win some place. Fortunately, she found her place when she joined the Binibining Pilipinas 2013 pageant and won as the Miss Universe Philippines 2012 and awarded as Best in Swimsuit.

Mary Jean Lastimosa, Miss Universe Philippines 2014

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Mary Jean Lastimosa

Mary Jean competed in the Miss Universe 2014 that was held in Doral, Florida. She was able to place in the Top 10 of the said pageant. Although she lose in the competition, it’s her story of perseverance which made the Filipinos proud.

It was on Mary Jean's third attempt in 2014 that she won the crown as Miss Universe Philippines 2014 (as she joined last 2011 and 2012).

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015

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Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015

Pia was crowned as the Miss Universe 2015 last December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA which made her as the third Filipina who was crowned as Miss Universe. During the competition, she was applauded when she answered to Steve that she had not found any problem with regards to the military presence of United States in the country and even cited the good relationship between American and Filipinos during the preliminary question.

Her phrase “confidently beautiful with a heart” in her answer to the final question has really made an impact to the whole community and became a phenomenal phrase. To look back, this was Pia’s entire answer to the final question: “To be a Miss Universe is both an honor and responsibility. If I were to be Miss Universe, I will use my voice to influence the youth, and I would raise awareness to certain causes like HIV awareness that is timely and relevant to my country which is the Philippines. I want to show the world, the universe rather, that I am confidently beautiful with a heart. Thank you.”

Her winning also went viral to the other parts of the world when Steve Harvey, the host, mistakenly announced Ariadna Gutiérrez, Miss Colombia, as the winner.

Maxine Medina, Miss Universe Philippines 2016

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Maria Mika Maxine Perez Medina

Maxine Medina represented the Philippines during the Miss Universe 2016 that was held at the Mall of Asia Arena, Metro Manila, Philippines last January 30, 2017 where she was able to succeed as one of the Top 6 of the said competition. This is still a success for the country for we were able to stay at the semifinalist for seven consecutive years.

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Rachel Louise Peters

Rachel represented the country in the Miss Universe 2017. She was able to be part of the Top 10 beauties when she was chosen as one of the wildcard for Top 16. With this, the country continually grabbed a spot to the finalist placements for eight consecutive years.

Before joining Binibining Pilipinas last 2017, Peters also joined Miss World Philippines 2014 where she won as the 4^th Princess.

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Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray, Miss Universe 2018

Recently, the Filipino Community celebrated the success of Catriona Gray for the Miss Universe 2018 pageant held last December 17, 2018 at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thaniin Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. She was crowned as the Miss Universe 2018 which also made her as the fourth Filipina to win the pageant. This is an addition to her title of being the Miss World Philippines 2016.

She never missed to amaze the whole world, the Universe rather in every rounds of the competition: the unique design of her national costume has totally brought the culture and traditions of the whole country to the eyes of the whole universe. Furthermore, she was able to capture the whole universe with here slow-motion and stunning poses in her catwalk.

How did she conquer the Question and Answer Portion?

During the preliminary question and answer, Catriona affirms that Marijuana can be legalized for medical use and not for recreational use.

In the final round for question and answer portion, this is the entire answer of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray: “I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is very... it's poor and it's very sad. And I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it; to look in the beauty in the faces of the children, and to be grateful. And I would bring this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining, and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. And this I think if I could also teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children will have a smile on their faces.” to the question about the most important lesson they’ve learned in their life and how they can apply it to their time as the Miss Universe.

SUMMARY

The table below shows the summary of our reign in the Miss Universe pageant from 2008-2018:

YEAR	CONTENDER	TITLE/ RANK
2008	Jennifer Tarol Barrientos	-
2009	Pamela Bianca Ramos Manalo	-
2010	Maria Venus Raj y Bayonito	4^thRunner-Up
2011	Shamcey Gurrea Supsup-Lee	3^rd Runner-Up
2012	Janine Marie Raymundo Tugonon	1^st Runner-Up
2013	Ariella "Ara" Hernandez Arida	3^rd Runner-Up
2014	Mary Jean Lastimosa	Top 10 finalist
2015	Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach	Miss Universe
2016	Maria Mika Maxine Perez Medina	Top 6 finalist
2017	Rachel Louise Peters	Top 10 finalist
2018	Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray	Miss Universe

CONCLUSION

Philippines is truly a home of beautiful people: beautiful from inside and outside;
One characteristic that we can learn from the ladies above is the perseverance;
We cannot always get what we always want in our first try. Who knows, we could get what we prayed for on our 8^th try?;
You can never taste success when you haven’t tried failing; and
Do not be envy to the success of other people in their time because we all have our own time to succeed.

Hope this made an impact to your life. Help us spread this to your friends.

Resources

Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://inspiredpinoy.com/2019/01/21/miss-universe-philippines-2008-2018/