Two Cebuanos are representing the Philippines in international pageants happening in March 2024.

Veteran beauty titlist Maria Gigante of Bantayan Island is hoping to get for the country its first crown in Universal Woman.

The 2024 edition in Cambodia is the second for the contest. The first crown was won by pageant powerhouse Venezuela.

Gigante was appointed as Universal Woman Philippines in January 2024.

A host and model, Gigante was among the 11 finalists in Miss World Philippines 2022. Years prior, she was a candidate of Binibining Pilipinas.

She won the Binibining Cebu - Charity title in the first edition of the Binibining Cebu pageant in 2017.

The Universal Woman crown will allow Gigante to work on initiatives that protect women and children from physical and mental abuse through the non-profit organization the Universal Woman organization has chosen to work with.

Meanwhile, Larz Kent Dawson who traces his roots to Toledo City is bringing his A-Game in Indonesia where the Mister Universe Tourism pageant is being held.

Dawson hopes to replicate the victory of his predecessor, Erik Lennart Visser, who won the title for the Philippines in 2023.

Visser is also from Central Visayas.

Dawson won the Ginoong Pilipinas title in 2023, which earned him the right to represent the Philippines in Mister Universe Tourism.

A talent of Admire Models Philippines, Dawson is an entrepreneurship student of the University of San Carlos.

He advocates for sustainable entrepreneurship.

According to its Facebook page, “Mister Universe Tourism promotes tourism through digital marketing in the new normal era.”