Which pageant should Kirsten Dawn join next?

CEBU, PHILIPPINES — Kirsten Dawn Delerio ended her Miss Philippines Earth 2026 bid as a top ten finalist during the coronation night Saturday held in Malitbog, Bukidnon. The Cebuana, a Miss Fitness Supermodel World 2024 titlist, was considered one of the pageant’s frontrunners due to her preliminary performance and online support.

During the penultimate One Word Challenge round, she was given 30 seconds to deliver an impromptu speech based on the word “credibility.”

“…This is something we have to instill in ourselves and the values we must have in each of us,” she said onstage while wearing a sparkling dress with a 1crimson red skirt during the final evening gown competition. “As Filipinos, we have a shared responsibility, and our responsibility is to be rightful citizens living on this Earth. As an advocate of sustainable living, I stand by my advocacy. No matter where life takes me, I will forever be a voice.”

Throughout the pageant, Delerio championed her “Soil to Soul” advocacy, which addresses child malnutrition by teaching children how to grow their own food. The project was inspired by her experience of being bullied for being skinny.

Delerio emphasized that addressing child malnutrition goes beyond providing children with proper nutrition. In her closed-door interview, she said, “We need to address this because the children are our future. That’s why, through my project, I am focusing on educating young minds because they are our future.”

Delerio did not go home empty-handed. She earned the silver award for Best Cultural Attire for her Sto. Niño-inspired ensemble designed by Stephen Alvarado. She was also named the silver winner of the Media Choice Award, the bronze winner in the Talent Competition’s Singing Category, and one of the 10 Miss Hana Beauties.

Having joined pageants since she was 17 after first working as a teen model to help support her studies, many netizens believe Delerio has the potential to compete in other national pageants.

In a reaction poll posted by the Philippine Pageants Facebook page, most respondents would like to see Delerio compete in Miss Grand Philippines 2026. Miss Grand International All-Stars 2nd Edition and Miss Universe Philippines were the other leading choices.

– Tour guide wins –

Ballesteros, Cagayan’s Rina Andrea delos Santos was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2026. Also considered one of this edition’s frontrunners, she impressed pageant fans with her poise, particularly her composure and eloquence.

Responding to the prompt “opportunists,” which advanced her to the top five, she responded, “I personally believe we should fight against opportunists destroying our environment and our Mother Earth because we need to heal it. We need to collaborate to be able to regenerate what has been damaged because, in the end, the Earth is not transformed by change but by choices, and we should always choose to fight opportunists.”

Throughout the pageant, Delos Santos promoted sustainable tourism as her advocacy. As a licensed medical technologist and an aspiring doctor, she explained that environmental protection is closely intertwined with public health and tourism.

“Guiding with a purpose means protecting the environment, preserving culture, and empowering communities. Responsible guiding, education, and community collaboration ensure that tourism protects our planet and benefits future generations,” she said in her introductory video.

She further explained her multi-layered advocacy during her closed-door interview: “I understand that taking care of our environment means taking care of our health. I would like to promote environmental and public health awareness so people would understand that taking care of our environment makes us less prone to diseases.”

It was perhaps this perspective that made her final answer the winning one. Asked how she would honor her responsibilities as Miss Philippines Earth, Delos Santos said, “As a community tour guide, I am not just ready for the crown, but I am ready for the environmental and global responsibility that comes with it.”

She continued, “I guide every single day, working toward putting the Philippines in a position that is not just a model of sustainability and environmental stewardship but also a destination of beauty. That is exactly what love in action is. Remember, love changes nothing unless it moves, and when it moves, it truly changes everything.”

Joining Delos Santos in the top five were Prima Joy Alamban of Tumauini (Air), Alyssa Villariña of Mandaluyong (Water), Patricia Bangug of Agoo (Fire), and Roveelaine Eve Castillo of Siocon (Eco-Tourism).

Miss Philippines Earth was Delos Santos’ first major pageant. Her previous pageant experience was Binibining Ballesteros 2023, which she won. She will represent the Philippines at Miss Earth 2026 later this year in hopes of securing the country’s fifth crown. Previous Philippine winners include Karla Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015), and Karen Ibasco (2017).

– No Joy –

Delos Santos’ predecessor, Joy Barcoma, was absent from the coronation night and did not crown her successor. Instead, she attended a Pride rally in Quezon City, where she held her own final walk as the outgoing Miss Philippines Earth before a cheering crowd.

Rumors had circulated that Barcoma had a falling out with the organizers of Miss Philippines Earth. Some speculated it stemmed from her outspoken nature, while others claimed she had prioritized outside engagements over her duties as titleholder. Barcoma denied that her work commitments had affected her reign, explaining that she was not required or invited to all of the pageant’s activities and that some appearances were assigned to the elemental titlists in her batch.

Although she did not directly address the rumored rift, Barcoma thanked the organization in a statement confirming that she would not be attending the coronation. She also urged netizens to continue supporting Miss Philippines Earth.

“To the Miss Philippines Earth Organization, maraming maraming salamat po. Thank you for entrusting me with a title that became so much more than a crown,” she wrote on Facebook on the morning of the coronation.

“To everyone, I hope we continue supporting Miss Philippines Earth. This platform has never been about a queen. It has always been about a mission greater than ourselves – a mission to protect our planet, uplift our communities, and inspire others to become stewards of the Earth. Let us also support the next queen the same way you have all supported and loved my journey.”