The Miss Universe Philippines organization is all set to host the coronation for Miss Universe Philippines 2021 where delegates from all over the country will participate and compete for the national crown and win a chance to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2021. The winner will succeed Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo, who represented the country at Miss Universe 2020 in the United States and finished in the Top 21 at the end of the event finale.
Sharifa Akeel is one of the divas who has been rumored to join the pageant and compete for the title as she seems like a potential candidate to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe. Born in Cotobato, Sharifa is of Qatari-Flipino descent. She is 23-years-old and stands 173 cm tall. She holds a degree of bachelor's in Elementary Education from the Notre Dame of Salaman College, and presently works as Human Relations Officer at the Congressional office of the Province of Sultan Kudarat.
The diva is not new to the world of beauty pageants as she holds the titles of Mutya ng Sultan Kudarat 2016, Mutya ng Pilipinas 2018, and Miss Asia Pacific International 2018. She has worked with some of the famous designers and photographers in the Filipino industry, which has not only helped her to gain confidence and experience but also understand the process and gain some insights into the fashion and modeling world.
At a very young age, the diva understood the importance of hard work and determination as she helped her grandmother by planting vegetables, corn, and rice to harvest and sell at the market. On the way home, she would look for twigs and small branches to fire up the stove they’ll use to cook their meals. To make ends meet, she sells woven products and traditional oil which her grandmother taught her to do, and uses the money she earned to buy food and as an allowance for her studies.
The beauty queen always mentioned that her grandmother was her inspiration and strength and every time she was on-stage, she would think of her and smile thinking that she’d made her proud. In an interview, she had mentioned that she aspired to be a nurse but because of the financial issues, she couldn’t afford to pursue her career in the nursing field, but she equally loves children and is happy with where she is today because she enjoys teaching. Because of her determination, perseverance, and the support of the people around her, she was able to earn her college degree.
Sharifa dreams of giving her loved ones a better life and she wasn’t discouraged by her family background, her ethnicity, her social status, nor her looks. She found beauty and strength in diversity. She wants to inspire those who are experiencing hardships to focus on their dreams and to never give up and believes that with her story of hardships to share, she will be able to help someone.
The diva is strong, beautiful, experienced, and confident about herself, which is why she is considered as one of the favorites for the title. Sharifa understands the importance of having an opportunity and how to use it to make an impact on society. Thus, she would be a perfect candidate for the Philippines at Miss Universe 2021. If she decides to participate, she could be a strong candidate for the Miss Universe 2021 title as well.