Gazini Ganados
Birth nameGazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados
Birth dateDecember 26, 1995 (age 30)
Birth placeDapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
OccupationModel · philanthropist
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
EducationUniversity of San Jose–Recoletos (BS)
TitleMiss Universe Philippines 2019
Competitions

Gazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados[1][2] (gaˈsinɪ gaˈnɐdɔs; born December 26, 1995) is a Filipino model, actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2019.[3][4] She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant and finished as a Top 20 semifinalist along with the Best National Costume award.[5][6]

Early life and education

Gazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados was born in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, to a domestic partnership between her Palestinian father and Filipino mother who later separated. Ganados was raised by her maternal grandparents.[7][8] Ganados and her family moved and have resided in the city of Talisay, Cebu since she was in sixth grade.[9] She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in tourism management and a certificate for providing health care services, both from the University of San Jose–Recoletos in Cebu City.[10][11]

Pageantry

Miss World Philippines 2014

Main article: Miss World Philippines 2014

Ganados joined Miss World Philippines 2014 and placed in the Top 13.[12][13] Valerie Weigmann won the said pageant.[14][15]

Binibining Pilipinas 2019

Main article: Binibining Pilipinas 2019

On June 9, 2019, she competed in Binibining Pilipinas 2019 representing Talisay, Cebu and won the title of Miss Universe Philippines 2019.[3][4]

Ganados is the second Cebuana to win the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title, after Pilar Pilapil who won in 1967. During the national costume competition, she wore an ensemble inspired by Queen Juana (queen consort of Rajah Humabon) of the ancient Rajahnate of Cebu, and the whole representation of the festivities and meaning of the Sinulog Festival in the whole island of Cebu.[16] In honor of her Middle Eastern roots, she chose to perform a belly dance presentation during the talent competition.[7] As she is very close to her grandparents, her main advocacy is elderly care. Ganados was crowned by outgoing Miss Universe Philippines 2018 and Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray.[17]

Ganados won the following special awards:

  • Best in Long Gown
  • Face of Binibini (Miss Photogenic)

During the question and answer portion of the national pageant, she was asked: "If you win the crown tonight, what can you do to get more women in the workplace?" She replied:[18][19]

"If I win the crown tonight, what I will do is to promote my advocacy. My advocacy is for us women to fight for our rights and for elderly care and for us to be able to know that someone is loving and someone is pushing us to whatever ambitions that we have. We will be able to rise from our decisions to whatever dreams that we have, goals that we have, and we will achieve it because of those values, those wisdoms that they gave us."

On October 25, 2020, Ganados crowned Rabiya Mateo as her successor at the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant held at Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club in Baguio, Benguet.[20][21]

Miss Universe 2019

Main article: Miss Universe 2019

As Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Ganados represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant on December 8, 2019, at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.[22]

At the national costume competition, Ganados wore a Philippine eagle-inspired ensemble with two life-sized birds on each shoulder. The creation was hand-stitched with laser-cut patterns.[23][24][25]

At the preliminary competition, Ganados introduced herself and her country wearing a lavender halter-neck gown designed by Sherri Hill.[26] She debuted her 'phoenix' walk wearing a black tropical-print bikini with a bright yellow cape at the preliminary swimsuit competition.[26][27] She wore a golden gilded gown designed by the Cebu-based couturier, Cary Santiago at the preliminary evening gown competition.[5] It was a reminiscent of the pink gown she wore when she won the Miss Universe Philippines 2019 title at the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 pageant.[28]

At the coronation night, she advanced to the Top 20 as one of the wildcards.[29][30] At the opening statement segment, she expressed:[31][32]

"The world is aging, and my grandparents raised me. I worked in an organization that was supporting elderly care. I learned... I realized that there's this stigma between ageism, poverty, exclusivity, and invincibility. It is rightful for us to remember that they were the ones who paved the way for us. We should reciprocrate that love, and no one should be ever left behind. Thank you."[31][32]

Ganados concluded her Miss Universe journey by finishing as a Top 20 semifinalist along with the Best in National Costume award.[6][33] Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa won the said pageant.[34][35]

MGI All Stars 1st Edition

Main article: MGI All Stars 1st Edition

After 6 years since Miss Universe 2019, it was announced on Miss Grand International's official pages that Ganados, along with 4 other Filipina contestants will join the first-ever edition of MGI All Stars at Bangkok, Thailand on May 18-30, 2026.

During the preliminaries, Ganados was one of the top scorers during the Evening Gown, Swimsuit, and Bare Faced rounds which placed her at Rank 6 securing a spot in the top 18.

At the finals, she then advanced to top 10, wearing a gold-patterned Palestinian keffiyeh gown with the Filipino pinukpok metalcraft with intricate gold metal patterns and brilliant blue crystals by Filipino designer Rian Fernandez.

