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Jan Milo Severo - Philstar.com
February 2, 2026 | 12:49pm
Pageant veteran Nicole Borromeo is one of the ladies representing Cebu in this year's Miss Universe Philippines. The other is Apriel Smith, representing Cebu City.
Nicole Borromeo via Instagram
MANILA, Philippines — Miss International 2023 third runner-up Nicole Borromeo returns to pageantry as she will represent Cebu province in the upcoming Miss Universe Philippines 2026.
Nicole represented the Philippines at the Miss International 2023 pageant after winning Binibining Pilipinas-International 2022. Venezuela's Angela Rubio was crowned with the 2023 title in the pageant held in Japan.
Nicole, along with Apriel Smith, will represent Cebu province and Cebu City, respectively.
Both beauties were appointed after Cebu organizers opted not to hold a competition for this year's edition due to the recent calamities that befell the Visayas province.
They were sashed and crowned by Miss Universe Philippines - Cebu City 2025 Gabriella Carballo.
Local franchise owner Irma Bitzer shared why they appointed Nicole and Apriel.
“We were checking those who were really rooted in Cebu. We wanted someone who knows Cebu well and represents us with a heart,” she said.
“Miss Universe Philippines Cebu was needed on the ground — helping, serving, listening, and responding. In this moment, beauty meant showing up, not being seen,” she added.
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