Markus Castro
At the coronation night of Miss International 2025 — held on November 27 in Tokyo — Catalina Duque Abreu of Colombia was crowned the new titleholder, succeeding last year’s winner, Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy of Vietnam.
Catalina’s victory marks a meaningful milestone: she becomes the fourth Colombian woman to win the Miss International crown.
More than just a beauty queen, Catalina has long framed her platform around social impact. Even before Tokyo, she publicly stated that she believes a pageant reign should “100% be based on the social mission” — championing the idea that contests like Miss International should stand for service, purpose, and positive change.
Her win is a signal that modern pageantry continues evolving: the crown is not only about glamour and poise — but also about using one’s influence to make a difference.
Miss International 2025 List of Winners
Table of Contents
- Miss International 2025: Colombia
- 1st runner-up: Zimbabwe
- 2nd runner-up: Bolivia
- 3rd runner-up: Indonesia
- 4th runner-up: Philippines
A Strong Showing from the Philippines — Myrna Esguerra
Representing the Philippines was Myrna Esguerra, who entered the competition as the country’s official candidate after winning Binibining Pilipinas International 2024.
Throughout the pre-pageant period, Myrna was considered among the top contenders. In early rounds by pageant watchers, she ranked as high as 2nd in the hot picks list — just behind Catalina.
On coronation night, Myrna delivered a performance that resonated: she made it through swimsuit and evening gown segments, secured a spot in the Top 20, moved on to the Top 10, and ultimately finished as 4th runner-up — a remarkable feat for the Filipina contender.
Beyond pageant skills, Myrna has also been vocal about her advocacy — especially on environmental preservation and sustainable development. Even before Tokyo, she had dedicated herself to cleanup drives across the Philippines and worked with community groups focused on sustainability.
Her journey from a small province — with self-funded studies and humble beginnings — to standing on one of pageantry’s global stages is both inspiring and a strong reminder: resilience, authenticity, and advocacy matter.
What This Means for Global Pageantry
The outcome of Miss International 2025 underlines a few key trends in contemporary beauty pageants:
- Advocacy and Purpose: Winners like Catalina — and strong finishers like Myrna — highlight that pageants are increasingly being seen as platforms for social impact, not just beauty or glamour.
- Diverse Backgrounds, Global Platform: Contestants now come from varied backgrounds and provinces — the rise of queens like Myrna shows that even “small-town” candidates with passion and drive can shine on the world stage.
- Shifting Standards of Beauty & Representation: With winners from multiple countries and backgrounds, there’s a growing recognition that beauty pageants are evolving to value individuality, mission, and voice, on top of traditional “beauty” standards.
Final Thoughts: A Celebration of Beauty, Purpose, and Hope
Catalina Duque Abreu’s crowning as Miss International 2025 represents both personal success and a victory for Colombia, but its importance reaches even further. It underscores that pageants honor those who combine vision, heart, and social responsibility.
At the same time, Myrna Esguerra’s strong finish powerfully demonstrates how grit, advocacy, and authenticity enable even those from humble origins to excel on the world stage and represent their nations with pride. Her story inspires hope among pageant fans in the Philippines and around the world.
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Read: Miss Grand International 2025 Top 5 Q&A Segment: Complete Transcript
