Shanelyn Bayson, 21, of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, 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.

One of the sister cities of Baguio City is San Carlos, Negros Occidental. Victorias City and San Carlos are around 122km apart.

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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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Shanelyn Bayson

Bayson attended Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in Talisay, Cebu, Philippines. One of the first beauty pageant titles she won was Miss Victorias Valentines 2016.

On March 21, 2019, Bayson competed against 11 other candidates at Kadalag-an Festival Queen 2019 in Victorias City, Negros Occidental. She was runner-up to Maria Cristel Antibo, 23, who is now representing Negros Occidental at Miss Universe Philippines 2022.

In 2021, Bayson was one of the 22 candidates who competed for the eight titles at stake at Miss Queen of Hearts Philippines 2021. She was not able to make it to the Top 10.

“Our strength is our voice that speaks up for the empowerment of everybody,” Bayson recently shared. “Now, let this be the time for all the women to hear how grateful the universe is of our existence. Our beauty is rooted in our soul.”

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.