MANILA, Philippines – The crown stays within the Philippines, and it’s Emma Mary Tiglao of Pampanga who made it occur.
On the Miss Grand Worldwide 2025 stage on Saturday night time, October 18, the Philippines achieved back-to-back wins, with Emma now sporting the crown after 2024 queen CJ Opiaza of Castillejos, Zambales.
However even earlier than her grand coronation, the Kapampangan queen feels she already got here full circle, discovering her goal in pageantry and paving the trail for different individuals all through her journey.
Emma’s story
Named after the Christian mom of religion, Emma Mary Francisco Tiglao was born on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1994, in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Raised by her Tatang Antonio and Mommy Isabelita, Emma is described as a good-hearted, obedient, and sort daughter, as shared in a video posted on the sweetness queen’s YouTube channel.
She is the youngest amongst 4 siblings, affectionately referred to as the “Apat na Maria” of their household. Regardless of being the youngest, Emma emphasised in one in all her vlogs that she is way from being spoiled, as they had been introduced up in a family that taught gratitude and contentment.
“Lumaki po ako sa household, sa surroundings na hindi lahat ng gusto ko, lahat ng luho ibibigay. Du’n ko natutunan na kung ano ‘yung nasa harap mo, maging masaya ka, maging grateful ka,” she mentioned.
(I grew up in a household, in an surroundings the place I wasn’t simply given the whole lot I would like. That’s the place I realized to be comfortable and grateful for what you may have.)
These classes stayed together with her all through her life. In a 2021 question-and-answer vlog, she shared how her goals have formed her journey and the way she strives to remain true to herself amid life’s modifications.
One of many challenges she confronted was practically quitting school attributable to monetary difficulties. As an alternative of giving up, she persevered by modeling part-time to assist her research.
Her willpower paid off when she earned her diploma in Worldwide Tourism Administration from Holy Angel College in 2014, the place she persistently made it to the dean’s listing.
On the age of 21, Emma labored overseas as a model-ambassador for a resort in Cambodia. Though the expertise offered her with a steady revenue, it was emotionally difficult to stay away from her household.
Regardless of the struggles, she selected to give attention to the brighter facet, figuring out that her arduous work was for her family members. She shared that the expertise additionally taught her to speak effectively with individuals from totally different nationalities.
“Ako kasi, pinili ko kasi other than sa makakaipon ako by myself (I selected it as a result of other than getting to save lots of my very own cash), I may assist my household. That was my means of giving again to them. It isn’t my duty however it’s my very own alternative,” she shared.
Finally, Emma discovered goal in serving to individuals by working as a TV host and a information anchor in a community within the Philippines.
In the long run, Emma’s optimistic outlook and unwavering perseverance proceed to push her ahead, not just for herself but additionally for the individuals she deeply cares for.
“Ang daming challenges however on the finish of the day, hindi ko ‘yun tinuring na mabigat, kasi ang dami kong natutunan and comfortable recollections mula sa mga challenges na ‘yun,” she mentioned in her mini vlog.
(There have been a variety of challenges however on the finish of the day, I didn’t consider them as heavy, as a result of I realized so much and obtained a variety of comfortable recollections from these challenges.)
A protracted journey of magnificence, perseverance
With greater than a decade of expertise in magnificence competitions, Emma is considered one of many true “Kapampangan Pleasure” in pageant circles. However like many large names, Emma’s story started with small and humble beginnings.
At simply 13, she joined her first magnificence competitors at her native college in Pampanga. That have grew to become her launchpad to take part in different native pageants, which she took on as a facet hustle whereas pursuing her research.
Armed together with her wit, magnificence, and unwavering dedication, she used each alternative to carve an entry level into the world of pageantry. Her first main break got here on the age of 18, when she completed first runner-up in Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012.
From there, Emma continued to make her mark on the nationwide stage. She joined Binibining Pilipinas 2014, the place she completed among the many Prime 15, and within the following yr, competed in Miss World Philippines 2015, the place she had a robust end as 4th Princess.
In 2019, Emma’s identify grew to become a buzz amongst pageant followers throughout the nation when she was topped Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental, incomes the proper to characterize the Philippines at Miss Intercontinental 2019 held in Egypt, the place she positioned within the Prime 20.
After her first main worldwide stint, Emma took a hiatus from the pageant scene, partly as a result of age restrictions imposed by many main competitions. Amid calls from followers for her to return, she uploaded a video reflecting on her journey and expressing gratitude to those that had supported her alongside the way in which.
