Philippines at major beauty pageants

The Philippine franchise holders of the four major beauty pageants are:

• Shamcey Supsup-Lee — Miss Universe Philippines Organization for Miss Universe Philippines.[4]
• Arnold Vegafria (ALV Talent Circuit) — Miss World Philippines.[5][6]
• Stella Araneta (Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated) — Binibining Pilipinas for Miss International Philippines.[7][8]
• Ramon Monzon and Lorraine Schuck (Carousel Production) — Miss Philippines Earth.[9][10]

The criteria for the Big Four inclusion are based on specific standards such as the pageant's international prominence and prestige accepted by mainstream media; the quality and quantity of crowned delegates recognized by international franchisees; the winner's post pageant activities; the pageant's longevity, consistency, and history; the execution of the pageant's specific cause, platform, and advocacy; the overall pre-pageant activities, production quality and global telecast; the enormity of internet traffic; and the extent of popularity across the globe.[11]

The Philippines inherited the practice and promotion of beauty pageants from the Kingdom of Spain and United States which colonized the country and reflected their keen interest in pageantry through the Santero culture.[12]

The first officially recorded beauty pageant competition in the Philippines was held in 1908 during the Manila Carnival,[13][14] which organized both American and Philippine diplomatic relations,[13] with the aim to exhibit achievements in commerce and agriculture.[14] The winner of the competition was crowned, and came to be known, as the “Carnival Queen.”[15] The competitions were held annually from 1908 to 1938.[14]

In 1926, the Manila Carnival conceptualized and held the first national beauty pageant using the title Miss Philippines to represent the Philippine islands; contestants came from all over the country with the following regional titles: Miss Luzon, Miss Visayas, and Miss Mindanao. This new competition gained greater popularity, resulting in the phasing out of the “Carnival Queen” title in 1938.[16]

Since Venus Raj's 4th runner-up finish at Miss Universe 2010 (marking the Philippines' first semifinal placement at the pageant since Miriam Quiambao placed second to Botswana at Miss Universe 1999), the country has consistently placed in the Miss Universe semifinals each year, with a Top 20 placement in 2019, two Top 10 placements in 2014 and 2017, a Top 5/6 placement in 2016, four consecutive Top 5 finishes from 2010 to 2013,[37] and two crowns in 2015 and 2018. This made the Philippines only the second country in the Eastern Hemisphere (after India) and the fifth country in the world (after Germany, U.S.A., Venezuela and India) to place in the Miss Universe semifinals for at least 10 consecutive years (and the first country to do so beginning in any year of the 21st century).[38]

The Philippines also held two Big 4 pageant crowns simultaneously twice - in 2013 with Bea Santiago (Miss International) and Megan Young (Miss World), and in 2015 with Angelia Ong (Miss Earth) and Pia Wurtzbach (Miss Universe). The country also owns the longest winning streak of Big 4 beauty pageants from 2013 to 2018. Catriona Gray's Top 5 finish at Miss World 2016 and eventual win at Miss Universe 2018 currently ranks as the most successful crossover between two of the most prestigious beauty pageants in the world in the 21st century, breaking the Philippines' tie with U.S.A. to become the second most successful pageant powerhouse nation in the world, only trailing Venezuela with 15 crowns versus the latter's 23 crowns.[39]

From 2010 to 2019 alone, the Philippines has only unplaced twice in each of the Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth competitions, making it the country with the single most successful decade in terms of Big 4 beauty pageant results in the world. Since 2010, the Philippines has gained worldwide attention for its pageant training mechanisms.[38]

Color Key

Placements

Pageant	Placements	Best result
Miss Universe	24	Winner (1969 • 1973 • 2015 • 2018)
Miss World	20	Winner (2013)
Miss International	33	Winner (1964 • 1970 • 1979 • 2005 • 2013 • 2016)
Miss Earth	17	Winner (2008 • 2014 • 2015 • 2017)
Total	94	15 TITLES

The Philippines first hosted its major international pageant in 1974 for Miss Universe. It has also hosted Miss Earth several times, as the pageant originated in the country.[12][37]

Crossover winners of a national pageant wins in another major national pageant and then participate in the line of international beauty pageants.[40]

• Carlene Ang Aguilar — was the first crossover candidate to accomplish this feat. Aguilar initially won Miss Philippines Earth 2001[41][42] and later won title Binibining Pilipinas World in Binibining Pilipinas 2005. She became the first Filipina to win two major national crowns in Philippine pageantry.[43][44] She placed in the Top 10 in the Miss Earth 2001[45][46] and in the Top 15 in the Miss World 2005 pageant.[47][48]

• Catriona Gray — became the second crossover candidate who initially won Miss World Philippines 2016 and later the Miss Universe Philippines 2018.[40][48] Gray competed internationally and finished in the Top 5 at the Miss World 2016 competition held in Washington, D.C.[48] and eventually won as the 67th Miss Universe in 2018 in Thailand.[49][50][51]