EVERY woman dreams of becoming a beauty queen in her way—a vision that inspires many to chase the coveted pageant crown.
Miss Universe, the world’s most prestigious beauty pageant, remains the ultimate goal for pageant enthusiasts. Over the years, the Philippines has proudly produced four Miss Universe titleholders: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita "Margie" Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018). Yet, Dabawenyos continue to hope for a Dabawenya to claim the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) crown and represent the country on the global stage.
This year, that dream rests on Angeleyh Caballero Pasco, the sole Dabawenya vying for the MUPH 2025 title.
In an interview with SunStar Davao during the Mutya ng Dabaw 2025 sashing and press conference on February 22, Pasco expressed her pride in representing the Davao Region, describing the opportunity as “surreal.”
The 25-year-old beauty queen, admired for her radiant morena complexion, was born in the United States to a Cebuana mother and a Tagalog father. Her family later moved to the Philippines, where she grew up in Panabo City, Davao del Norte—a place she fondly calls home. She also studied in Davao City from elementary to senior high school.
Despite spending part of her life abroad, Pasco embraced her Bisaya roots. Even after returning to the U.S. for college in 2018, she remained deeply connected to Filipino culture.
Now based in Hawaii, she has built a career as a model, actress, and real estate professional. However, MUPH marks her first-ever pageant experience.
She described it as a “mind-blowing” decision, especially since she had never even considered modeling—let alone becoming a beauty queen.
"I never thought someone like me could do this. I didn’t even want to be a model or be in front of a camera," Pasco admitted, sharing how she initially preferred working behind the scenes due to her filmmaking background.
Originally appointed as Hawaii’s representative, she made a life-changing choice to compete under her home province instead.
"I was supposed to represent Hawaii, but Miss Universe Philippines only allows candidates based in the Philippines. I had to choose where I wanted to represent — and I chose Davao del Norte," she said, calling it a “blessing in disguise” since no other representative from the region had been selected.
Despite being a newcomer in the pageant world, Pasco remains confident.
"I know many candidates are veterans, but I bring a fresh perspective. I believe my authenticity will make me stand out," she said.
Her journey is backed by a dedicated team in Hawaii and Manila, as well as the unwavering support of Dabawenyos. She is also a passionate advocate for cultural preservation, aiming to keep Filipino traditions alive, especially among Filipinos abroad.
"I want people to know that being Filipino is something to be proud of," she said.
Adding a personal touch to her pageant experience, Pasco does her hair and makeup, despite having professional stylists and trainers.
As the MUPH coronation night in May approaches, she cherishes the camaraderie with fellow candidates and views each day as a learning experience.
Win or lose, she remains open to future opportunities in pageantry.
"I'm always a person of opportunity. If it's my time, it's my time," she said.
To aspiring beauty queens, Pasco shared a simple yet powerful message: "Embrace that you are already a queen, no matter what pageant you're joining. Believe you're a winner, and it will manifest in everything you do."
The Miss Universe Philippines 2025 coronation night is set for May in Manila, where Pasco hopes to make the Davao Region proud—and possibly bring home the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown. RGL