• The new 2022 queens of Binibining Pilipinas International. All photos: Binibining Pilipinas 2022
    The new 2022 queens of Binibining Pilipinas International. All photos: Binibining Pilipinas 2022
  • Nicole Borromeo, left, wins Binibining Pilipinas International.
    Nicole Borromeo, left, wins Binibining Pilipinas International.
  • Hosts Catriona Gray, left, and Nicole Cordoves.
    Hosts Catriona Gray, left, and Nicole Cordoves.
  • The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Miss Grand International, Samantha Panlilio.
    The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Miss Grand International, Samantha Panlilio.
  • The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Miss Globe, Maureen Montagne.
    The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Miss Globe, Maureen Montagne.
  • Miss Grand International 2021 and 2022, Samantha Panlilio, right, and Roberta Angela Tamondong.
    Miss Grand International 2021 and 2022, Samantha Panlilio, right, and Roberta Angela Tamondong.
  • Miss Globe, Chelsea Fernandez.
    Miss Globe, Chelsea Fernandez.
  • Second runner-up, Stacey Gabriella Daniel.
    Second runner-up, Stacey Gabriella Daniel.
  • The stage before the event.
    The stage before the event.
  • The 2022 Binibining Pilipinas Miss International winner Nicole Borromeo is crowned.
    The 2022 Binibining Pilipinas Miss International winner Nicole Borromeo is crowned.
  • Chelsea Fernandez is crowned as the new Binibining Pilipinas Miss Globe by Maureen Montagne.
    Chelsea Fernandez is crowned as the new Binibining Pilipinas Miss Globe by Maureen Montagne.
  • The 2022 Face of Binibini, Bb. 31 Yllana Marie Aduana of Laguna Province.
    The 2022 Face of Binibini, Bb. 31 Yllana Marie Aduana of Laguna Province.
  • The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Miss International, Hannah Arnold.
    The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Miss International, Hannah Arnold.
  • Best in Swimsuit, Bb. 28 Gabrielle Basiano.
    Best in Swimsuit, Bb. 28 Gabrielle Basiano.
  • Singer Maymay Entrata performs at the beauty pageant.
    Singer Maymay Entrata performs at the beauty pageant.
  • Gabrielle Basiano becomes the new Binibining Pilipinas Miss Intercontinental.
    Gabrielle Basiano becomes the new Binibining Pilipinas Miss Intercontinental.
  • The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental, Cindy Obenita.
    The 2021 reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental, Cindy Obenita.
  • Reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Miss Globe, Maureen Montagne.
    Reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Miss Globe, Maureen Montagne.
  • Miss Grand International, Roberta Tamondong.
    Miss Grand International, Roberta Tamondong.
  • The moment Nicole Borromeo wins Miss International.
    The moment Nicole Borromeo wins Miss International.
  • Best in Long Gown, Bb. 28 Gabrielle Basiano.
    Best in Long Gown, Bb. 28 Gabrielle Basiano.
  • First runner-up, Herlene Nicole Budol.
    First runner-up, Herlene Nicole Budol.
  • Reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Miss Intercontinental, Cindy Obenita.
    Reigning queen Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Miss Intercontinental, Cindy Obenita.
  • Meiji Cruz passes on her crown to Stacey Gabriel as the new second runner-up.
    Meiji Cruz passes on her crown to Stacey Gabriel as the new second runner-up.

Who is Nicole Borromeo, winner of Binibining Pilipinas International 2022?


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

The audience were silent in Quezon City's Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night as they waited, anticipating, the judge's decision at Binibining Pilipinas International 2022.

The lights were dimmed and it took a minute before Cebu's Nicole Borromeo was named the winner by hosts Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss Grand International 2016 runner-up Nicole Cordoves.

The contest is one of the most prestigious in the Philippines, a country well known for its love of beauty pageants.

Popular Filipino band SB19 opened the show, performing the pageant's theme song Win Your Heart while dressed in all-white suits. They also sang hits Bazinga and SLMT.

What is Binibining Pilipinas International?

The national competition has been running since 1964, and sends Filipina representatives to compete in Miss International, one of the Big Four international beauty pageants, which also includes Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss Earth.

Established in 1960 in Long Beach, California, Miss International is a global search for the “most elegant woman in the world”. The pageant, from Japan, is organised by The International Culture Association under the slogan "correct understanding of Japan in the international community".

The reigning queen is pharmacist and actress Sireethorn Leearamwat of Thailand. The 2021 pageant was cancelled because of Covid-19 and has been rescheduled for autumn 2022.

Binibining Pilipinas International also selects winners to participate in minor international pageants: Miss Grand International, Miss Intercontinental and Miss Globe.

There have been five Miss International winners from the Philippines in the past: Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Santiago (2013) and Kylie Verzosa (2016).

Who is Nicole Borromeo?

Borromeo, an interior design student, beat 40 other candidates to the crown. A seasoned pageant queen, she's also held various other titles, including Miss Millennial Philippines 2019, Miss Millennial Cebu 2019, Sinulog Festival Queen 2019 and Reyna Ng Aliwan 2019.

Borromeo impressed judges in the question-and-answer portion of the pageant, when actor Donny Pangilinan asked her how she's a responsible citizen of her home country and to rate herself out of 10.

"As a responsible Filipino citizen, I'd like to give myself a good eight, because I know that there's always room to improve," she replied. "There's so much I don't know. But there's so much I'm willing to learn. And I hope to do that with you."

Other winners on the night

The other winners include Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Gabrielle Camille Basiano, Binibining Pilipinas Globe Chelsea Fernandez and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Roberta Angela Tamondong.

Stacey Daniella Gabriel was named second runner-up, while Herlene Nicole Budol, the crowd favourite, was named first runner-up.

Judges included Miss Globe 2015 Ann Colis and Miss International 2018 first runner-up Ahtisa Manalo.

Miss Universe 2022 beauty queens crowned so far, from Ukraine to the Philippines — in pictures

  • Miss Universe Turkey 2022 is Aleyana Sirin. Photo: Instagram / Aleyanasirinn
    Miss Universe Turkey 2022 is Aleyana Sirin. Photo: Instagram / Aleyanasirinn
  • Miss Universe Italy 2022 is Virginia Stablum. Photo: / Instagram / Virginia.Stablum
    Miss Universe Italy 2022 is Virginia Stablum. Photo: / Instagram / Virginia.Stablum
  • Miss Universe Kyrgyzstan 2022 is Altynai Botoyarova. Photo: Instagram / botoyarova_altynai
    Miss Universe Kyrgyzstan 2022 is Altynai Botoyarova. Photo: Instagram / botoyarova_altynai
  • Evlin Khalifa, 24, is the second Miss Universe Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
    Evlin Khalifa, 24, is the second Miss Universe Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
  • Miss Universe Spain, Alicia Faubel, comes from Alicante and has lived in Dubai and the Philippines. Photo: Instagram / alicia.aliccia
    Miss Universe Spain, Alicia Faubel, comes from Alicante and has lived in Dubai and the Philippines. Photo: Instagram / alicia.aliccia
  • Divita Rai, 23, winner of India's Miss Diva Universe 2022. Photo: Miss Diva
    Divita Rai, 23, winner of India's Miss Diva Universe 2022. Photo: Miss Diva
  • Sophiya Bhujel was crowned Oriflame Miss Universe Nepal 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Nepal
    Sophiya Bhujel was crowned Oriflame Miss Universe Nepal 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Nepal
  • Ndavi Nokeri, winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2022. Photo: Miss South Africa
    Ndavi Nokeri, winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2022. Photo: Miss South Africa
  • Anna Sueangam-iam was named Miss Universe Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Universe
    Anna Sueangam-iam was named Miss Universe Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Universe
  • Balsam Hussein when she was declared Miss Iraq 2022. Azhar Al-Rubaie for The National
    Balsam Hussein when she was declared Miss Iraq 2022. Azhar Al-Rubaie for The National
  • Yasmina Zaytoun after being crowned Miss Lebanon 2022 at Forum De Beirut. EPA
    Yasmina Zaytoun after being crowned Miss Lebanon 2022 at Forum De Beirut. EPA
  • Noky Simbani was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2022. Photo: Instagram / Miss Universe Great Britain
    Noky Simbani was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2022. Photo: Instagram / Miss Universe Great Britain
  • Miss Ukraine 2022 is Viktoria Apanasenko, first runner-up from last year's contest. There was no pageant held this year owing to the war in the country. Photo: Instagram / Viktoria Apanasenko
    Miss Ukraine 2022 is Viktoria Apanasenko, first runner-up from last year's contest. There was no pageant held this year owing to the war in the country. Photo: Instagram / Viktoria Apanasenko
  • Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau has been named Miss Universe Vietnam 2022. Photo: Facebook / Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau
    Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau has been named Miss Universe Vietnam 2022. Photo: Facebook / Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau
  • Filipino-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 in Manila. EPA-EFE
    Filipino-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 in Manila. EPA-EFE
  • Bhutan is marking its pageant debut this year and Tashi Choden is the country's first beauty queen. Photo: Tashi Choden
    Bhutan is marking its pageant debut this year and Tashi Choden is the country's first beauty queen. Photo: Tashi Choden
  • Laksmi Suardana took the Puteri Indonesia 2022 crown, becoming the first contestant from Bali to enter Miss Universe. Photo: Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana
    Laksmi Suardana took the Puteri Indonesia 2022 crown, becoming the first contestant from Bali to enter Miss Universe. Photo: Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana
  • Miss Universe Ghana 2022 Engracia Afua K Mofuman was one of the first women to be crowned in 2022, in order to compete in the 71st Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Engracia Mofuman
    Miss Universe Ghana 2022 Engracia Afua K Mofuman was one of the first women to be crowned in 2022, in order to compete in the 71st Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Engracia Mofuman
  • Hanna Kim, from Seoul, will represent South Korea in the next Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Hanna Ming
    Hanna Kim, from Seoul, will represent South Korea in the next Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Hanna Ming
  • The first and last time the Seychelles competed in Miss Universe was 1995 and so, after that 27-year hiatus, Gabriella Gonthier, from Mahe, will be representing her home country. Photo: Gabriella Gonthier/ Miss University Africa
    The first and last time the Seychelles competed in Miss Universe was 1995 and so, after that 27-year hiatus, Gabriella Gonthier, from Mahe, will be representing her home country. Photo: Gabriella Gonthier/ Miss University Africa
  • Amelia Tu, from Vancouver, winner of Miss Universe Canada 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Canada
    Amelia Tu, from Vancouver, winner of Miss Universe Canada 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Canada
  • Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, 26, is the cousin of Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh. Photo: Instagram / officialmissuniversejamaica
    Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, 26, is the cousin of Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh. Photo: Instagram / officialmissuniversejamaica
Updated: August 02, 2022, 7:42 AM