Medical scientist hopes to make impact in MUPH 2025

This year's Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) is touted to be an intense and fierce competition as pageant veterans and titleholders are taking another shot at the crown.

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

But Quirino bet and pageant first-timer Bianca Ysabella Rei Olay Ylanan is not pressured at all, given how tough the MUPH 2025 edition is expected to be.

She, along with other 68 contestants, including Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita Ssen "Winwyn" Marquez, Miss International 2018 first runner-up Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Earth-Air 2023 Yllana Marie Aduana, will vie for the crown on May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

"I think this is what you'll see throughout the competition," declared Bianca at her presscon on how she will bring her A-game into the much-anticipated beauty contest. "Because to me, there's so many of us that give so many different things and it's hard to compare. I don't know you guys do it, how we do it, how you keep up but for me, it's a competition with myself.

"And I think how I do this, puksaan this year, is really just... looking at myself in the mirror and finding content with what I see. (There's) no need for anything else really."

The 25-year-old medical scientist has been rigorously training under beauty camp Aces & Queens to prepare for the finals night.