Joy Barcoma takes her Miss Philippines Earth farewell walk at 'Unang Hirit'

Joy Barcoma may not have gotten the chance to do her farewell walk on the Miss Philippines Earth stage, but she finally had the opportunity to do so on "Unang Hirit."

On Monday's episode of the longest-running morning show, the beauty queen bid her reign adieu wearing the gown she was supposed to use for her farewell walk: a white off-shoulder ensemble designed by Ken Batino and Jevin Salaysay.

According to Joy, doing her farewell walk on "Unang Hirit" allowed her to perform it before the "sambayanang Pilipino."

The Pambansang Jusa also said that while her reign has ended, her advocacy for environmental protection continues.

“Patuloy natin ilalakad ang mga adbokasiya natin, magpapatuloy po tayo sa paghakbang patungo sa pagbabago at sa pag-advocate para sa ating kalikasan,” she said.

Aside from being a beauty queen, Joy said she hopes to be remembered as someone who gave the crown a deeper purpose.

“Ako ang taong nagdala ng korona at nagbigay ng meaning na ang korona ay hindi lamang nare-restrict sa apat na sulok ng entablado,” she said.

“Ang korona ay mas nabibigyang-kahulugan kapag ginagamit ito para ipaglaban ang kalikasan, ang tao, at ang bayan,” she added.

On Saturday, Joy announced she will not be taking her final walk during the coronation night of Miss Philippines Earth 2026. She did not disclose the reason behind her decision.

Joy was crowned Miss Philippines Earth in August 2025, and finished her Miss Earth journey a few months later in the Top 8 of the global competition.

She is part of “The People Have Spoken” as a celebri-peep and currently an “Unang Hirit” host-mate.

Meanwhile, Rina Andrea Delos Santos of Ballesteros, Cagayan, is Miss Philippines Earth 2026. — LA, GMA News