Miss Grand International 2025 Emma Mary Tiglao proved once again that beauty is most powerful when it serves a purpose.
On March 31, 2026, Emma successfully mounted Purpose in Every Purchase: Beauty Queen’s Closet Sale, a charity bazaar held at the studio of renowned Filipino shoe designer Jojo Bragais in Quezon City.
The event, held in celebration of Women’s Month, brought together some of the country’s most celebrated beauty queens, who donated pre-loved items for a cause close to their hearts.
Proceeds from the closet sale will benefit Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, a non-government organization dedicated to providing reproductive health services and education for women and young people.
Emma expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made the event possible, especially Jojo Bragais, who generously offered his studio as the venue.
"First of all, I would like to say thank you muna sa lahat ng queens na nag-yes for this event, especially kay Jojo.
"Without Jojo Bragais, wala kaming place kung saan namin gagawin nitong event na ito," Emma said in an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at the charity bazaar.
According to the Miss Grand International titleholder, the concept was born out of a simple conversation and a shared desire to do something meaningful for women.
"Pinitch ko lang sa kanya ito na parang sabi ko, dapat may gawin kaming something, e, for Women’s Month.
"Lalo na talagang umariba yung mga queens last year sa iba’t ibang international pageants."
Emma emphasized that allowing Women’s Month to pass without action felt like a missed opportunity.
"So, sabi ko, hindi puwede na lalagpas lang yung Women’s Month na walang gagawin ang mga queens. So, sabi ko, ‘Jo, gawa kaya tayo ng ganito?’ So, eto na siya," said the Miss Grand International 2025 titleholder.
Joining Emma in the charity event were prominent queens from various national and international pageants, including Miss World Asia 2025 Krishnah Gravidez, Miss Cosmo 2025 first runner-up Chelsea Fernandez, Miss Philippines Earth 2025 Joy Barcoma, Miss International 2025 fourth runner-up Myrna Esguerra, Face of Beauty International 2025 Nikki Buenafe, Binibining Pilipinas 2025 first runner-up Dalia Varde Khattab, and Miss Elite Philippines 2025 Sophia Bianca Santos.
Emma reflected proudly on the success of the event, noting that transparency and purpose helped draw public support.
"Feeling ko naman successful siya," she said.
"And mas successful siya kasi alam ng mga tao na hindi naman sa bulsa namin mapupunta yung proceeds kundi sa organization, which is Likhaan, connected also with women."
She also revealed that several organizations were initially considered as beneficiaries, but Likhaan stood out due to its commitment and long-standing advocacy.
"Actually, marami kaming tinap na organizations. Pero sila yung nakipag-communicate naman sa amin para matuloy na ito.
"So, established din—1995 pa. Matagal na talaga silang tumutulong with women and with young people.
"Kaya we’re excited to meet the people behind Likhaan also," said Emma.
BEAUTY QUEENS UNITE
Talking to PEP, the participating beauty queens expressed their gratitude to Emma and Jojo for bringing them together for the charity initiative.
Miss Philippines Earth 2025 Joy Barcoma shared how meaningful it was to be part of a collective effort for good.
She said: "I feel very blessed that I am part of this cause… it’s not easy to be in a position wherein you are always required to do something good for the community,” she said.
"I’m just so grateful that we have this group of beauty queens—especially with Sir Jojo Bragais—to make an event that gives back to the people."
Chelsea Fernandez, Miss Cosmo 2025 first runner-up, emphasized that the event went beyond selling clothes.
"This is not just about selling, but actually partnering with our chosen foundation," she said.
"I’m also grateful kasi di lang ako mag-isa. Kasama ko din yung mga fellow queens ko na matagal ko nang di nakikita."
Miss World Asia 2025 Krishnah Gravidez expressed her joy and surprise at the strong public turnout.
"Sobrang saya! I didn’t expect na ganito rin karami yung pupunta,” she said.
"I want to thank Jojo Bragais and Emma Tiglao and my fellow queens for doing this meaningful event for the women of Likhaan."
Krishnah added, "Very sentimental tong event na ito because this is one of the rare moments that you see beauty queens from different platforms gathered in one event.
"That alone speaks how our hearts go to giving back to the community."
Nikki Buenafe, Face of Beauty International 2025, found the experience deeply moving.
"Very heartwarming. It means we were able to rally people around us.
"People really like beauty queens who also have purposes and causes," she said.
