Joy Barcoma addresses Miss Earth 2025 airtime issue, stands firm on decision to speak up

Joy Barcoma addressed the criticism she received for making a short speech at the Miss Earth 2025 coronation night.

On Facebook, the Filipina beauty queen expressed frustration toward those who focus more on her "airtime" during the question and answer portion of the pageant than on the state of the nation.

"This is why I am mad whenever people call me out for speaking up. Talaga bang mas concerned pa kayo sa 'airtime' kaysa sa kalagayan ng bansa?" Joy wrote.

"It's unfathomable how you use my speech against me when this is the reality our country continues to face," she added.

Joy reshared a post with photos showing the aftermath of Typhoon Tino.

"If what I did cost me the crown, I would gladly lose it over and over again. Mas pipiliin ko pang mawala ang korona kesa mawala ang puso ko para sa tao," she said.

"And I will use every second of airtime on earth if it means speaking for my country. Until our voices are heard, I will never stop speaking up whenever, wherever I need to."

Joy made waves during the Miss Earth 2025 coronation night when appealed for prayers for the victims of Typhoon Tino in Cebu before delivering her answer to the Q&A portion.

Some netizens disapproved of what she did, saying that while her speech was well-intended, she took a portion of the show's airtime.

Joy finished at the Top 8 of Miss Earth 2025. Czech Republic's Natalie Puskinova took home the crown. —Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News