The Miss Universe pageant is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year, especially among Filipinos, who have a deep passion for pageants.
Beyond cheering for the representative from the Philippines, several esteemed Filipino personalities have also taken center stage as part of the pageant's judging panel.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) lists Filipino personalities who served as judges in the pageant's 73-year history.
CARLOS P. ROMULO
President of the United Nations General Assembly and Pulitzer Prize winner for Correspondence Carlos P. Romulo is the first Filipino to be invited as a judge in the Miss Universe pageant.
The late diplomat and journalist was among the judges who picked Spain's Amparo Muñoz as the winner of Miss Universe 1974 at the Folk Arts Theater in Manila, Philippines.
The country's representative Guadalupe Sanchez was part of the Top 12 finalists.
JOSIE CRUZ NATORI
Filipino fashion designer Josie Cruz Natori served as one of the judges during the Miss Universe 1989 at Fiesta Americana Condesa Hotel in Cancun, Mexico.
Josie is a renowned lingerie fashion designer and the CEO and founder of The Natori Company.
That year, Sara Jane Paez represented the Philippines in the 38th edition of the prestigious pageant. Angela Visser, who at the time represented Holland (now called the Netherlands), achieved her country's first and only Miss Universe title.
KUH LEDESMA
Singer Kuh Ledesma was part of the Miss Universe 1991 selection committee.
The pageant was held on May 17, 1991, at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
During the pageant's grand coronation night, Kuh was dubbed as the "Asia's Princess of Pop."
Maria Lourdes Gonzalez represented the country in the pageant. Mona Grudt of Norway passed the title to her successor Lupita Jones of Mexico.
EMILIO T. YAP
The late Filipino-Chinese businessman and chairman of the board of the Manila Bulletin Emilio T. Yap served as one of the judges during the Miss Universe 1994 pageant in Manila, Philippines.
The pageant was held on May 21, 1994, at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Philippines.
Charlene Gonzalez made it to the Top 6 finalists of the pageant. Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico eventually crowned Sushmita Sen of India at the end of the event.
Emilio died on April 7, 2014, at the age of 88.
LEA SALONGA
Multi-awarded theater actress and singer Lea Salonga was part of the judging panel at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant held on September 12, 2011, at Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Angola's Leila Lopez ended up as the winner of the highly-coveted title.
Philippine bet Shamcey Supsup, the current national director of Miss Universe Philippines Organization, finished 3rd runner-up.
MANNY PACQUIAO
Three years after Lea's Miss Universe judging stint, world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao took part as one of the finals selection committee at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant.
The 63rd edition of the pageant was held on January 25, 2015, at the FIU Arena in Florida.
Filipina beauty queen Mary Jean Lastimosa was one of the pageant's top 10 finalists, while Paulina Vega of Colombia won the title at the end of the event.
PIA WURTZBACH
Pia Wurtzbach came full circle when she attended the Miss Universe 2017 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada as a judge.
The 32-year-old former beauty queen was part of the pageant's judging panel just two years after she won the title in 2015.
Rachel Peters was the Philippines' representative and made it to the top 10 finalists. South Africa's Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters won the title.
MONIQUE LHUILLIER AND RICHELLE SINGSON-MICHAEL
Two Filipinas sat on the judging panel of the Miss Universe 2018 pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand.
New-York based Filipino-American fashion designer Monique Lhuillier and Louis Chavit Singson (LCS) Group of companies' CEO Richelle Singson-Michael were among the judges who picked Catriona Gray as the winner of the pageant.
MARIAN RIVERA
Marian Rivera flew to Eilat, Israel as one of the judges of the Miss Universe 2021 pageant.
GMA-7's Primetime Queen joins six other beautiful faces that make up the all-female panel of judges this year.
They are Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima; Indian actress and Miss Universe 2015 candidate Urvashi Rautela; American model and social media personality Lori Harvey; Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere; Puerto Rican actress Adamari Lopez; and American actress Rena Sofer.
Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst and Israeli lawyer at Miss Universe 1976 Rina Mor are part of the preliminary selection committee.
Marian is the 10th Filipino to sit on the judging panel of the prestigious international pageant.
MICHAEL CINCO
Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco served as a judge during the grand coronation night of the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico on November 16, 2024 (November 17 in the Philippines).
He joined a distinguished panel that included digital entertainment star Lele Pons, producer Emilio Estefan, Miss Universe 1978 Margaret Gardiner, entrepreneur Gianluca Vacchi, host Jessica Carrillo, designer Eva Cavalli, and artist Romero Britto.
Michael had previously designed gowns for numerous Miss Universe candidates and winners, notably creating the stunning final walk gowns for Pia Wurtzbach, Iris Mittenaere, and Andrea Meza.
Read: Miss Universe winners taking pride in Filipino creations during their final walk
LOUIE HEREDIA
Filipino singer Louie Heredia joined the Selection Committee just days before the 74th Miss Universe coronation in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on November 21, 2025, following a wave of resignations.
Initially a closed-door interview judge, Heredia stepped up after Omar Harfouch, Claude Makélélé, and Princess Camilla di Borbone withdrew.
The Miss Universe Organization welcomed his inclusion, noting his industry legacy. He now joins a diverse panel featuring Natalie Glebova, Andrea Meza, Col. Miniyothabo Francisca Baloyi, Saina Nehwal, and Romero Britto.