Sophia Bianca Santos, Miss Elite Philippines 2025, echoed the sentiment.
"It means a lot kasi this is why we’re here. We do beauty pageants to be part of bigger causes—and now we’re finally here."
For Dalia Varde Khattab, Binibining Pilipinas 2025 first runner-up, the closet sale felt like a full-circle moment.
"During the pandemic, nag-live selling din ako," she shared.
"Ngayon, makakatulong pa kami. Thank you so much Ate Emma and thank you to Jojo Bragais for allowing us to stay here."
Meanwhile, Miss International 2025 4th runner-up Myrna Esguerra, revealed that the event came at a perfect time as she already had plans to hold a closet sale even before Emma reached out.
"Matagal ko na talagang gustong mag-closet sale," she admitted.
"So, nung sinabi ni Ate Emma yung plans, nag-yes agad ako."
WOMEN'S MONTH
As the event served as a culmination of Women’s Month, PEP also asked the queens to share their reflections and messages for women.
EMMAY MARY TIGLAO
Emma spoke about how being raised in a family of strong women played a defining role in shaping her identity and path in womanhood.
In her words: "Lumaki kasi ako surrounded by women. My dad is working abroad. He's an OFW. So, lumaki sa lola, mga ate ko, and with my mom.
"And all I can say is that nakuha ko yung strength sa lahat ng kababaihan.
"Kaya naman it's not... it's not about the gender, kung anong gender meron ka. It's all about the strength and the support system na meron ka na nakapaligid sa yo.
"And huwag mong maghayaan na sabihin na 'babae ka lang.' Babae ka, kayang-kaya mo yan."
Chelsea called on women to continue shining in their own way, emphasizing that their strength, courage, and individuality should never be dulled by hardship or doubt.
Chelsea said: "I know we've been struggling a lot, especially with the, uhm, problems that we have right now.
"But eto lang ang masasabi ko, continue to be strong, to be brave. Hindi lang tayo babae lang, babae tayo. We have our own strength. We have our own power.
"So let's not dim our own light. I know we can do, you know, um, we will survive everything because we are women."
JOY BARCOMA
Joy Barcoma used the moment to highlight the broader meaning of Women’s Month, calling for stronger action toward gender equality and reminding everyone that celebrating women should extend beyond March and into everyday life.
She said: "Of course, paigtingin pa rin po natin ang paglaban para sa karapatan hindi lamang po ng mga kababaihan kundi ng lahat ng kasarian.
"Isulong na rin nating yung SOGIE Bill, gawin na po natin itong batas.
"And, of course, parte po ng pagse-celebrate natin ng Women's Month is to remind everyone that we should celebrate women every day and not just in the month of March or certain day lang ng March.
"We should celebrate women every day at lagi nating tatandaan na babae ka, hindi ka babae lang."
KRISHNAH GRAVIDEZ
Krishnah Gravidez reflected on the deeper history behind Women’s Month.
"My reflections about Women's Month. Actually, last week I started researching about the deeper meaning of Women's Month.
"And medyo heartbreaking din some of the story.
"Historically, why we are celebrating Women's Month, it's because of the trailblazers, women trailblazers who fought for us to vote, for us to be educated, for us to be more free in terms of how we navigate into our society.
"So this is just a testament of how strong we are. So, Happy Women's Month to all of us. We are destined for greater things. I hope that you never give up."
SOPHIA BIANCA SANTOS
Sophia reminded Filipino women to believe in themselves.
"So to all the Filipinos women here, just believe in yourself po," Sophia said.
"Kaya po nating lahat na magpagsubok, just believe in yourself."
Dalia offered a heartfelt reflection on the essence of womanhood.
She shared, "A reflection would be women are truly, like, the strongest and most magical creatures on Earth.
"Like whether, whether human or even animal... like, I see, like, women are like the female species to be so special talaga.
"Motherhood, womanhood, girlhood is like, is something that we can all relate to and something that we're all, like, really lucky to have on this Earth."
MYRNA ESGUERRA
Meanwhile, Myrna closed with a message of pride and resilience.
She said: "To all the women out there, my message po to all of you is to stay strong and be proud of your milestones, no matter how small or big it is.
"I think that you should celebrate every time that you feel so because you have been so strong and you've come so far.
"So I'm so proud of you and I hope that you're proud of yourself as well.
"And keep on aiming to be happy every day of your life and always stay strong, not only for you, but also for other women, as well."
READ MORE: