Gazini Ganados

Gazini Ganados
Ganados in 2026
Born
Gazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados

(1995-12-26) December 26, 1995
Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
EducationUniversity of San Jose–Recoletos (BS)
Occupation
  • Model
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Universe Philippines 2019
Hair color
Black
Eye color
Brown
Major competitions

Gazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados (Tagalog: [gaˈsinɪ gaˈnɐdɔs]; born December 26, 1995) is a Filipino beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Philippines 2019. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant where she placed in the Top 20 and won the Best National Costume Award.

Ganados previously competed in Miss World Philippines 2014 where she placed in the Top 13. At Binibining Pilipinas 2019, she won the main title which allowed her to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe. She was the last Binibining Pilipinas winner to compete in that pageant before the national Miss Universe title was transferred to a standalone organization.

Ganados later competed in the first edition of MGI All Stars (2026) where she placed in the Top 5.

Early life and education

Gazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados was born in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, to a domestic partnership between her Palestinian father and Filipino mother who later separated.[1][2] Ganados was raised by her maternal grandparents.[3][4] Ganados and her family moved and have resided in the city of Talisay, Cebu, since she was in sixth grade.[5] She studied tourism management and later earned a certificate for providing health care services from the University of San Jose–Recoletos in Cebu City.[6][7]

Pageantry

Miss World Philippines 2014

Ganados joined Miss World Philippines 2014 and placed in the Top 13.[8][9] Valerie Weigmann won the said pageant.[10][11]

Binibining Pilipinas 2019

Ganados at a courtesy call at the Manila City Hall as Miss Universe Philippines 2019

In March 2019, the Binibining Pilipinas pageant announced Ganados as one of the 40 contestants for the 2019 edition.[12] She represented her hometown of Talisay, Cebu.[13][14]

For the national costume competition, she wore an ensemble inspired by Queen Juana, queen consort of Rajah Humabon of the ancient Rajahnate of Cebu, which was designed to represent of the festivities and meaning of the Sinulog Festival in her home province.[15] In honor of her Middle Eastern roots, she chose to perform a belly dance presentation during the talent competition.[3]

Leading up to the main contest, Ganados won two special awards: Best in Long Gown and Face of Binibini.[16] During the coronation night, she advanced to the semifinals and then progressed to the Top 15. During the question and answer portion of the national pageant, she was asked about what she can do to "get more women in the workplace".[17] In her response, she emphasized her elderly care advocacy and pointed at one's elders as an inspiration to pursue one's ambitions.[18]

At the end of the event, she was named the winner of the title Miss Universe Philippines 2019, the main position contested in the pageant, succeeding Catriona Gray, who won Miss Universe the preceding year. She is the second Cebuana to win the Miss Universe Philippines title, after Pilar Pilapil who won in 1967, and the last to win under the Binibining Pilipinas organization.[19][20]

Following her reign as a national titleholder, she crowned two successors as a result of the transfer of her title to a new organization: Rabiya Mateo in October 2020 for the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, and Hannah Arnold in July 2021 for the Binibining Pilipinas pageant.[21][22][23]

Miss Universe 2019

As Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Ganados represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant.[24]

During the national costume competition, Ganados wore a Philippine eagle-inspired ensemble with two life-sized birds on each shoulder. The creation was hand-stitched with laser-cut patterns.[25][26][27] She debuted her 'phoenix' walk wearing a black tropical-print bikini with a bright yellow cape at the preliminary swimsuit competition.[28][29] She wore a golden gilded gown designed by Cebu-based couturier, Cary Santiago at the preliminary evening gown competition which was patterned after the gown she competed with at her national competition.[30][31]

At the coronation night, she advanced to the Top 20 as one of the wildcards.[32][33] At the opening statement segment, she acknowledged an aging world and recalled her experiences and realizations at an organization that supported elderly care, an advocacy she emphasized.[34][35] She was not called to advance to the next round, although would be named as the winner of the Best in National Costume award. .[36][37] Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa won the said pageant.[38][39]

