Get to know Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Top 40 Finalists (Part 2)

Karen Joyce Olfato Age: 25

Height: 5’7″ Hometown: Batangas

She studied BS Industrial Engineering at the University of the Philippines Los Baños Featured Section. Karen was crowned as Miss Tanauan 2023 winner. During her education, Karen did her Internship in Quality Assurance Services Department at a manufacturing company and worked at a global professional services company.

Kimberly Escartin Age: 25

Representing: Southern Leyte

She lived in London for 12 years, she came back to the Philippines to make her dream come true, to be part of the Miss Universe Philippines 2023. She learned more about Filipino culture and explore where I came from. My advocacy is the prevention of teenage pregnancy. She takes this seriously because early pregnancy is one of the pressing issues Filipino youths are facing today. And the Philippines has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates among the ASEAN member countries. My goal is to spread awareness of her advocacy. She wants to empower young women to take care and protect themselves, so they can have the opportunity to live a full life and to be able to make choices for themselves.”

Kimberlyn Jane Acob Age: 24

Height: 5’8″ Representing: Isabela

Advocacy: Education

Klyza Castro Age: 23

Height: 5’9″ Hometown: Davao Oriental

Klyza has a degree in AB Political Science from the Ateneo de Davao University. She is a Sustainable Development Goals Ambassador. Klyza won Mutya Pilipinas Asia Pacific International 2019 and she represented the Philippines at Miss Asia Pacific International 2019 where she placed Top 25 semi-finalists.

Krishnah Marie Gravidez Age: 22

Height 5’7″ Hometown: Baguio

A 21-year-old civil engineering student, Krishnah Marie Gravidez, was crowned Miss Baguio-Breathe 2022 Saturday on August 27, at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. She is an advocate of Youth Empowerment in her community in Baguio City.

Laicka Implamado Age: 26

Height: 5’7″ Representing: Occidental Mindoro

Advocacy: Preservation of natural and cultural heritage especially the Mangyan and tamaraw.

Louise Joy Gallardo Age: 21

Height: 5’6″ Representing: Palawan

Advocacy: Tourism Information, Education, and Communication for Alternative Livelihood.

Mary Angelique Manto Age: 26

Height: 5’7″ Hometown: Pampanga

Manto is a 25-year-old vlogger, social media influencer, model, and TV host. Angelique hails from Lubao, Pampanga, and is a former UAAP courtside reporter. Angelique studied AB Communication Arts at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, Philippines. Professionally, she is a former courtside reporter covering basketball for ABS-CBN sports and action. She also worked as a fashion model and her social media boasts over 110,000 followers. She has been the host of the vlog life lately which offers weekly videos about healthy living and culture. Angelique is a former Miss Lubao 2014 and Miss Pampanga 2014 winner. She will be fielded by Team GLXY Management camp.

Mary Eileen Gonzales Age: 22

Height: 5’5″ Representing: Negros Occidental

Eileen is a former actress at Star Magic and former Miss Global Philippines 2018. Her first movie was “The Mistress” where she played the role of the younger sister of Bea Alonzo’s character. Her idol beauty queen is Catriona Gray. Eileen’s advocacy is promoting awareness regarding solo parenting. She is currently an entrepreneur with her skincare brand, Love, Mary Skin Naturals.

Michelle Daniela Marquez Dee

Age: 27 Height: 5’10” Hometown: Makati City

Michelle was born in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines on April 24, 1995, to businessman and former actor Frederick “Derek” Dee and to actress, author, former supermodel, and beauty queen Melanie Marquez, who was previously Miss International 1979. She is of Chinese descent from her father. She grew up loving farm animals and enjoying the countryside, both in Utah and in her family’s hacienda in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines. She attended De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines, and graduated with a degree in psychology. She competed at Miss World 2019 in London where she finished as the Top 10 semifinalist. While growing up with two autistic siblings, has made her empathetic toward people with special needs. It has inspired her to work with children with autism as the Goodwill Ambassador for Autism Society Philippines since 2019. She aspires to solve or help get the message across to people with autism. She has founded a series of businesses such as Drip Therapy Co., WHATFUTURE, and INVIRO INC. That focus on health, multi-media creation, and WEB3 adoption respectively. She is also the President of Inner Peace Foundation, which was founded in 1981 by her grandmother Regina Dee (former director of Chinabank Corporation for over 20 years) and has since taken charge after her father’s accident. Last year Michelle joined Miss Universe Philippines 2022 where she placed as the 1st Runner-Up to Celeste Cortesi.

Nikki Justine Breedveld Age: 26

Height: 5’7″ Hometown: Taguig

She works as a Lawyer and Teacher. An advocate of Lupus warrior and Mental Health Advocate.

Pauline Amelinckx Age: 27

Height: 5’6″ Representing: Bohol

Pauline has earned her bachelor’s degree in International Studies and a major in European Studies at the Cebu Doctors’ University in Mandaue City. Pauline advocates using art and creating a children’s coloring book to raise awareness in kids, at an earlier age, regarding the environment they live in where she hopes that the awareness will in turn develop love and a sense of protection in the kids. She competed at Miss Universe Philippines 2020 where she placed 3rd Runner-Up and Miss Universe Philippines 2022 winning Miss Universe Philippines Charity 2022 crown.

Princess Anne Marcos Age: 24

Height: 5’6″ Hometown: Bulacan

She studied Bs Industrial Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Princess is a strong advocate of entrepreneurship in agriculture, and women’s empowerment.

Rein Hillary Carrascal Age: 25

Height: 5’6″ Representing: Sorsogon

A pageant veteran with many accomplishments:

Generation East Sta. Lucia Malls – Grand Winner

Mutya ng Casiguran Sorsogon 2017

Daragang Magayon 2018

Mutya ng Taguig 2018

Miss Bicolandia 2019 (1st-runner-up)

Mutya ng Ibalong 2019 (1st-runner up)

Samantha Alexandra Panlilio Age: 27

Height: 5’5″ Hometown: Cavite City

Born and raised in Cavite, Samantha has worked as Senior Consultant for OLN Inc in Los Angeles, California. She had finished her Bachelor’s degree in information management from the University of California Irvine (UCI) in Irvine, California, United States. She graduated with an undergraduate research assistant at the UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business. From January 2009 to March 2013, she led a team of Habitat for Humanity International volunteers to address the issues of poverty by helping rebuild houses and communities in China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. She previously won Bibinibing Pilipinas Grand International 2021 which allowed her to represent the Philippines at Miss Grand International 2021 in Thailand where she was unplacement.

Shayne Glenmae Maquiran Age: 25

Representing: Capiz

Vanessa Matzeit Age: 25

Height: 5’5″ Representing: Negros Oriental

Advocacy: Women’s healthcare

Vanessa is a Filipina-German survivor of Endometriosis and can speak 5 languages fluently. She can speak French German English Filipino & even Cebuano. She is a Business Administration degree holder & has worked in Germany since she was only 15. She has worked as a hotel clerk and has experienced scrubbing toilets as part of her training, became a flight stewardess, and also waited tables at a café (waitress) to make both ends meet in Germany during the pandemic. She advocates for Accessible Women’s Health Care and hopes to represent all the hardworking women in the Philippines who are constantly pursuing their lifelong dreams.

Vanessa Tse Wing Age: 26

Representing: Guimaras

She is student at University of the Philippines.