Alexie Mae Brooks (left) crowns Karen Nicole Piccio as Miss Iloilo 2025. Image: Facebook/Jerry Treñas
Reigning The Miss Philippines-Eco International Alexie Mae Brooks has crowned her Miss Iloilo successor in a competition that was held in celebration of the ongoing Dinagyang Festival in the Visayan city on Saturday evening, Jan. 11.
National pageant veteran Karen Nicole Piccio, who represented Maasin, bested nine other aspirants to inherit Brooks’ title at the culmination of the 2025 Miss Iloilo pageant’s coronation show held at the Cultural Center of the West Visayas State University in La Paz, Iloilo City.
Brooks received loud cheers from her adoring Ilonggo fans when she punctuated the ladies’ introduction during the opening number by walking towards the microphone to scream “Alexie Mae Caimoso Brooks, Philippines!”
The national athlete represented Iloilo City in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, where she finished in the Top 10. She received her own national title after the staging of the national competition and is now set to represent the country in the 2025 Miss Eco International pageant. Brooks will try to post the Philippines’ third victory in the environment-themed global tilt.
Brooks surprised many during her farewell walk when she sported a different look, trading her signature buzz cut for long luscious locks, while donning a structural tangerine frock with expanded hips and a smattering of crystals.
The Miss Iloilo pageant is mounted by Beverly Rosales and Sarah Peña of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI), the tandem responsible for elevating the city’s pageant scene and producing Brooks and 2020 Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo.
Just like Brooks in last year’s competition, Piccio also took home the lion’s share of special awards–Best in Introduction Video, Best in Advocacy and Tourism Video, Best Runway Model, Best in Closed-Door Interview, Miss Robinsons Malls, Miss PLDT, Miss The Medical City Iloilo, Miss Mountain Dew, and Best in Gastronomy Costume (tied with two other candidates).
The new Miss Iloilo titleholder’s victory was predicted by many pageant observers, being a seasoned candidate. She joined the 2019 Miss Philippines-Earth pageant alongside Vivamax artist Janelle Tee who bagged the top plum, and 2022 Binibining Pilipinas Globe Chelsea Fernandez who was crowned as Miss Philippines-Water.
Piccio received the Miss Philippines-Ecotourism title in the national pageant. She later joined the revived Miss Manila: Woman of Wonder contest in 2023, finishing as first runner-up.
The 2025 Miss Iloilo pageant also proclaimed “Heartfelt Beauties” the two other candidates in the Final 3 with Piccio-Rhea Marissa Puyong from the City of Passi, and Elaine Segura from Gumbal.
Beauty queen Nicole Cordoves returned to host the coronation show for the second year in a row, while the judging panel included her fellow Miss Grand International first runner-up Samantha Bernardo, former Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana, and reigning The Miss Philippines-Supranational Tarah Valencia.