Joy Barcoma says 'halfies' issue opened up a conversation

Joy Barcoma has shared her opinion on the "halfies" debate in pageantry.

In the latest episode of "TRGGRD!" the hosts discussed the controversy with the Miss Philippines Earth 2025.

For Joy, she gave her "unpopular take," saying that Filipinos are party to blame why mixed-race Filipinos have "this kind of parang yabang in themselves kasi we gave them that free pass."

Joy added that Filipinos have been through a lot of colonization, so there is no such thing as a "pure Pinoy" look.

"'Mukha kang foreigner.' And what are you trying to say to me? Na ang Pinoy hindi puwede magmukhang matangos ang ilong? Ang Pinoy ba hindi puwede maging maputi? Ang Pinoy ba hindi puwedeng malaki ang mata? Kasi I think it opens up a notion as well na kapag 'halfie' ka, you are a better-looking Filipino," the beauty queen said.

Joy said it should not be a standard or a privilege, "kaya it really opened up a can of worms as to why we are giving these people those privileges."

"Parang 'yun dapat 'yung maging conversation dun eh. Tayo 'yung nagbigay sa kanila ng kapangyarihan na 'yun kasi in the first place sa national palang, if hindi ganun kataas 'yung standard natin pagdating sa beauty—if we don't see white people, if we don't see people with mga tall noses, mga mataas na ilong as standard of beauty, 'di naman sila mananalo national palang," Joy said.

The "halfies" conversation gained traction after comments circulating online sparked discussions about whether the Philippines would remain competitive in international pageantry without candidates of mixed ancestry.

Previously, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee also weighed in on the issue, saying that success in pageantry should not be reduced to a contestant's ancestry.

Joy is part of the Kapuso game show "The People Have Spoken" as one of its celebri-peeps. She is also a host-mate for "Unang Hirit." —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA News