Many people of Filipino heritage have made their home overseas across different countries around the world. Let’s get to know some of overseas Filipino beauties who have represented their nations in Miss Universe. These overseas Filipino beauties have assimilated to the local culture and society of their countries while also acknowledging and connecting with their Filipino heritage.
Cecilia Undasan won the title of Miss Singapore 1970. She comes from a Singapore-born Filipino family; her father is Filipino while her mother is mixed Filipino and Portuguese Eurasian. Before winning the national title, Cecilia worked as a professional dancer/entertainer with her sisters. She became Singapore's representative in the Miss Universe 1970 pageant, where she participated in the Queen of Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan, and the actual Miss Universe pageant in Miami, Florida. For her national costume, Cecilia wore the sarong kebaya, a traditional attire among local Singaporean women.
Renette Cruz won the title of Miss Canadian Universe 1996. Originally from Zamboanga City, Philippines, Renette moved to Canada at a young age with her family, and resided in Vancouver. At the time of winning the national title, she was working as a business consultant. Renette soon represented Canada in the Miss Universe 1996 pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Leilani Dowding won the Miss Great Britain Universe 1998 pageant. Born in London to a British father and a Filipino mother, Leilani was pursuing an economics degree before winning the national title. She soon became Great Britain's delegate in the Miss Universe 1998 pageant held in Honolulu, Hawaii. For her national costume, she wore a Western-style formal attire composed of a checkered coat and a top hat. After the pageant, Leilani pursued a modeling career back in the United Kingdom and has since appeared in a number of reality TV shows.
Kirby Ann Basken won the title of Frøken Norge 2007 - Miss Universe (Miss Norway). Born in Lørenskog to a Norwegian father and a Filipino mother, she was working as a model in both Norway and the Philippines before winning the national title. She soon represented Norway in the Miss Universe 2007 pageant held on Mexico City, Mexico. For her national costume, she wore the bunad, the folk attire among Norwegians. After the pageant, Kirby appeared on several magazines while continuing her career as a model and TV hostess in both Norway and the Philippines.
Riza Santos won the title of Miss World Canada 2011. Born and raised in Calgary to Filipino immigrant parents, Riza has spent time in the Philippines participating in a reality TV show and appearing in local films, TV shows, magazines and advertisements. Before winning the national title, she was a student pursuing an engineering degree and has completed training in the Canadian Armed Forces. The voluptuous, porcelain-skinned beauty soon represented Canada in the Miss World 2011 pageant held in London, United Kingdom, where she was among the Top 30 contestants. She soon competed in the Miss Universe Canada 2013 pageant where she finished as 1st runner-up. However, 24 hours later, the pageant organizers announced that Riza was the actual winner and that there was a typographical error in the computation of the results. She was soon correctly crowned as Miss Universe Canada 2013 and became Canada's representative in the Miss Universe 2013 pageant held in Moscow, Russia. For her national costume, Riza depicted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or also known as the “Mounties”) wearing their iconic uniform and waving the Canadian flag.
Tania Dawson won the title of Miss Universe New Zealand 2016. Born and raised in Auckland, she comes from a multicultural family; her father is New Zealander while her mother is originally from the Philippines. Before winning the national title, she was working as a teacher in media studies and drama. The stunning, mixed-race beauty became New Zealand's delegate in Miss Universe 2016 pageant held in Manila, Philippines. For her national costume, Tania depicted Papatūānuku, the spirit of mother earth in indigenous Māori culture and tradition.
Angeline Flor Pua won the Miss Belgium 2018 pageant. Born and raised in Antwerp, she comes from a Filipino immigrant family; her father is of Filipino and Chinese descent while her mother is Filipino. Fluent in Dutch, English, Filipino and French, she was a student pilot when she won the national title. She soon represented Belgium in the Miss World 2018 pageant held in Sanya, China. During the pageant, Angeline wore a national costume inspired by Armistice Day together with Belgium’s national flower, the poppy. During the pageant finals, she was announced as among the Top 30 contestants. After finishing her reign as Miss Belgium 2018, she was eventually appointed by the Miss Belgium Committee to become Belgium's delegate in the Miss Universe 2019 pageant held in Atlanta, Georgia. During the pageant, Angeline wore a swan-inspired costume to represent the city of Bruges, which is considered the most romantic city in Belgium where the swan is a symbol of prestige and everlasting love.
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