Ilongga wins Miss Eco Intl crown

ILOILO CITY — The Philippines' Alexie Mae Caimoso Brooks, a native of Leon, Iloilo, brought immense pride to the country after winning the Miss Eco International 2025 crown in Egypt.

PH’S THIRD ECO CROWN Alexie Brooks of Iloilo beams after winning the Miss Eco International 2025 during the grand coronation night on April 20, 2025 (Philippine time), at the AlZahraa Ballroom, Hilton Green Plaza, Alexandria, Egypt. PHOTO COURTESY OF MISSOSOLOGY

Brooks bested 39 other candidates in winning the country's third Miss Eco International crown during the coronation night held at Hilton Green Plaza in Alexandria, Egypt, on April 20 (Philippine Time).

"PILIPINAS, WE MADE ITTTTT! MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYONG LAHAT," she wrote in a Facebook post.

Brooks advanced to the Top 5 after her speech in the "Fashion for the Future" segment, where she advocated for sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

"Fashion is not only about glamor or about luxury, it's about thinking about our environment and our contribution towards the environment. At the end of the day, if we want to protect our nature and our environment, we need to stay sustainable, especially in fashion," she said.

In the final Question & Answer, when asked to imagine the world in 2050 and share one thing she hoped would change, Brooks delivered a message of unity and urgency in the fight against climate change.

"We have the same mother, even if we came from different nations [...] our mother is asking for our help. So we must save our planet Earth and we must take care of our Mother Earth," she said.

Brooks also wowed judges and audiences alike, bagging the Best in National Costume award and placing second in the talent competition with a vocal performance.

Her national costume, "Mangayon," paid homage to the Philippine Eagle — a symbol of Filipino strength, resilience, and freedom.

The costume's golden tones, forest-inspired leaf motifs, and crystal embellishments echoed the eagle's royal presence and the fragile ecosystems it represents.

Brooks previously finished in the Top 10 of Miss Universe Philippines 2024, after which she was appointed Miss Eco Philippines 2025.

Brooks now joins the ranks of Cynthia Thomalla in 2018 and Kathleen Paton in 2022 as Filipina titleholders of Miss Eco International, a pageant that highlights environmental awareness, eco-tourism, and sustainability on a global scale.

In her pageant journey, Brooks paid tribute to her late grandmother, Lola Basing, who single-handedly took care of her and became her primary guardian throughout her childhood and formative years. Her lola passed away in September 2024.