Miss Universe Philippines organization has announced the Top 40 delegates who will be competing for the fourth edition of Miss Universe Philippines. The finale will be held on 13th May 2023 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena where Celeste Cortesi Miss Universe Philippines 2022 will crown her successor at the end of the event finale.
In a series of features, lets introduce the Top 40 delegates of Miss Universe Philippines 2023. Kristeen Mae Boccang, representing Apaya, has made it as one of the official contestants of the national competition since Evangeline Fuentes withdrew her participation from the pageant.
Kristeen is a 23-year-old Psychology graduate from Connor, Apayao. In representing the Cordilleran province, Kristeen is an advocate for both Mental Health and Environmental Preservation. She is the first I-Apayao to join the prestigious pageant. A veteran of beauty pageants, she is the current Dayag ti Apayao 2023 Second Runner Up, and was crowned Binibining Conner Tourism 2022 and the Panagbunga Festival Queen 2017.
“I joined Miss Universe because it was a dream of mine to represent my beautiful province of Apayao and introduce it the rest of the Philippines. It would be the very first time for Apayao to join a national pageant and I hope that by joining I would be able to inspire my fellow yApayao and let other people know of where and what Apayao could offer to everyone,” Kristeen said.
Boccang’s advocacy is geared on environment and the protection of the rich natural resources of Apayao which is known as the ‘Cordillera’s Last Frontier of Nature's Richness’. She hopes to intensify the campaign on the traditional lapat system of Apayao or the unwritten law of the Isnag people which is for the seclusion of an area or a property prohibiting anyone to enter, catch or gather any product from the declared area.
The Miss Universe Philippines 2023 winner will succeed Celeste Cortesi Miss Universe Philippines 2022, who represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2022 in January. The winner of the upcoming pageant will compete at the 72nd Miss Universe which will take place in El Salvador in late 2023.