Chelsea Fernandez is Miss Cosmo 2025 1st runner-up

Miss Philippines Chelsea Fernandez has been named first runner-up for Miss Cosmo 2025.

On Saturday, Fernandez placed second during the Miss Cosmo 2025 Grand Finale & Beauty Music Festival held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, while Miss USA Yolina Lindquist was crowned Miss Cosmo 2025.

Fernandez also won Cosmo People’s Choice, garnering more than 28.3 million online votes for the pageant.

The beauty queen wowed the crowd on coronation night with a bejeweled evening gown featuring a sheer cape.

During the question-and-answer portion, Fernandez was asked about the mindset she wished to change regarding women. She said that women are innate leaders but are often deprived of opportunities and spaces to thrive.

“As Ms. Cosmo, who ignites change, I would like to empower every woman to immerse herself in activities that can enrich her skills so we can move forward. We women can stand on our own, and women can also have it all,” she said.

For the final showdown against Miss Cosmo USA, Fernandez highlighted her advocacy for mangrove protection in the Philippines.

“My advocacy, the Paradise of the Mangroves Reforestation Project, aims to address both environmental and economic challenges. With this plan, we are targeting to plant 5,000 propagules per hectare," she said.

"I believe in my project, and I am confident that economic growth will increase by 20 to 30 percent within one year,” Fernandez added..

She said that she started her advocacy in 2019, and had visited different cities and provinces to plant mangroves and propagules.

"I believe that starting in my own country is important, but through collective efforts with local government units, NGOs, and private sectors, I know my advocacy can go a long way and have a global impact,” she said.

Miss Cosmo became its own international pageant in 2024, rebranding as Miss Cosmo Vietnam after separating from the Miss Universe franchise in Vietnam.

Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo had previously represented the country at Miss Cosmo, finishing in the Top 10 during the pageant’s inaugural competition in 2024.—MCG, GMA Integrated News