The Philippines is the Big5 Performer of the Year 2023

Graphics by Krizza Enriquez [@kxxenriquez]

Text by R. Galvez [@the4ofustraveling]

Latinas may have dominated the Big5 Pageants last year by winning three of the four contested crowns but the best performing nation of 2023 is not from the Latin American region. Rather, it is from Southeast Asia and it is considered as a beauty pageant powerhouse. The Philippines, despite failing to win a major crown last year, raked the most scores at the Big5 Ranking and it is officially the Big5 Performer of the Year 2023.

The chunk of Philippines’ score came from the first runners-up finish of Pauline Amelinckx and Yllana Aduana at Miss Supranational and Miss Earth respectively. Meanwhile, Michelle Dee did not just score for landing in the Top 10 of Miss Universe but also from the unprecedented three special awards she took: Best in National Costume, Voice for Change Gold Medal and Spirit of Carnival Award. She is probably the most awarded Miss Universe contestant in recent memory. Nicole Borromeo also contributed significantly to her country’s score by finishing as 3rd runner-up at Miss International.

It is hardly surprising that the Philippines pulled off such a feat in 2023. First and foremost, it is the third strongest country in terms of beauty pageants just behind the superpowers USA and Venezuela. Secondly, it was already awarded Performer of Year title in 5 instances: in 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012 and 1973.

Finishing second for this award is another Southeast Asian country: Thailand! The first runner-up finish of Anntonia Porsild at Miss Universe is the country’s biggest accomplishment in 2023. This was followed by the 3rd runner-up finish of Cora Bliault at Miss Earth, Top 7 placement of Supaporn Ritthipruek at Miss International and Patraporn Wang making it to the semis of Miss Supranational.