2026: MGI All Stars

In March 2026, Miss Grand International announced that Ganados entered the inaugural edition of its spin-off MGI All Stars as one of the five Filipino delegates for that edition.[40][41] Her stint was supported by Empire Philippines, the holder of the Miss Universe Philippines franchise.[42] In a media interview, she attributed her decision to join the competition as a means of platforming her relatives stranded in the Gaza Strip, whose repatriation remained in process at the time of her stint due to administrative difficulties with the Philippine government.[43][44]

For the contest, Ganados collaborated with a number of designers, including Mark Bumgarner and Rian Fernandez, who designed her gown for the preliminary and final rounds respectively.[45] The latter design by Fernandez was designed to reflect Ganados's Filipino-Palestinian heritage with design cues inspired by the Palestinian keffiyeh and the Filipino pinukpok.[46]

In the preliminary competition, Ganados emerged as the top performer among Philippine delegates and ranked twelfth among all delegates, allowing her to advance to the Top 18 semifinals.[45] During the finals, she progressed through the swimsuit and evening gown rounds after ranking fifth and second in the segments respectively.[47] During the Top 5 question-and-answer portion, judge Abena Appiah asked her for a practical societal solution for cyberbullying. In her answer, she recalled her experience as a victim of cyberbullying and channeled these experiences in "conquering her fears" before shifting focus on the situation of her family in Gaza.[48]

She was not called to advance to the next round and finished as a Top 5 finalist, with Vanessa Pulgarin of Colombia winning the title.[49]

