Carmela Diane B. Doma, 27, of Magallanes, Sorsogon, 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.

Founded in 1567, Magallanes was named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The municipality and Baguio City are around 816km apart.

.

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.

.

Carmela Doma

Representing Magallanes, Doma competed against 19 other candidates at Miss Bicolandia 2018 at the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines on September 5, 2018. She was unplaced.

On August 23, 2019, Doma failed to land in the Top 5 at Mutya ng Ibalong 2019 at ICR Bitano in Legazpi, Albay, where she competed against 19 other candidates. On September 11, 2019, she also failed to land in the Top 5 at Miss Bicolandia 2019 at the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, where she competed against 17 other candidates.

In 2020, Doma graduated magna cum laude from Sorsogon State College in Magallanes with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She recently shared, “Just being who you are makes you uniquely beautiful.”

“You do not have to possess something extravagant or extraordinary,” Doma continued. “All of us women are uniquely beautiful in our own aspects (sic). Our individualities makes (sic) us shine. ”

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.