Annabelle Mae Tate McDonnell, 21, of Misamis Oriental, Philippines is one of the 50 women vying for the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 crown. Among her competitors is Ghenesis Padilla-Dalayday Latugat, 22, who is representing Baguio City, Philippines.

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Miss Universe Philippines 2022

From 50 candidates, only 30 will be selected to compete in the coronation night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines on April 30, 2022. The winner has big shoes to fill because if she is unplaced at Miss Universe 2022, it will end the Philippines’ 12-year winning streak in Miss Universe.

Beatrice Luigi Gomez, 27, of Cebu City, Philippines was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021 at the Henann Resort Convention Center in Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol, Philippines on September 30, 2021. She finished in the Top 5 at Miss Universe 2021 at the Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel on December 13, 2021.

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Annabelle McDonnell

McDonnell is 5’9″ tall. She was born in the United Kingdom and raised in Iligan City, which is geographically located in Lanao del Norte, Philippines but governmentally independent from the province.

Among the first beauty pageant titles McDonnell won are Miss Iligan 2018 and Miss Lanao Del Norte 2019. In 2019, McDonnell entered De La Salle University’s College of St. Benilde in Manila, Metro Manila to pursue a bachelor’s degree in consular and diplomatic affairs.

“As an abandoned child, I never let tragedy define my destiny,” McDonnell said in her Miss Universe 2022 application video. “I needed to find my voice to survive and I also found that I could also use it to help others thrive.”

Representing Lanao del Norte, McDonnell was Miss Millennial Philippines 2019 second runner-up. She represented Naawan, Misamis Oriental when she won Miss Kuyamis 2022 at the Gingoog City Gymnasium in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental on January 13, 2022.

Armi Kuusela, Zorayda Andam, Rabiya Mateo

On June 28, 1952, Armi Helena Kuusela, then 17, of Finland was crowned as the first ever Miss Universe in Long Beach, California, United States. Months after her coronation, she visited Baguio City where she met Virgilio “Gil” Hilario, then 25, who became her husband.

On May 11, 2001, Zorayda Ruth Andam, then 24, of Baguio City was unplaced when she represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2001 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Rabiya Mateo, then 24, of Iloilo City was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 in Baguio City on October 25, 2020 and finished in the Top 21 at Miss Universe 2020 in Hollywood, Florida, USA on May 17, 2021.