The current batch of Mutya ng Pilipinas queens added another jewel to an already impressive haul with Xena Ramos‘ podium finish in the recently-concluded Miss Global 2025 pageant in Thailand.

The architect-actress was proclaimed as fourth runner-up at the final show held at the Mall Lifestyle Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi on Sunday evening, March 9.

Vietnam’s Dinh Nhu Van Nguyen bested 61 other aspirants to inherit the Miss Global crown from 2023 winner Ashley Melendez from Puerto Rico. No competition was held in 2024.

“I couldn’t be anymore grateful. Masaya ako na nagkaroon ako ng contribution sa bansa natin (I am happy to have contributed something for our country),” Ramos told INQUIRER.net in an online interview.

“It’s such a privilege to even compete internationally, and moreso to get a placement, magkaroon ng korona para sa Pilipinas (clinch a crown for the Philippines),” she continued.

Before Ramos, the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant posted wins through her 2024 “sisters.” Liana Barrido became the country’s sixth Miss Tourism International winner, while Alyssa Redondo was second runner-up in the Miss Intercontinental pageant.

Megan Campbell from the 2022 batch became the last-minute replacement for 2024 queen Anne Klein Castro in the World Top Model contest when the latter encountered a hiccup with her visa application. The Philippines posted a second-place finish in the tilt held in Italy.

Ramos was crowned as the first-ever Mutya ng Pilipinas-Charity titleholder in last year’s national pageant, but her title did not come with a guaranteed international competition for her to join.

But last month, the Miss Global Philippines organization announced on social media Ramos’ appointment as the country’s representative in the 2025 international pageant. Mutya ng Pilipinas Pres. Cory Quirino told INQUIRER.net that it was under a special arrangement between the two national entities.

Ramos said she considered it as a blessing to be able to wave the country’s flag on the international stage, and that preparing for the pageant and being able to deliver her onstage performance was not a walk in the park.

“I wanna give a big shoutout to my team, to all of my supporters, to my family back home. I’m just so grateful. My heart is overflowing with gratefulness and pride,” she said.

Newy-crowned Miss Global 2025 Dinh Nhu Vn Nguyen (center) with her runners-up (from left) Lindsay Becker, Keri-Ann Greenwood, Ediris Rivera, and Xena Ramos. MISS GLOBAL ORGANIZATION FACEBOOK PHOTO

Nguyen’s victory appeared to have appeased the Vietnamese fans, who caused an uproar online when the opening production number showed graphics that included the contested “10-dash line” of the Chinese government that encroaches on territories claimed by several countries, incuding Vietnam.

The Miss Global Organization had to issue an apology online while the competition was ongoing to address the stituation. “We sincerely apologize for any offense caused by the graphic material we recently shared. It was never our intention to misrepresent or disregard Vietnam’s sovereignity or the sensitivities surrounding territorial matters,” said the international pageant.

“We deeply respect Vietnam and its people, and we acknowledge the importance of being more careful when seleting visual materials, especially on topics of historical and national significance,” continued the statement.

Joining Vietnam’s Nguyen in her royal court, aside from Ramos, were first runner-up Keri-Ann Greenwood from Jamaica, second runner-up Ediris Rivera from Puerto Rico, and third runner-up Lindsay Becker from the United States.

Shane Tormes remains to be the lone Filipino woman to win the Miss Global title so far. She received her crown in the international pageant’s ninth edition held in Indonesia in 2022.