There is no doubt that the Philippines is an international pageant powerhouse, with crown upon crown collected from global competitions by both women and men for all these years.

Among the competitions where the country has picked up multiple wins, the Miss International pageant tops the list with a total of six victories spanning six decades.

Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra, the Philippines’ representative to this year’s Miss International pageant, attributes this enduring winning streak to the way the pageant has been choosing winners and the qualities of the Filipino winners.

“I think one of the characteristics of all the queens who won in Miss International is, they are ready to give their all. And I noticed that with Ate Bea Rose Santiago, with Ate Kylie Verzosa, and all the previous winners of Miss International,” Esguerra told CoverStory, prefixing the names with the Filipino term for “older sister.” “They were really there to fight, and not to play. And I think that’s why we won,” she said.

Santiago and Verzosa are the two most recent Miss International titleholders from the Philippines, who won in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Gemma Cruz was the first to bring home the crown in 1963, followed by Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, and Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. hosted a send-off press conference for Esguerra on Oct. 28 at World Kitchens at the Gateway Mall 2 at the Araneta City in Quezon City, where she received well wishes from her fellow queens.

“I think that Miss International is really looking for the character of the ladies,” she said. “And I think as Filipinos, we are really lovable, and we always show up. In the things that we do, we always give it our all, and we always put on our best smile, regardless of what we’re feeling. I think that’s the reason.”

Esguerra did give her all in the nationals, pulling off the rare feat of winning the Best in National Costume, Best in Swimsuit, and Best in Evening Gown awards. The last time a Binibining Pilipinas queen achieved this was in 2018, when Catriona Gray topped the national pageant and went on to become the fourth Miss Universe winner from the Philippines.

“In everything I do I make sure that I put my whole heart and mind into it, and that transcends because we were able to get all those awards,” Esguerra said. “And also, thanks to my team, because they’ve been really supportive. And I think that’s one of the reasons why I feel so confident. It’s because i have these people who I can really trust.”

Esguerra is scheduled to fly to Tokyo on Nov. 9, two days before the Miss International delegates are expected to arrive, so she can spend time with the Filipino community in Japan, she said. The 63rd Miss International pageant’s final competition will be held at the Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 2 in Tokyo on Nov. 27. 

“I think I deserve to be the next Miss International because I represent something real, raw, and deeply needed in today’s society. And that is a heart, and an authentic self,” Esguerra declared.

She added: “I want to be the voice of all those who wonder if their dreams are possible. And I want to be that voice that tells them that, yes, their dreams are possible, and our dream for that seventh crown for Miss International is possible because we will make it happen.”