Ikinalungkot ni Gazini Ganados na may anim na Southeast Asian countries ang hindi makakasali sa upcoming Miss Universe 2026 sa Puerto Rico.
Si Gazini ang representative ng Pilipinas sa Miss Universe 2019 na ginanap sa Atlanta, Georgia, kung saan nakapasok siya sa Top 20.
Ang anim na bansang hindi lalahok sa paparating na Miss Universe pageant ay ang Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, at Laos.
Ito ay kasunod ng patuloy na sigalot sa pagitan ng Miss Universe Organization (MUO) at ng Miss Universe Eastern (MU East), na pinamumunuan ng Thai pageant executive na si Nawat Itsaragrisil.
Ayon sa MGI, napagpasyahan nilang huwag nang ipadala ang mga kandidata mula sa anim na Southeast Asian countries dahil walang katiyakan kung kikilalanin ang kanilang eligibility at mabibigyan sila ng pantay, ligtas, at marangal na pagtrato sa international competition.
Binigyang-diin ng organisasyon na ang desisyon ay hindi nangangahulugang kusang umatras ang mga kandidata o isinuko ng MGI ang mga karapatan nito sa ilalim ng mga umiiral na franchise agreements.
Read: MGI pulls six Southeast Asian candidates from Miss Universe 2026
Ayon kay Gazini, "That alone ay very... nakaka-destroy siya ng motivation, definitely.
"I just pray that they find their voice to stand up on their own in the midst of all the chaos."
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Gazini on Michelle Dee officially competing IN MGI All Stars
Sa grand launch ng Viomi Philippines, isang AI-powered water purification and smart hydration systems, nitong Miyerkules ng gabi, October 28, 2026, sa Grand Ballroom ng Solaire Resorts, Parañaque, nagbigay ng pahayag si Gazini tungkol sa kaibigang si Michelle Marquez Dee.
Opisyal nang inanunsiyo ng MGI All Stars ang partisipasyon ni Michelle sa second edition ng beauty pageant na gaganapin sa December 2026.
Saad ni Gazini: "I'm so happy that she made the decision to crossover because, to be honest, Miss Grand All Stars is so fun.
"And especially that it's gonna be held in Thailand, where Thai fans are also as loving as Filipino fans.
"So, grabe, talaga kaabang-abang."
May tips o payo na ba siyang ibinahagi kay Michelle?
Si Gazini ay lumahok sa Miss Grand International All-Stars First Edition kung saan umabot siya sa Top 5.
Read: Gazini Ganados makes it to Miss Grand International All Stars Top 5
Aniya, "Actually, nag-podcast kami kahapon. And, sabi ko sa kanya mag-focus siya sa votings because it is vote-based.
"No matter how strong you are, as long as you have the money, definitely, you will push through to Top 3."
Read: Michelle Dee to compete in 2nd Miss Grand International All Stars
PAGEANTS AND FINANCIAL FUNDINGS
Hindi na biro ang sumali sa isang beauty pageant ngayon.
Hindi lamang ganda at talino ang puhunan kund kailangan din ng malaking pera.
Ganun ba talaga kahirap maging kandidata ngayon at maging maganda?
Sagot ni Gazini, "In this economy, yes.
"Yes, definitely you need the money because if you want to produce a really good foundation of social media presence, you need a good team.
"You need a great team to pull it off. And for you to do that, you have to have finances, of course, because not... wala nang libre ngayon, definitely, di ba?
"And then we also have to compensate our team because, you know, like, that's their bread and butter as well."
Noong lumaban siya, magkano ang nagastos niya?
Pagbabahagi ni Gazini: "Oh, ako kasi, I'm just grateful that my team before from Binibini is the one supporting me now.
"Pero roughly, kasi I flew them in and all the tickets, siguro ako, naka-half million ako.
"Wala pa yan sa downpayment ng registration ni Mama J [Jonas Gaffud], yung Empire PH. Kasi you have to register it.
"And votings ng mga Filipino and all, and Mama J also, as in yung card nila on the spot, credit card, kasi nag-crash yung voting system online.
"And they had it prepared. Prepared sila.
"Meron silang card pang-swipe sa gilid, and they were calling people.
"They were, like, 'Oh, vote now.' So, that's what happened.
"And we were shocked kasi we were only informed two days before that the voting will be until the Top 3."
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