“Gusto ko pa rin sana lumaban earlier than my age reaches the end line. Sa totoo lang, nag-training na ako final yr (I nonetheless need to struggle earlier than my age reaches the end line. In fact, I skilled final yr),” she mentioned.
“I used to be ready, however God has already opened doorways for me to take a special path, and I’m hopeful that you’ll stay my fixed supply of encouragement and assist as I embark on a brand new journey,” Emma shared to her followers.
That’s the reason when Miss Grand Worldwide Philippines prolonged its age restrict to 35 years outdated, it felt like an ideal signal for the 30-year-old Emma — an opportunity to carry her sport as soon as extra and chase what she had lengthy dreamed of.
On August 24, Emma competed at Miss Grand Worldwide Philippines and finally gained the title. Then two months later, she made a very iconic comeback by reaching back-to-back wins for the Philippines on the Miss Grand Worldwide 2025 competitors — a historic second that solidified her place among the many nation’s most celebrated magnificence queens.
For a Grand reign and past
In a section of Binibining Emma on Internet 25, Emma shared the tales behind the crowns, sashes, and trophies she has earned over her years in pageantry, together with the best lesson she has realized from her journey.
In accordance with her, discovering one’s goal in life shouldn’t be straightforward, however understanding the explanation behind what you do is what helps you persist and push ahead towards all odds.
“Discovering your goal in life shouldn’t be straightforward. It’s a course of filled with challenges and struggles. It is advisable to discover what offers which means to your life. Why are you doing what you’re doing?” Emma emphasised.
In the identical video, she revealed that having a wider platform to assist individuals and share their tales has been a serious a part of her journey as a magnificence queen. Even earlier than incomes her nationwide and worldwide titles, she has been a robust advocate for Individuals Disadvantaged of Liberties (PDLs).
Emma has been vocal concerning the significance of giving second probabilities to these behind bars and people who find themselves usually forgotten or harshly judged by society. Through the pandemic, she carried out a number of outreach applications and donation drives for the PDL residents of the Bureau of Jail Administration and Penology (BJMP) Angeles District Jail.
In a separate vlog, she elaborated additional on this advocacy, explaining the way it started throughout her Binibining Pilipinas journey when prisoners helped create her nationwide costume.
“Sila naman ang tumulong sa’tin final yr. Kung natatandaan niyo po yung nationwide costume natin sa Binibining Pilipinas at Miss Intercontinental, sila po yung gumawa midday. Ibabalik po natin ang tulong na ibinigay nila sa atin,” she defined.
(They helped me final yr. If you happen to bear in mind the nationwide costumes I wore in Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Intercontinental, they made that. So I’m simply giving again in return the assistance they gave me.)
She believes that even the smallest acts of kindness can create numerous smiles and spark gratitude that transcends past bodily contact and spoken phrases.
“Hindi naman importante yung maibalik mo sa kanila yung mga tulong. Ang mahalaga ay masaya ka na nakapagbigay ka ng tulong, at mararamdaman nila na mayroon pa ring nagmamahal sa kanila,” Emma added.
(It’s not necessary that you simply get one thing in return from serving to others. What’s necessary is you’re comfortable that you simply had been in a position to assist out, and so they can really feel that they’re liked.)
As a journalist, Emma’s goal additionally extends to utilizing pageantry as a platform to boost consciousness and name for accountability for crimes dedicated by these in energy.
Through the Miss Grand Worldwide coronation night time, she delivered a strong speech addressing the rampant corruption within the Philippines that continues to assert harmless lives, in addition to the violence and risks that journalists face within the pursuit of fact and repair.
“As a journalist, my coronary heart aches for my nation drowned by corruption, for the lives misplaced to earthquakes and typhoons, and for journalists like Mariam Abu Daqqa from Gaza, who died for fact,” she declared.
She ended on a poignant observe, reminding everybody that humanity doesn’t thrive in concern however in love and peace that begins within the small decisions we make on daily basis.
“Peace begins when mother and father educate kids with compassion, leaders embody humility, and youth discover their goal. Once we stay with empathy and kindness, let love be the grandest voice to peace,” Emma concluded.
Now, as Emma takes on the load of the crown, she does so with an empathetic coronary heart. A reign that’s formed by years of journey by means of challenges and folks’s tales. It carries a broader mission to face as a logo of persevering goals, to amplify voices which might be hardly ever heard, and to rework ardour into goal. – Rappler.com
