How Myrna Esguerra turned her wait for Miss International into a year of purpose, growth

A year and a half after her crowning moment, Myrna Esguerra, the Philippines' representative for Miss International 2025, is poised to take the global stage. As the coronation night approaches, the beauty queen from Abra arrives with a heart full of reflections on patience and a strengthened commitment to her chosen advocacy.

For this 24-year-old, what might have seemed like a prolonged wait was, in fact, a vibrant period of growth and dedicated preparation. Far from idle, these months allowed Myrna to deeply immerse herself in the country’s diverse cultures and gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing various communities. She viewed this extended period as a significant advantage, enabling meticulous preparation and ensuring everything was perfectly in place for the international competition.

Myrna proudly recounts how this time allowed her and her team to journey across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, conducting impactful community outreach programs and charity visits. She witnessed firsthand the beauty of Tboli culture, the charm of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island, and the heartwarming smiles of children supported by organizations like World Vision Philippines and SOS Pilipinas.

Beyond engaging with communities, this extended year became crucial for solidifying her advocacy: quality education. Drawing inspiration from her own challenging upbringing, Myrna will champion Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 at Miss International, a pageant renowned for its support of the UN's SDGs.

From an early age, Myrna took on various side hustles to support her family and fund her schooling. From selling candies at school and online products to working in a coffee shop, and later, part-time hosting and freelance modeling, her journey instilled a profound appreciation for education. As the sole graduate with a four-year college degree among her 16 siblings, her personal story fuels her passion for this cause.

She emphasized that refining this advocacy and immersing herself in diverse cultures were central to her year-long preparation. Myrna hopes to leverage her platform to impact children's lives and address barriers to quality education. In this mission, she collaborated with organizations and publishers, including Adarna House Publishing, to donate books and establish literacy programs in marginalized communities, aiming to bridge the learning and reading gap among Filipino children.

For Myrna, embodying her cause is the truest form of beauty in the modern world, one that endures. Having overcome humble beginnings, she firmly believes that true beauty is defined not by one's origin, but by the choices made in life and the purpose served.

As she prepares for the international stage, Myrna also carries with her lessons gleaned from the experiences of the Filipino people over the past year, particularly the enduring value of hope for a brighter future. Despite challenges like recent corruption issues and the devastating effects of major earthquakes, she observed the Filipino spirit remains steadfast, optimistic, and determined.

She noted the unwavering smiles of Filipinos amid calamities, a reflection of the nation's unbreakable camaraderie. These are the values Myrna intends to share with fellow candidates and a global audience, embodying the Filipino spirit herself. “I want to be that smile on the international stage that will remind everyone here in the Philippines that there is always hope,” she expressed.

As she flies to Japan on November 9, Myrna hopes her journey will be remembered for her confidence and authenticity, showcasing how she transformed life's struggles into strengths. She aims to be a testament that achieving dreams requires not just determination, but also humility, gratitude, and a kind heart, embracing every day as an opportunity for self-improvement.

Her participation resonates deeply with her friends and family, including 2025 Binibining Pilipinas First Runner-up Dalia Varde Khattab and 2016 Miss Grand International First Runner-up Nicole Cordoves, who laud her compassionate heart and inspiring story. They believe her powerful narrative will deeply touch and inspire many.

Carrying her advocacies, messages, and dreams, Myrna feels ready to bring home the seventh Miss International crown for the Philippines. Beyond a personal victory, she sees it as a testimony to faith and God’s power, proving that all dreams take time and nothing is impossible with an unwavering heart.

Miss International, one of the world's Big Four pageants, is organized by the International Culture Association in Tokyo, Japan. Its mission extends beyond beauty and intellect, promoting "Love, Peace, and Beauty" and supporting the candidates' advocacies globally. The pageant, which saw its 2020 and 2021 editions canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held this year on November 27 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, broadcast live on the pageant’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The Philippines boasts a proud history at Miss International, having secured six crowns previously through Gemma Cruz Araneta (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013), and Kylie Verzosa (2016).