MUPH alumna to represent Australia at Miss International 2026

Another Miss Universe Philippines alumna, Karenza De Leon, is set to represent Australia at the Miss International pageant.

De Leon was crowned Miss International Australia at the national search held at Revesby Workers’ Club in New South Wales on Aug. 30. De Leon will take over from Bella Dela Cruz, her Miss International Australia predecessor, was in the same Miss Universe Philippines batch. She was fielded by the Filipino society in Sydney and represented Lucena City.

De Leon previously competed at the 2025 Miss Universe Philippines pageant where she was fielded by the Filipino society in Australia. She represented Camarines Norte in the competition.

Article continues after this advertisement

She will fly to Japan for the 64th Miss International pageant that will culminate in Tokyo on Nov. 25. She will try to score Australia’s fourth win in the global tilt.

FEATURED STORIES

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT

READ: Queens chime in on Miss International’s ‘no swimsuit’ gala

The Australian national pageant was mounted by Stargazer International Group of Filipino-Australian Julieta De Leon. The competition also crowned other titleholders.

Succeeding Filipino-Australian Alexa Roder as Miss Earth Australia was Helena Ristevski, a Sydney-based model with European ancestry.

Kajol Arishma Chand inherited the Miss Eco International Australia crown from Adriana Gravador, another Filipino-Australian beaity queen who was second runner-up at the 2026 Miss Eco International pageant held in Egypt.

Article continues after this advertisement

Ristevski will try to post Australia’s second Miss Earth victory at the 26th edition of the international pageant later this year. Jessica Lane became the first Australian titleholder when she won at the contest held in Manila in 2024.

Chand will represent Australia at the 2027 Miss Eco International pageant and try to post the country’s first-ever victory at the global competition. /edv