References

  1. ↑ Tomada, Nathalie (July 28, 2019). "Why Gazini is taking up cudgels for the elderly". Philstar. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  2. ↑ Custodio, Arlo (November 10, 2019). "PH's best bet for back-to-back Miss Universe win". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Prideaux, Sophie (June 10, 2019). "Meet Gazini Ganados: the beauty queen crowned Miss Philippines 2019". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ Atyani, Baker (August 7, 2019). "Philippine beauty queen dreams of Palestine". Arab News. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  5. ↑ Delos Reyes, Sara (June 10, 2019). "11 Things To Know About Gazini Ganados, Miss Universe Philippines 2019!". Metro Style. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ Bartolome, Jessica (June 10, 2019). "Gazini Ganados of Talisay, Cebu is Miss Universe Philippines 2019". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Miss Universe Home". Miss Universe. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  8. ↑ Francisco, Drew (October 7, 2014). "Full rundown: Miss World Philippines 2014 candidates". Rappler. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  9. ↑ "FULL LIST: Winners, Miss World Philippines 2014". Rappler. October 14, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Valerie Weigmann wins Miss World Philippines 2014". Rappler. October 13, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ Smith, Chuck (October 13, 2014). "Valerie Weigmann crowned Miss World Philippines 2014". Philstar. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  12. ↑ de Guzman Caparas, Celso (March 22, 2019). "Returnees, crossovers & newcomers in 2019 Bb. Pilipinas pageant". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Binibining Pilipinas 2019 coronation night". Rappler. June 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ Mendez Legaspi, C. (June 10, 2019). "LIST: Binibining Pilipinas 2019 winners, top 25, special awards, highlights". Philstar. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ Padayhag, Michelle Joy (May 9, 2019). "Cebuana bets showcase national costumes for Bb. Pilipinas 2019". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ Legaspi, Mendez C. (June 10, 2019). "LIST: Binibining Pilipinas 2019 winners, top 25, special awards, highlights". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ "TRANSCRIPT: Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Q and A segment". Rappler. June 9, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  18. ↑ Severo, Jan Milo (June 10, 2019). "FULL TEXT: Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Top 15 finalists' Q&A". Philstar. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Cebu's Gazini Ganados to represent PH in Miss Universe 2019". ABS-CBN News. June 10, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  20. ↑ Severo, Jan Milo (December 9, 2019). "Confirmed: Miss Universe Philippines no longer under Binibining Pilipinas Charities". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  21. ↑ Reyes, Shiela (October 25, 2020). "Rabiya Mateo from Iloilo City is new Miss Universe Philippines". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  22. ↑ Requintina, Robert; Yap, Tara (October 25, 2020). "Iloilo beauty crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  23. ↑ Malig, Kaela (July 15, 2021). "Gazini Ganados bids farewell as last Binibining Pilipinas Universe". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Miss Universe 2019 to be held in Atlanta, Georgia". Rappler. November 1, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  25. ↑ "LOOK: PH's Gazini Ganados dazzles in Miss Universe 2019 national costume". Rappler. December 7, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Cary Santiago shares the making of Gazini Ganados' national costume for Miss Universe". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Cary Santiago shares inspiration behind Gazini Ganados' Miss Universe National Costume, evening gown". Philstar. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  28. ↑ "All the Looks Gazini Ganados Wore to Miss Universe 2019 Preliminary Competition". Preview. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  29. ↑ "WATCH: Gazini Ganados' 'Phoenix Walk' in swimsuit at Miss Universe". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Gazini Ganados sets the stage on fire in Miss Universe preliminary competition". SunStar Philippines. December 7, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Gazini Ganados dazzles in shimmering gold gown during Miss Universe prelims". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Philippines' Gazini Ganados makes it to Miss Universe 2019 semifinals via wildcard". Philstar. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  33. ↑ Aguilar, Krissy (December 9, 2019). "Gazini Ganados enters Miss Universe 2019 Top 20". Inquirer Lifestyle. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  34. ↑ "READ: Gazini Ganados' opening statement at Miss Universe 2019". Rappler. December 9, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Gazini Ganados highlights importance of elderly care in opening speech". Inquirer Lifestyle. December 9, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  36. ↑ "PH bet Gazini Ganados wins Miss Universe national costume award". Rappler. December 9, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  37. ↑ "PH's Gazini Ganados concludes Miss Universe 2019 journey in Top 20". Rappler. December 9, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Miss Universe 2019: 'May every little girl see their faces reflected in mine'". BBC News. December 9, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  39. ↑ "South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi Crowned Miss Universe 2019". Voice of America. December 9, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  40. ↑ Iglesias, Iza (March 14, 2026). "PH's Gazini Ganados confirmed for inaugural MGI All Stars pageant". The Manila Times. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  41. ↑ Purnell, Kristofer (March 13, 2026). "She's back: Gazini Ganados is 4th Filipina at MGI All Stars". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  42. ↑ Adina, Armin P. (June 3, 2026). "Gazini Ganados' advice to next MGI All Stars bet: 'Maghanda ka ng pera'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  43. ↑ Fernando, Jefferson (May 22, 2026). "Gazini returns to pageantry to fight for family in Gaza". Daily Tribune. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  44. ↑ C., Toff (May 22, 2026). "Gazini Ganados hopes to save her family in Gaza, amplify their voices through MGI All Stars". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  45. 1 2 Adina, Armin P. (May 28, 2026). "Gazini Ganados is PH's top performer at MGI All Stars' first prelim round". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  46. ↑ Pasajol, Anne (May 30, 2026). "Gazini Ganados makes it to the MGI All Stars Top 5". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  47. ↑ Pasajol, Anne (May 30, 2026). "Gazini Ganados in, Fuschia Anne Ravena out of MGI All Stars Top 10". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  48. ↑ Malasig, Jeline (June 1, 2026). "Gazini Ganados earns praise for vocal stance on Gaza at MGI All Stars 2026". Interaksyon. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  49. ↑ Iglesias, Iza (May 31, 2026). "Colombia's Vanessa Pulgarin wins MGI All Stars; PH's Gazini Ganados finishes in Top 5". The Manila Times. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
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