Emma Tiglao crowned Miss Grand Philippines 2025

Veteran beauty queen Emma Mary Tiglao of Pampanga clinched the Miss Grand Philippines 2025 crown in a late-night finale on Sunday, August 24, 2025 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, setting her sights on the international stage in Bangkok this October.

The 30-year-old stunner outlasted 28 other hopefuls in a competition that stretched into the early hours of Monday. She also picked up the Best in Swimsuit award before being crowned by outgoing queen CJ Opiaza, the country’s first Miss Grand International titleholder.

The contest narrowed the field to 15 finalists who took the stage in glittering gold gowns, delivering speeches on peace and the fight against war, the central advocacy of the Miss Grand brand. Tiglao’s poise carried into the Q&A round, where she was asked: “If peace could be packaged as a product, how would you convince world leaders to buy it?”

Her response sealed her victory: “I would convince world leaders to see it as a quality, not as quantity. What I mean is the quality of us having constant dialogue with each other. It’s not about the quantity or the time we need to prepare to talk to each other but it’s the constant dialogue. Because if we do that, we would eradicate disparities in opportunities we can get. And also, we cannot grow the division within people in terms of politics, of power, and in terms of property. So, I hope they would look in quality instead of quantity.”

In her first words as queen, Tiglao looked ahead to Bangkok with a mix of confidence and urgency. “Ngayon, masasabi ko with all the experiences, wisdom, ang tagal na natin sa pageantry, sana naman kakayanin natin itong back to back para naman another history for the Philippines. Sabi ko nga, if someone asks me, are you ready? I'm born ready!” (Now, with all the experiences and wisdom I’ve gained, after being in pageantry for so long, I hope we can achieve this back-to-back to make another history for the Philippines. If someone asks me, am I ready? I’m born ready.) she told reporters in a post-coronation interview.

Tiglao will carry the Philippine flag at Miss Grand International 2025 on October 18 at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, aiming to become the second Filipina to capture the crown after Opiaza’s win last year.