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Who is Miss Charm Philippines 2026 Apriel Smith?
Apriel Smith of Cebu City is Miss Charm Philippines 2026!
She was crowned during a separate coronation ceremony held at City of Dreams Manila on Sunday alongside her fellow Miss Universe Philippines 2026 finalists.
Apriel will represent the Philippines at Miss Charm 2026. To learn more about the Filipina beauty queen, here are five facts about her.
1. She is a Filipino-Black American
Born to a Black American father and a Filipina mother from Cebu, Apriel proudly embraces her Filipino-Black American identity, which she has openly discussed throughout her pageant journey.
On social media in early May, Apriel reflected on the criticism she received for repeatedly speaking about her experiences as a dark-skinned woman. But for her, it’s a story she refuses to abandon.
“A lot of people tell me, ‘Apriel, change your narrative na, nakakasawa na ‘yung black skin card' especially now on my third attempt. But when I go back to my core and listen to what my younger self went through, I’m reminded that your history is what built you,” she shared.
She had also proudly called herself a “black-skinned Cebuana queen, fighting for the crown.”
2. She is a certified pageantera
Apriel is a certified pageant veteran. She began her journey by competing in local beauty pageants across Cebu before eventually stepping onto the national stage.
The Cebuana beauty queen eventually stepped onto the national stage in Binibining Pilipinas 2016, where she finished in the Top 15.
In 2020, Apriel represented Cebu in Miss Universe Philippines 2020 and secured a Top 16 finish with Rabiya Mateo winning the title.
3. She was an Overseas Filipino Worker
Apriel was also an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).
Before returning to the Philippines to pursue pageantry full-time, Apriel spent the past three years working in Singapore, where she built her career in the hospitality industry.
Her experience as an OFW became one of the most defining parts of her journey during Miss Universe Philippines 2026, particularly in the question-and-answer portion on coronation night.
Speaking about the struggles and resilience of Filipinos, Apriel shared how being an OFW gave her a deeper understanding of sacrifice and hope.
“As an OFW myself, I always send money back home, and I feel frustrated too,” she said.
“But as long as we know that we show up and we don't just share struggles, but we share the stories of hope and culture and heritage for us being Filipino.”
4. She is a sports advocate
Apriel is also a longtime advocate for sports development among the youth.
During her stint in Binibining Pilipinas 2016, she used her platform to encourage young people to engage in sports and physical activities.
“I always believe sports will help a person's life, maybe for health, free school tuition, making new friends or creating a new family. Sports helped me in so many ways that is why I love sports; it taught me to lengthen my patience, kept me fit and injected discipline,” she said.
She also organized sports-related community initiatives in Cebu, including activities in Badian, where she worked with local officials, teachers, and youth leaders to promote her advocacy.
5. She is a volleyball player
Apriel walks the talk as a sports advocate, as she is a volleyball player herself.
Before making a name in pageantry, Apriel spent much of her youth playing volleyball, a sport she credits for helping shape her discipline, confidence, and resilience.
In a social media post, the beauty queen reflected on how both sports and pageantry influenced her journey amid discrimination and online bullying.
“I grew up in pageantry and spent my youth as a volleyball player. These platforms shaped my strength and my voice,” she shared.
Apriel added that she now uses her platform with purpose, hoping to inspire others to rise above negativity and believe in themselves.
Sports taught me acceptance. Pageantry gave me confidence. Now I use my platform with purpose, to remind others that the power to rise has always been within them."
—CDC, GMA News
