After Luzon swept the top spots in the 60th Binibining Pilipinas pageant last year, Mindanao aced the 2025 competition and snagged the two crowns at stake with a runner-up placement to boot.

Katrina Anne Johnson from Davao and Annabelle Mae McDonnell from Iligan City were crowned Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe, respectively, at the culmination of the Grand Coronation Night held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on June 15.

With Siargao’s Kathleen Enid Espenido proclaimed second runner-up, first runner-up Dalia Varde Khattab from Las Piñas City became the lone contender from outside Southern Philippines to cop a spot in the winners’ circle.

In last year’s competition, Abra’s Myrna Esguerra took home the Bb. Pilipinas International title, while Pampanga’s Jasmin Bungay was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Globe. Christal Dela Cruz from Zambales and Trisha Martinez from Pila, Laguna, finished as runners-up.

The 61st edition of the longest-running national beauty pageant in the Philippines chose 36 contenders for the two titles, both of which come with their respective international assignments.

Johnson will represent the Philippines in the 64th edition of the Miss International pageant next year, while McDonnell’s stint in The Miss Globe contest is scheduled this October.

Positive vibes

McDonnell was runner-up in the 2022 Miss Universe Philippines competition. But even before she became an official Bb. Pilipinas candidate, she already felt positive about her decision to try her luck in the pioneering national pageant.

On the day she signified to her mentor her intention to cross over to the pageant, she chanced upon three former Bb. Pilipinas queens who have carried the country in international competitions.

McDonnell said she had just met with Aces and Queens pageant camp head Gerry Diaz to confirm her desire to apply for Bb. Pilipinas when they bumped into 1984 Miss Universe runner-up Desiree Verdadero, 1991 Miss International finalist Patty Betita, and 1989 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Sarah Jane Paez.

“As we were going into the restaurant, Tita Patty was like, ‘Hi, it’s so nice to see you.’ Then they had an inkling that I was joining because of the company I was with,” McDonnell told CoverStory.

She hesitated to confirm that she was indeed joining the pageant, but the former Binibinis knew what was cooking and said they would not post their photos together just yet. Then they delivered the pageant mantra, “Once a Binibini, always a Binibini,” with her.

“It was a really great surprise, and it was a really good omen,” McDonnell said. “I took it as a really good omen that I made the right decision to join Binibini this year.”

Feeling seen

Johnson, for her part, was able to meet the three most recent Miss International winners in person. She first got to see 2022 queen Jasmine Selberg from Germany, who flew to the country for the 2023 Bb. Pilipinas pageant.

The Davaoeña first joined Bb. Pilipinas that year, and finished as first runner-up. As part of the reigning winners in 2024, she had the privilege of meeting 2023 Miss International Andrea Rubio from Venezuela.

And this year, when she finally won the national crown, 2024 Miss International Thanh Thủy from Vietnam paid a visit, and joined the judging panel like her two predecessors.

“They really make you feel seen,” Johnson told CoverStory. “I think that’s a really special talent that someone can have, you know, to make you feel seen and heard. That is something that I do aspire to do with my own reign.”

She said she is also relieved to have more than a year to prepare for the Miss International pageant. Esguerra, her predecessor, is still set to compete in this year’s global tilt that will take place in Tokyo in November.

“I really am a planner. So, this is the best-case scenario for me. Like, I love the fact that I’ve a lot of time to really reflect and bask, and do all of these things to make sure that I am as well-rounded as an individual,” Johnson said, adding: “I love it!”

McDonnell does not enjoy the same luxury of time, with her competition slated in four months. ”In a week, I think, I’ll have an outline of what I wanna do at The Miss Globe. But definitely I will do my best,” she declared.

She has also taken notes from the Philippines’ most recent The Miss Globe winner, Maureen Montagne, who hosted the coronation show, and the reigning queen, Diana Moreno from Colombia, who was a judge. She said there were “styling tips” that she picked up “just by looking at them.”

McDonnell also shared that Montagne has invited her to lunch. “She’s really supportive and encourages me to ask as many questions as possible. If I need any help, I can count on her,” she said.

The Philippines is the best-performing Asian country in the Miss International pageant, with six winners. Meanwhile, two Bb. Pilipinas queens posted victories in the current iteration of The Miss Globe pageant.

Read more: Beauty and destiny on one stage at Binibining Pilipinas 60th-year bash