Myrna Esguerra finishes proud and strong after Miss International 2025 journey

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Philippine contender Myrna Esguerra was crowned fourth runner-up at the Miss International 2025 pageant on Thursday, November 27, at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Vietnam’s Huỳnh Thị Thanh Thủy crowned Colombian model Catalina Duque Abréu as Miss International 2025. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Melliza Xaviera Yulian was named third runner-up, Paola Guzmán of Bolivia as second runner-up, and Yollanda Chimbarami of Zimbabwe as first runner-up.

During the coronation night, Myrna already stood out, gracefully introducing herself during the introduction portion with fans in hand. Her performance proved promising from the beginning; during the swimsuit competition, Myrna wore a striking blue swimsuit and walked with confidence.

She also stunned audiences during the evening gown competition, donning an ethereally glamorous “pearl-inspired” evening gown made by Filipino fashion designer Mak Tumang, the same designer behind Catriona Gray’s Mayon Volcano-inspired gown for Miss Universe 2018.

Journey to the top 5

The 24-year-old beauty queen from Abra graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management, specializing in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), from City College of Angeles.

During the Binibining Pilipinas 2024 coronation night, Esguerra shared how her personal journey shaped her into the woman she is today. She also recalled the challenges she faced while supporting her family and financing her education, a testament to her resilience and determination.

“I will tell the women of the past [that] we have achieved our goal, which is to empower women. Standing here, at the age of 17, I started to finance my own studies and help my family financially. I was able to do this by all these women who paved the way to empower us to always reach for our goals, no matter what it is. Because in life, we can always achieve our dreams, as long as we believe we can. And thanks to them all. Thank you,” she said.

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Her star-studded performance at Binibining Pilipinas 2024 beat out the other 39 candidates, which made her bring home the Binibining Pilipinas International crown along with several special awards, including Best in Swimsuit, Best in Evening Gown, Binibining Air Lines, and Miss Urban Smile, while securing a spot in the Top 5 for Best in National Costume.

Behind the preparation: ‘A dream finally unfolding’

Days before the coronation night, Myrna was in full preparation mode, from practicing for the question-and-answer round to planning her outfits and rehearsing her runway walk.

In an Instagram post, she shared a heartfelt message marking the start of her Miss International journey:

“Today marks the end of a long season of waiting patiently, and the start of a dream finally unfolding,” she wrote.

She continues to train under Aces and Queens, one of the country’s leading pageant camps, under the guidance of handler Richard Strandz.

In the preliminary competition, Myrna impressed on the runway during the swimsuit round in her white swimsuit, while in the evening gown competition, she wore a yellow gown that reflected the brightness of the sun.

Aside from representing the Philippines, Myrna’s pageant journey was a chance for her to highlight her advocacy for quality education. From a young age, she supported her family by holding various jobs, including selling candy, online selling, working at a coffee shop, and part-time modeling, which imparted a deep sense of responsibility and determination.

After being announced as one of the Top 10, Myrna emphasized her advocacy for Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals) during the competition.

“Being the only one among my 16 siblings to finish college is one of the proudest and grateful moments of my life, and to pay my community forward, I created my project Dream Readers in the Philippines, focused on quality education and partnership for the goals, which are SDG [Sustainable Development Goals] 4 and 17,” she said.

“Because I hope to see every [child] stand tall like Mount Fuji and to ensure that no child will ever suffer the same way that I do,” she added.

Her advocacy, Project Dream, focuses on empowering students and readers to realize their potential and navigate life with confidence. The program draws inspiration from her own journey of self-reliance, having financed her studies at the age of 17 and supported her family while pursuing her goals.

During the Q&A portion, Myrna emphasized the value of selflessness and the friendships she built with fellow contestants from around the world.

“I will tell to my mama that I just gained 79 more siblings among my 16 siblings back home. Miss International taught me to be selfless, and it taught me the value of having friends from all around the world. And I’m so grateful for this opportunity because I learned to help everyone in here, everyone who needs my help,” she shared.

“And above all, it made me a better person, a human that cares, because I was able to create my project. And with that, it is my tribute to all the people who helped me,” she added.

This marks the second time the Philippines has reached the Top 5, following 2023, when Nicole Borromeo also finished as fourth runner-up. – Alfon Cabanilla/Rappler.com

Alfon Cabanilla is a Rappler intern studying AB Communication at Ateneo de Manila University.