Annabelle McDonnell bumps into Binibining Pilipinas ‘flag bearers’
Bb. Pilipinas candidate Annabelle McDonnell (second from right) with Bb. Pilipinas alumnae (from left) Desiree Verdadero, Patty Betita and Sarah Jane Paez/ANNABELLE MCDONNELL FACEBOOK PHOTO
Pageant veteran and 2025 Binibining Pilipinas candidate Annabelle McDonnell shared her excitement upon seeing former Philippine representatives in major international pageants, just by chance.
The Iligan City representative shared her experience in a social media post on Friday, June 13, with a photo of her together with Desiree Verdadero, Patty Beti and Sarah Jane Paez, all products of the Bb. Pilipinas pageant.
McDonnell said the fateful event happened before she became an official “Binibini,” and had just expressed her desire to join the Bb. Pilipinas pageant this year to her mentor, Gerry Diaz, who heads the Aces and Queens pageant camp.
“Story time with these Flag Bearers [Philippine flag emoji][red heart emoji] On the day I met with [Diaz] and our [Aces and Queens] Mamas to confirm my desire to become a Binibini this year, I couldn’t help but feel so light and happy, and such happiness was only tripled when I bumped into three iconic [Bb. Pilipinas] queens,” she said.
Verdadero was third runner-up in the 1984 Miss Universe pageant in Miami, Florida, Betita was in the semifinals of the 1991 Miss International contest in Japan, while Paez joined the 1989 Miss Universe competition in Mexico.
“Even before becoming an official candidate, I immediately enjoyed the warmth and joy of the sisterhood, and before we parted ways I was honored to say the ‘Once A Binibini, Always a Binibini’ mantra with them[care emoji][hands in prayer emoji],”McDonnell continued.
She ended her post with a manifestation that she would once again have the opportunity to represent the Philippines on the international pageant stage.
McDonnell was first runner-up in the 2022 Miss Universe Philippines pageant won by Celeste Cortesi, and with Michelle Dee and Pauline Amelinckx as Miss Universe Philippines-Tourism and Miss Universe Philippines-Charity, respectively.
She was later appointed as the Philippines’ representative to the inaugural staging of the Miss Charm pageant in Vietnam in 2023, replacing erstwhile delegate Ashley Subijano Montenegro who had moved on to the Miss World Philippines pageant.
McDonnell was proclaimed first runner-up in the Miss Charm pageant, while Montenegro finished in the semifinals of the 2023 Miss Eco International competition in Egypt.
This year’s Bb. Pilipinas pageant will choose the country’s representatives to the 2026 Miss International competition and the 2025 The Miss Globe contest. Thirty-six ladies are vying for two national titles.
The 2025 Bb. Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City on June 15, with a telecast on TV 5 in the same evening. P-Pop kings SB19 will perform in the show.
Reigning Miss International Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy from Vietnam will also attend the ceremonies, which will be hosted by Bb. Pilipinas alumnae Nicole Cordoves, MJ Lastimosa, Maureen Montagne and Kylie Verzosa. /ra
