Miss Universe Philippines 2022, the 3rd edition of the Miss Universe Philippines, will be held on 30th April 2022 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Bay City, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. Beatrice Luigi Gomez of Cebu City will crown her successor at the end of the event finale.

Shaira Aliyah Diaz has made it to the Top 50 at the national competition representing San Pablo, Laguna. Diaz is 21-years-old and was born and raised in San Pablo. She is passionate about all things fashion and owns a clothing store online.

Shaira feels strongly about discriminatory practices against skin colour and highlighted her own struggles with the same. Talking about her journey, she shared, “Joining Miss Universe has always been a dream to me. However, it always seemed as an unattainable one. I grew up in a generation with messed up beauty standards. For the Filipinos, my tanned skin wasn’t at all pretty. Not to mention I was far from being tall but the I realized if no one is going to stomp on societal beauty standards and stand against colourism, then people like me would never be given an opportunity.”

“I deserve to be the next Miss Universe because this is not just my fight, this is the fight of millions of Filipinos morenas whose voice have been muted for so long. Its about time we do away with colourism. Its about time we stopped thinking that only the tall people conquer the universe. Its about time we give women like me a platform in the Philippine pageant industry,” she continued.

Kudos to Diaz for showing courage and paving way for women of colour in rigid Philippine pageant industry. Let us know what you think of this beautiful candidate from the city of seven lakes.