Her top 5 question and answer round was asked by Miss Grand International 2020 Abena Appiah about cyber bullying what should be society's practical solutions.

I was once a victim of cyberbullying. It is not easy to go through something that you didn't ask for. As a Filipina-Palestinian, I have raised my voice and I have conquered through my fears because I faced the struggles that I've been facing.

My family is still stuck in Gaza and now that I'm fighting for their lives, just want to do my best and be their representation and raise their flags just like who I am today as Filipina-Palestinian.

Ganados then concluded her All Stars journey in the top 5.

Colombia's Vanessa Pulgarin won the said edition and will compete for the second edition in hopes of defending her title.

See also

References

  1. ^ Tomada, Nathalie (2019-07-28). "Why Gazini is taking up cudgels for the elderly". Philstar. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  2. ^ Custodio, Arlo (2019-11-10). "PH's best bet for back-to-back Miss Universe win". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  3. ^ "Binibining Pilipinas 2019 coronation night". Rappler. 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  4. ^ Mendez Legaspi, C. (2019-06-10). "LIST: Binibining Pilipinas 2019 winners, top 25, special awards, highlights". Philstar. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  5. ^ "Gazini Ganados sets the stage on fire in Miss Universe preliminary competition". SunStar Philippines. 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  6. ^ "PH bet Gazini Ganados wins Miss Universe national costume award". Rappler. December 9, 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  7. ^ Prideaux, Sophie (10 June 2019). "Meet Gazini Ganados: the beauty queen crowned Miss Philippines 2019". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  8. ^ Atyani, Baker (2019-08-07). "Philippine beauty queen dreams of Palestine". Arab News. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  9. ^ Delos Reyes, Sara (2019-06-10). "11 Things To Know About Gazini Ganados, Miss Universe Philippines 2019!". Metro Style. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  10. ^ Bartolome, Jessica (2019-06-10). "Gazini Ganados of Talisay, Cebu is Miss Universe Philippines 2019". GMA News Online. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Miss Universe Home". Miss Universe. Archived 2019-11-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  12. ^ Francisco, Drew (2014-10-07). "Full rundown: Miss World Philippines 2014 candidates". Rappler. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  13. ^ "FULL LIST: Winners, Miss World Philippines 2014". Rappler. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  14. ^ "Valerie Weigmann wins Miss World Philippines 2014". Rappler. 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  15. ^ Smith, Chuck (2014-10-13). "Valerie Weigmann crowned Miss World Philippines 2014". Philstar. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  16. ^ Padayhag, Michelle Joy (2019-05-09). "Cebuana bets showcase national costumes for Bb. Pilipinas 2019". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  17. ^ "Cebu's Gazini Ganados to represent PH in Miss Universe 2019". ABS-CBN News. 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  18. ^ "TRANSCRIPT: Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Q and A segment". Rappler. June 9, 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  19. ^ Severo, Jan Milo (2019-06-10). "FULL TEXT: Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Top 15 finalists' Q&A". Philstar. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  20. ^ Reyes, Shiela (2020-10-25). "Rabiya Mateo from Iloilo City is new Miss Universe Philippines". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  21. ^ Requintina, Robert & Yap, Tara (2020-10-25). "Iloilo beauty crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  22. ^ "Miss Universe 2019 to be held in Atlanta, Georgia". Rappler. 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  23. ^ "LOOK: PH's Gazini Ganados dazzles in Miss Universe 2019 national costume". Rappler. December 7, 2019. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  24. ^ "Cary Santiago shares the making of Gazini Ganados' national costume for Miss Universe". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  25. ^ "Cary Santiago shares inspiration behind Gazini Ganados' Miss Universe National Costume, evening gown". Philstar. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  26. ^ "All the Looks Gazini Ganados Wore to Miss Universe 2019 Preliminary Competition". Preview. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  27. ^ "WATCH: Gazini Ganados' 'Phoenix Walk' in swimsuit at Miss Universe". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  28. ^ "Gazini Ganados dazzles in shimmering gold gown during Miss Universe prelims". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  29. ^ "Philippines' Gazini Ganados makes it to Miss Universe 2019 semifinals via wildcard". Philstar. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  30. ^ Aguilar, Krissy (2019-12-09). "Gazini Ganados enters Miss Universe 2019 Top 20". Inquirer Lifestyle. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  31. ^ "READ: Gazini Ganados' opening statement at Miss Universe 2019". Rappler. December 9, 2019. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  32. ^ "Gazini Ganados highlights importance of elderly care in opening speech". Inquirer Lifestyle. 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  33. ^ "PH's Gazini Ganados concludes Miss Universe 2019 journey in Top 20". Rappler. December 9, 2019. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  34. ^ "Miss Universe 2019: 'May every little girl see their faces reflected in mine'". BBC News. 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  35. ^ "South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi Crowned Miss Universe 2019". Voice of America. 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2021-09-11.