CEBU will send two seasoned queens to compete at Miss Universe Philippines 2026, bringing not just beauty but also experience, resilience and advocacy to the national stage.
Nicole Borromeo and Apriel Smith, veterans of national and international beauty pageants, were appointed as Cebu’s official representatives despite the absence of a local contest and coronation this year.
The pageant’s local director Irma Payod-Bitzer announced during the official sashing event on Sunday that Borromeo will compete for Cebu Province, while Smith will represent Cebu City.
READY TO SHINE Cebu’s official representatives to Miss Universe Philippines 2026, Nicole Borromeo (Cebu Province) and Apriel Smith (Cebu City), during their sashing ceremony at Nustar Resort and Casino on Feb. 1, 2026. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES
They were crowned by last year’s winner, Gabbi Carballo, who placed in the Top 6 nationally and was later appointed Miss Eco International Philippines.
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Carballo will represent the country in Egypt this May.
Payod-Bitzer welcomed the queens into one Cebu “family” and emphasized that they are “not competitors, but partners,” representing Cebu City and Cebu Province with their unique stories, identities and strengths.
“Grace in adversity, resilience in hardship, compassion in service, and excellence in purpose,” she said, outlining the qualities expected of a Cebuana beauty queen.
At the press conference, both queens shared with The Manila Times their personal journeys and advocacies.
Smith, currently working abroad, said her experience as an OFW allowed her to reflect, gain perspective, and return to the pageant stage with renewed purpose.
“After six years, why not come back on stage? The pandemic gave me the time to think and learn from myself,” she said.
She also discussed how sports shaped her confidence and teamwork skills while helping her overcome experiences of bullying.
“Because of teamwork and camaraderie in volleyball, I gained confidence. I want to show everyone that no matter what people see you as, don’t let them bring you down. Stand up for yourself. Know your self-worth, and no one can beat you down,” she said.
Smith played varsity volleyball in high school for Abellana National School and in college for the University of San Carlos.
She plans to promote sports as a tool for confidence-building, teamwork, and self-worth through her pageant advocacy.
Borromeo, on the other hand, reflected on her volunteer and advocacy work, which focuses on the housing situation in a country frequently struck by typhoons and natural disasters, and highlighted her efforts with Habitat for Humanity.
For the upcoming competition, she plans to shift her focus to mental health, a cause particularly close to her heart.
“I hit my rock bottom not too long ago, and I was really lucky to have the right people around me to help me express myself…. Sometimes people don’t have the words to express what they’re feeling. In my case, it was through art,” she said.
Borromeo added that her current advocacy includes art therapy sessions for soldiers experiencing trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I want to share with people that you aren’t limited by your negative mindset or by how you talk down on yourself. You aren’t defined by your pain or your hurt — you are so much more than that, and the world is just waiting for you to come alive,” she said.
Seasoned queens
Borromeo earned the right to compete internationally after winning Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 and went on to represent the Philippines at Miss International 2023 in Tokyo, Japan, finishing third runner-up.
She has also won Miss Silka Cebu 2017, Sinulog Festival Queen 2019, and Miss Millennial Philippines 2019.
Smith, the first-ever Binibining Cebu in 2017, reached the Top 16 in Miss Universe Philippines 2020, placed in the top 15 in Binibining Pilipinas 2016, and previously won titles including Sinulog Festival Queen 2012, Miss Dumanjug, and Miss Cebu City Olympics.
During the event, both queens also received special awards from sponsors.
Smith was named Miss KBDF, Miss Skin 911 Premiere, Miss Goodluck Hot Pot, and Miss Ph Care, while Borromeo received Miss Winzen Cafe, Miss Skin 911 Medical, Miss Gandang Myra E, and Miss Rose Pharmacy, reflecting strong sponsor and community support.
The latest Cebuanas to earn the Miss Universe Philippines title include Beatrice Luigi Gomez, who placed in the Top 5 at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Israel in 2021, and Gazini Ganados, a Top 20 semifinalist who also won the Best in National Costume award at the pageant’s 68th edition in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019.
The reigning Miss Universe Philippines titleholder is Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province, who was awarded 3rd runner-up in a pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand.