THE Philippines will host the 2016 Miss Universe.
This was confirmed by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo in a press conference on Thursday.
Teo also said that the Miss Universe Organization initially had concerns of staging the competition in the Philippines because of the current political landscape, but they were able to talk it through.
She said the much-anticipated beauty pageant is scheduled on January 30, 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
American television host and comedian Steve Harvey will still host the prestigious pageant.
Meanwhile, Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro posted a 15-seconder video of reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach confirming the good news.
"I'm so excited to share with you all that, yes, the Miss Universe is indeed happening in the Philippines and I can't wait to show you all my beautiful country," Wurtzbach said.
The 2017 event will be the third time the Philippines will host the beauty competition.
The country hosted the 1974 and 1994 event where Spanish beauty Amparo Muñoz and Sushmita Sen of India took home the crown, respectively. (Sunnex)