Emma Tiglao wins back-to-back Miss Grand International crown for PH

Metro Manila, Philippines - Emma Tiglao of the Philippines was crowned Miss Grand International (MGI) 2025 on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the pageant’s coronation night in Bangkok, Thailand, securing a historic back-to-back victory for the country.

Tiglao succeeded fellow Filipina Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza, who turned over the crown after completing her reign as the country’s first MGI titleholder.

Her victory also marks the first back-to-back win in the pageant’s history.

Sarunrat Puagpipat of Thailand was named first runner-up, followed by Aitana Carolina Jimenez of Spain, Faith Maria Porter of Ghana, and Nariman Battikha of Venezuela.

The 33-year-old Tiglao, a seasoned pageant veteran and television journalist, emerged as a fan favorite throughout the competition.

Tiglao first entered the pageant scene in 2012, finishing as the fourth runner-up in Binibining Pilipinas. She returned to the national stage in 2019, where she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental and later represented the Philippines at Miss Intercontinental 2019 in Egypt, finishing in the Top 20.

Apart from her pageantry experience, Tiglao is also known as a news anchor for Net25.

At the MGI coronation night, Tiglao opened the ceremony strong by winning the Country’s Power of the Year award — a first for the Philippines — which secured her a spot in the semifinals. She went on to impress judges and audiences alike in the swimsuit round, earning a place in the Top 10.

During the pageant’s signature “Stop the War” segment, Tiglao drew from her work as a journalist to advocate for peace and empathy.

In the final question-and-answer segment, the Top 5 candidates were asked how to dismantle the operations of online scammers linked to human trafficking. Tiglao’s response sealed her win.

“As someone who reports these kinds of stories, I want to use the power of balance,” she said. “People must be educated and aware so they won’t be scammed, and governments should enhance their justice systems to hold scammers accountable. Someday, I hope we will live in a peaceful world where no one should deceive just to survive.”