Angelica Lopez ends Miss Grand International 2026 journey with Top 25 finish; Tanzania wins crown
(UPDATED) Angelica Lopez ended her Miss Grand International 2026 journey with a Top 25 finish, closing the Philippines’ campaign for a historic three-peat.
Tanzania’s Jihan Dimack won the title, with Ecuador’s Shyare Andrade hailed as 1st runner-up, Netherlands’ Beau Megan Goos as 2nd runner-up, Guatemala’s Ximena Carrillo as 3rd runner-up, and Vietnam’s Emoura Pham as 4th runner-up.
Meanwhile, the remaining Top 11 candidates were collectively honored as 5th runners-up: Côte d’Ivoire’s Marlène Kouassi, Cuba’s Alyanni Gómez, Mexico’s Pety Juárez, Puerto Rico’s Vicky Carbonell, Thailand’s Patthama Jitsawat, and Venezuela’s Lady Di Mosquera.
Lopez represented the Philippines with the hope of following in the footsteps of CJ Opiaza and Emma Tiglao, who secured the country’s two consecutive victories.
But her strides fell short of ousting some of the pageant’s biggest bets for the crown.
Before her elimination, Lopez took the Best in National Costume award, alongside Pakistan’s Zara Younus, Thailand’s Patthama Jitsawat, and Hong Kong’s Xuebing Liu.
During the national costume competition, she showcased her “Ang Mangkukulam” ensemble designed by Patrick Isorena. The ensemble featured a towering figure behind her as she portrayed a doll pierced with needles, bringing the dark imagery of mangkukulam to life.
She also walked the preliminary competition carrying the aura she was already known for, from swimsuit to the evening gown round, where Lopez showcased a Ryan Ablaza Uson creation.
Although Lopez fell short of a place among the finalists, her latest international appearance added another chapter to a pageant career that has taken her through several national and international competitions.
She had already represented the Philippines at Miss International 2024. She also finished as first runner-up at Miss Asia Global 2022 and reached the Top 16 at Miss Universe Philippines 2022.
Last August, Lopez was crowned Reina Filipinas Grand International, earning the opportunity to represent the country at Miss Grand International 2026.
The country’s MGI journey has not always been a straight path to the crown. For years, Filipino delegates came close, reached the upper ranks of the competition, or finished as runners-up, while others ended their campaigns without a placement.
That changed in 2024, when CJ Opiaza became the Philippines’ first Miss Grand International titleholder, with Emma Tiglao immediately following the achievement.
Her campaign may have ended early, but it marked another international appearance for a Pinay who dared to raise the Philippines’ legacy as a pageant powerhouse.