Reina Filipina North America queens are ready to take on Miss Universe Philippines stage

It’s an exciting year for Miss Universe Philippines as three Filipino Americans from North America are ready to take on the national beauty pageant stage.

In an intimate press conference, Valerie West of New York, Pauline Del Mundo of New Jersey, and Amanda Russo of Pennsylvania greeted local media as they prepared to embark on their journey in this year’s competition.

“We are excited to take part in this meaningful journey that celebrates not only our heritage but also the vibrant Filipino-American community,” Valerie said in a press release.

Valerie, the reigning Reina Filipina North America, emphasized that their participation is not just about beauty and competition but also about empowering their community and raising awareness of their culture.

Eager to connect with fellow Filipinos and share their advocacies, the three beauty queens expressed their excitement for what lies ahead.

“For me, other than the crown, I think what I look forward to the most is really making myself whole within this journey. One of the last six years I've been on this journey of finding myself and finding my purpose in life. I think this journey with MUPH will really give me a little bit more of that piece of the puzzle,” Pauline shared.

Valerie echoed this sentiment, highlighting the unique opportunities pageantry presents.

“I think through pageantry, one thing that makes a pageant queen stand out, and I think a lot of Filipino types of holders have it, is an open-mindedness to the opportunities that present themselves during this journey. I want to pursue anything I can while I'm out here. It's such a unique once-in-a-life opportunity, and I think we need to make the most of it while out here,” the young beauty queen said.

Beyond the competition, Valerie is also keen on advancing her advocacy through the Purposeful Unconditional Service to Others (PUSO) Foundation Club.

“Giving back. I want to inspire others to pay it forward, as they say. So I'm really excited. I've been working with this initiative for four years now, but they're based in the Philippines. So now it's my time to come give back here in the homeland. I'm going to go for some medical missions, possibly help build some homes that were affected by typhoons. Just doing good works like that. I'm really excited to have that opportunity out here,” she added.

Reina Filipina North America is the first-ever platform and beauty pageant outside the country to hold a franchise for Miss Universe Philippines. Last January, they hosted their inaugural event at Palladium Times Square in New York City, featuring eight delegates from different states.

Published by ABS-CBN.com/entertainment |Nikka Sabio, Push Team