Philippines' Anita Rose Gomez takes 1st runner-up prize in Miss Asia Pacific International 2025
PH bet Anita Rose Gomez won first runner-up at Miss Asia Pacific International 2025, as Isabela Fernandes of Brazil took home the highly coveted crown.
The winners were announced at the pageant's coronation night held at the Cebu Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Making up the rest of the Top 5 were Bowonrat Maneerat of Thailand as second runner-up, Jana Janssens of Belgium as third runner-up, and Delilah Elmira Wildeboer of the Netherlands as fourth runner-up.
Aside from her first runner-up prize, Gomez also won Best in Swimsuit at the preliminaries. Brazil's Fernandes clinched the Best in Evening Gown title, with Thailand's Maneerat winning Best in National Costume.
In the final Q&A portion, Gomez was asked, "This year's theme is 'Transformation journey, her story ablaze.' When the fire of transformation dies down and only the embers remain, what will continue to keep your story burning bright?"
Gomez replied, "I think what will keep its burning is the legacy that you will leave behind. I grew up below the edge of comfort and I experienced so many challenges in my life. But those challenges I learned to turn my struggles into my strength, and my pain into my purpose. And through that, I was able to cope up and I was able to be the woman that I am today: grounded, driven, and full of heart. And I believe that through the legacy that I will leave, that no matter what challenges you've been through, no matter your beginning, if you're dedicated and if you put your heart into doing something, you will definitely succeed."
The last time a Filipino won the Miss Asia Pacific International crown was in 2018, with Sharifa Akeel.
This year's edition—the pageant's 42nd—took an unexpected turn due to the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked portions of Cebu, including the Radisson Blu Cebu Hotel, where the pageant's gala night was held. As delegates walked down the stage wearing evening gowns, the earthquake struck, causing the ladies and individuals in the audience to duck under tables, as seen in a video posted by a member of the audience.
In the days following the massive tremor, organizers of the pageant adjusted the itinerary to include various relief missions to help the quake victims.
