The Poll Princess

 And the People’s Choice awardee is . . .

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

If you ask me who among these seven delegates needs to really push the envelope, it’s Clarissa Westram of Cotabato Province.

She needs to, at least, move up to the third place to qualify for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Her other chance is to also top the Swimsuit poll on the Maya app, to qualify as a Wild Card. While the Miss Universe IMG era has four slots, here in the MUPh 2026, there is only one!

The tricky part in the Pina Beauty poll is making clean sales/purchases all the time. Any returned or refunded product will be deducted from a delegate’s accumulated score.

If Adela Mae Marshall holds on to the top spot til the final counting, then she’ll be the people’s anointed automatic placer.

If however, Nicole Cruz of Sarangani pushes for the Top Spot in the end, then she’ll really be the lucky one. She will walk away with a placement – whether as runner-up or titlist – automatically, as the poll rules suggest.

If, on the other hand, it would be Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province who would end up being the People’s Choice awardee, then her place is truly assured. She qualifies from there; and is also assured of a final round placement – bringing her very, very close to the major crown. Plus, she frees up her spot from the selection committee’s choices, if she’s in their list.

Fans and supporters of these delegates must also be intentional about their soap bar purchases because, as aforementioned, returns and refunds result in score deductions.

The 4th (Charieze Lianne Cacayorin of Ilocos Norte), 5th (Lyneree Montero Yodong of Mountain Province), and 6th placer (Jayka Noelle Munsayac of San Jose, Negros Oriental) have all qualified in the Top 20 as placers in the Maya app voting, that was announced earlier this week.

And should, they too, push for the top spot ‘til the voting closes, we know what will happen.

Tonight’s the night! And the People's Choice awardee will be revealed.

Catch the exciting Miss Universe Philippines 2026 coronation night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Gates open as early as 5pm. Stay tuned!

P.S.

Team Bahay can catch the encore telecast the morning after, May 3, 9 am on TV5.