MAXINE Medina of Quezon City will be the country's representative to the 2016 Miss Universe pageant.
The 25-year-old Medina was crowned Miss Universe-Philippines around 1 a.m. Monday, April 18, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The local crown was personally handed by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who returned to the country last week to attend the pageant.
Medina, who stressed the importance of education in the question and answer portion, is an interior designer and a model.
She also won the Miss Philippine Airlines special award.
The other winners include Baguio City native Kylie Versoza (Bb. Pilipinas-International), Joanna Eden (Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational), Jennifer Hammond (Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental), and Nicole Cordoves (Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International).
Nichole Marie Manalo, the youngest sister of actress and former beauty queen Bianca Manalo, was hailed Bb. Pilipinas-Globe, while Angelica Alita and Jehza Huelar were named first and second runners-up, respectively.
Versoza, a crowd favorite, also took home the Miss Photogenic and She's So Jag Jeans special awards.
This year's Binibining Pilipinas coronation night was hosted by actors KC Concepcion and Xian Lim.
The 2016 Miss Universe 2nd runner-up Olivia Jordan joined the judges table alongside ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes and television actor Ian Veneracion. (Sunnex)