Gracelle Nicole V. Distura, 22, of Mulanay, Quezon, 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.

Distura also previously lived in Lucena, which is geographically located in Quezon but governmentally independent from the province. The city is one of the sister cities of Baguio City.

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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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Gracelle Distura

Distura is 5’6″ tall. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in culture and arts education at Manuel S. Enverga University in Lucena.

A sports enthusiast, Distura plays volleyball, badminton and lawn tennis. Among the beauty pageant titles she won are Miss Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Calabarzon 2020 and Binibining Bondoc Peninsula 2020.

In February 2021, Distura competed against 21 other candidates at Miss Bikini Philippines 2020. She was unplaced.

Representing Biñan, Laguna, Philippines, Distura was one of the 100 candidates selected to compete for the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 title. She was not able to proceed to the Top 75.

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.