Emma Tiglao and Kirk Bondad bring double victory for the Philippines at Miss Grand International and Mister International pageants in Thailand

It’s a back-to-back win for the Philippines! Pageant veteran turned broadcast journalist Emma Mary Francisco Tiglao has been crowned Miss Grand International 2025, continuing the country’s winning streak at the prestigious beauty pageant held in Thailand.

The stunning Pampanga native succeeds Christine Julian Opiaza, who took over the Miss Grand International 2024 title after the previous winner was dethroned. With her win, Tiglao cements her place in Philippine pageant history, showing that perseverance and experience truly pay off.

Emma, 30, is no stranger to the spotlight. Her pageant journey spans over a decade—starting with Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012, where she finished first runner-up, followed by Binibining Pilipinas 2014 as a semi-finalist, Miss World Philippines 2015 (4th runner-up), and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019, where she proudly represented the country at Miss Intercontinental 2019.

Before venturing into news and broadcasting, Tiglao was one of the country’s most sought-after runway and commercial models. Her poise, confidence, and eloquence on stage proved that beauty queens can conquer both pageantry and the newsroom.

In another triumph for the Philippines, Filipino-German model Kirk Bondad took home the Mister International 2025 crown, also held in Bangkok. Bondad bested 40 international candidates, with Lebanon’s Saadedine Hneineh and Korea’s Seung-ho Cho finishing as first and second runners-up, respectively.

During the Q&A segment, Bondad wowed the judges with his heartfelt answer on child protection and education, emphasizing their importance in shaping future leaders. The 29-year-old model earlier placed in the Top 20 of Mr. World 2024, further proving his consistency on the global stage.

With back-to-back wins from Tiglao and Bondad, the Philippines once again takes center stage in the international pageant scene—showing that Filipino beauty, talent, and heart continue to shine brighter than ever.