Gazini Ganados calls her Miss Grand International All Stars bid her ‘redemption, calling’

Gazini Ganados is stepping back onto the international pageant stage, this time with a deeper sense of purpose as she prepares to compete in Miss Grand International (MGI) All Stars.

In an interview with GMA News Online on Friday, the 30-year-old Sparkle star and Filipina-Palestinian beauty queen said her return to pageantry stems from growth, personal discovery, and a renewed calling tied to her roots.

“I am coming back right now because I have evolved as a woman. I was 23 when I was competing for Miss Universe Philippines before,” Gazini shared.

She pointed to a life-changing moment that came shortly after her Miss Universe stint: meeting her Palestinian father for the first time.

“I found the gravity of the situation that they have in Palestine and how I wish I was able to represent them on an international stage. But I didn't really realize that this opportunity would come up to my door. And I was offered with a chance to represent them again this time," she said.

"So I took that, and I grabbed that opportunity because I am not the same woman I was when I was competing as Miss Universe Philippines. I've learned, and I've grown, and I've cultivated a value that would make me proud to represent them on a global stage, finally,” she added.

Gazini believes that her advocacy aligns closely with the pageant’s core message, “Stop the War and Violence,” a cause that hits close to home.

“I feel like it's an alignment for me talaga. ‘Stop the War and Violence’ has been my advocacy since the pandemic started because ‘yun nga, I met my dad before the pandemic happened. And I feel like this is my calling. This is an alignment for me to be able to represent them finally,” she said.

For Gazini, this return is also more than a second chance.

“I know that people will understand why I came back to pageantry because of that. And family is everything. And for me, this is the right thing to do even if I've already had my time before. And besides that, this is also my redemption. It's an obligation for me to represent my family this time,” she said.

As she prepares for Thailand, where the competition will be held, Gazini is leaning on lessons from her Miss Universe journey, particularly the importance of preparation and support.

“I believe I could do better this time. And I am more prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally,” she said.

Her past experience also shaped how she approaches performance, especially the pasarela, a key element in MGI.

Gazini admitted she held back during Miss Universe, thinking she could save her full performance for later stages.

“I said to myself, had I known, I should have just pushed for my limits during that time, bahala na kung madulas ako. So, maybe this time, I'll put more energy into it because I didn't really get to unleash the version of myself during that time, how much more now that I have more conviction and grit towards my personality,” she said.

With renewed determination, she is now training to fully deliver onstage.

“I'm already training for my pasarela and I'm so excited to be able to cultivate new steps. Kasi I know MGI is grand eh. Their vision is towards massive and huge movements. So hindi ko na siya bibitinin this time. So I'm hoping, and I'm excited that I will get to represent, or I will get to show the capabilities that I'm supposed to show during my Miss Universe era.”

As she embarks on this new chapter, Gazini expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received from Filipinos.

“I would like to say thank you so much for the love and support. I did not expect, I mean, I've heard a lot of people say that I'm on their wish list, but I did not expect the gravity of the support I will be getting from the Filipinos. Ilalaban ko po kayo,” she said.

Gazini finished as a Top 20 semifinalist in Miss Universe 2019 and won the Best National Costume award. 

Gazini joins fellow Philippine candidates Keylyn Trajano, Alexia Núñez, and Fuschia Anne Ravena, who will be competing for the crown.

The upcoming MGI All Stars pageant is open to all women and trans women aged 20 to 40 who have previously competed in any international pageant. —CDC, GMA Integrated News