All set for pageant night of the year — Miss Filipina Int’l 2023

Pageant candidates with Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman and CEO of Miss Filipina International, who is also the executive producer of the exciting pageant show this Saturday, August 5, at The Beverly Hilton. (Photo by Phillip Ner)

LOS ANGELES – Everything is set for the biggest Filipina pageant of the year – the Miss Filipina International (MFI) coronation night on Saturday, Aug.5, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

Among the personalities flying in from the Philippines to attend the first-ever Filipina pageant to be held in the Beverly Hills landmark hotel, home of the Golden Globe Awards and other prestigious Hollywood red carpet events, are the reigning Miss Universe Philippines, Michelle Dee, and popular singer-actor-host Alden Richards.

An actress, entrepreneur and lifelong advocate of various causes, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Dee is  president of the Inner Peace Foundation and the Goodwill Ambassador of Autism Society Philippines. She has two siblings on the Autism spectrum.

Richards won the 2019 Asian Star Prize honors at the 14^th Seoul International Drama Awards. He is the recipient of prizes from the 51^st GMSF Box Office Entertainment Awards and the 18^th Gawad Tanglaw Awards. Richards topbills GMA Pictures films and the television show, “All Out Sundays.”

Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman and CEO of Worldwide Media Entertainment Corporation, the new owner of MFI, and the show’s executive producer, announced that 36 candidates are vying for the crown, representing various states across America and several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, are vying for these titles: Miss Filipina International; Miss Tourism; First Runner-up; Second Runner-up; and Third Runner-up.

Jimenez previously announced that in partnership with Jonas Gaffud’s Empire Philippines, three winners will be eligible to compete next year in Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) while two winners will vie in The Miss Philippines pageant.

The following are the MFI 2023 official candidates:

Hannah Pearcey

Matea Mahal Smith

Alexia Reign Hernandez

Jesse Grace Felix Soriano

Ella Del Rosario

Rylen Faith Steinbuch

Brooke Barredo

Claudia Vidanes

Denisse Nicole Samaniego

Patricia Bianca Tapia

Janessa Gwen Rubio

Amanda Russo

Keilin Danao Tankiamco

Alyanna Joelle Santos

Katie Sophia McIlroy

Sandra Irene Goff

Aira Lei Maigue

Angelique De la Cruz

Princess Caventa Reyes

Kawena Janessa Kanhai

Mia Valdes

Mary Ann Monda

Heather Casigna

Lauren Skeoch

Hope Corpus

Hannah Angelica Marte

Samantha Gavin

Sarah Lizaso Obal

Beatriz Mclelland

Jessica Zemanek

Issha Rose Mata

Aliza Orjalo

Ronniedith Dimapasoc

Skylar Vasquez

Dakota Swart

Kelly McIlroy

Jimenez also previously announced that the star-studded MFI pageant, to be aired by GMA Network, will be hosted by popular TV personalities, Jeannie Mai Jenkins (“The Real”) and Cheryl Burke (“Dancing with the Stars”). Mario Lopez of “Access TV” will join as a special guest presenter.

Michelle Dee, the reigning Miss Universe Philippines and Alden Richards, popular singer-actor-host will fly in for the occasion.

Lisa Lew, multiple Daytime Emmy winner (“Cristina’s Court” and “Judge Judy” and the groundbreaking “Last Shot with Judge Gunn”) is the producer of MFI. Joseph Carolei, Daytime Emmy-winning director of “The Talk” and the 43^rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, will direct MFI, which promises to be one of the most special live events this year.

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In addition to the previously announced top prize of a BMW 2 Series car, the winner will also receive a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin Beverly Hills. Other prizes include $5,000 cash and a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin for Miss Tourism; a $2,500 cash prize and a $5,000 gift certificate from iSkin for each of the First, Second and Third Runners-up. The winner will also get 20 restaurant-quality healthy meals from FlexPro Meals and a month’s supply of Celsius Beverages.

MFI’s sponsors include Philippine Airlines, BMW, Jojo Bragais Shoes, Narcisa Pheres (MFI crown designer), iSkin Beverly Hills, Biaggi Luggage, Bell Beachwear, The Beverly Hilton, See’s Candies Manila, FlexPro Meals and Celsius Beverages.

More details at https://www.facebook.com/missfilipinainternational.