The Philippines again asserted its reputation as an international pageant powerhouse when not just one but two Filipino women earned podium placements in the recently-concluded Miss Supranational pageant held in Poland: first runner-up Anna Lakrini and third runner-up Tarah Valencia.

Lakrini and Valencia advanced to the final round of the competition held in Nowy Sącz, Malopolska, Poland, on Friday night (early Saturday, June 28, in Manila), but were edged out by Eduarda Braum, who won the title for Brazil for the first time.

Valencia represented the Philippines in the international pageant, while Lakrini carried her father’s home country, Germany. And just to further show the extent of the Philippine diaspora, another Filipino woman, part-Kiwi Rovelyn Milford, represented New Zealand.

In the final round of the competition, Valencia was asked what advice she would give young people struggling with confidence and self-worth to help them embrace who they are.

She responded: “A lot of individuals would always bring you down. But I say this because I experienced this. But I was able to battle this by giving myself positive affirmations, such as ‘I am worthy,’ ‘I am capable,’ ‘I can do anything through my power and through my own voice.’ And this is what every individual should do to have their own self-worth.”

Valencia had to wait more than a year before she could compete in the Miss Supranational pageant. She was appointed to represent the Philippines in the Poland-based contest after finishing as third runner-up in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant held in May last year.

Lakrini is a Binibining Pilipinas titleholder who represented the Philippines in The Miss Globe pageant in 2023. She finished as second runner-up in the competition held in Albania.

The Filipino German Lakrini has a colorful pageant journey. She joined the Bb. Pilipinas pageant fresh out of university, packing her bags to visit her mother’s home country after earning a degree in nutrition in Vienna, Austria.

After finishing in the semifinals of the national pageant, she stayed in the country to take modeling jobs and to map out her course for her future. She decided to return to the Bb. Pilipinas pageant as a better and more confident woman.

Failing to snag the title at The Miss Globe pageant in Albania, Lakrini was encouraged by another delegate to try her luck in the Miss Supranational pageant, another contest based in Europe. She held on to that thought.

She returned to her father’s home country in 2025 to join the Queens of Germany search. She was fortunate to receive the highest title in the competition: Miss Supranational Germany.

During the question round in the Poland pageant, Lakrini was asked about a time she felt “deeply grateful,” and how it changed her perspective on life.

She responded: “Just a couple of months ago I worked with Caritas Manila. And one thing that I remember was this little girl coming up to me and asking me to hug her. And I said, ‘yes.’ And so many other little kids came up to me, and came in for their hug. And it showed me the compassion, and showed me that my ‘From the Ground Up’ project is more than just love. It has compassion, it shows dignity. And I want to show the world that we’re all here to show respect, love, and dignity when we come in together in Supranational unity.”

Joining Valencia and Lakrini in Eduarda Braum’s court were second runner-up Quishantely Leito from Curacao and fourth runner-up Valerie Klepadlo from Puerto Rico.    

Mutya Datul remains the lone Filipino woman to bring home the Miss Supranational title. She won her crown in the pageant’s fifth edition held more than a decade ago in 2013.