BY LOU RAZON
Lilith Brielle, Elaina Arguelles, Fema Ardiente and Christopher Millendez take the top titles at anniversary celebration at Glendale’s Alex Theatre
GLENDALE, Calif. — Miss Philippines USA marked its 15th anniversary Aug. 9 at the Alex Theatre, bringing Filipino fashion and cultural traditions together with a Hollywood-inspired production and crowning four new titleholders.
Lilith Brielle was crowned Miss Philippines USA 2026, Elaina Louise Arguelles won Miss Young Philippines USA 2026, Fema Ardiente was named Ms. Philippines USA Empress 2026, and Christopher Millendez took the Mister Philippines USA 2026 title. The pageant’s official post-event announcement confirmed the four winners.
Built around the theme “The Philippines Meets Hollywood,” the anniversary program mixed Filipiniana, Barong Tagalog, contemporary fashion, music and pageantry with visual references to Hollywood’s golden era. The pageant had promoted the Aug. 9 coronation at the Alex Theatre as its 15th-anniversary event.
The setting reinforced the theme. The Alex Theatre opened in 1925 as a vaudeville house and movie palace and later served as a preview house for major Hollywood studio films through the 1950s, according to the City of Glendale.
The candidates opened in traditional Filipino attire, including Filipiniana and Barong Tagalog, before moving through the swimsuit and evening-gown competitions and, for the finalists, the question-and-answer round.
Fashion has been central to the pageant since its beginnings under designer Lou Razon, its founder, producer and creative director. Razon’s official biography dates the first Miss Philippines USA pageant to 2011 at the Burbank Marriott, while the organization itself also identifies 2011 as its founding year.
Actor and television personality Jai Rodriguez and producer and host Marc Anthony Nicolas led the coronation program. Rodriguez was a host on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and was among the members of the program credited by the Television Academy when it won the 2004 Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program.
The judging panel included Kirk Bondad, Ogie Diaz and Mama Loi. Bondad, a Filipino-German model and pageant titleholder, won Mister International 2025 in Thailand, becoming the second Philippine representative to capture the title.
Among the special guests were former Miss Philippines USA titleholder and model Camille Teodoro, former Binibining Pilipinas titleholder Lisa Lew, actress and producer Harlene Bautista, and Federico Moreno, son of the late entertainment personality German “Kuya Germs” Moreno.
The entertainment program featured Lindsay Solo, Prince Leviticus, Tina Braganza and Garth Garcia, with additional performances by Nin de Reyes, Nathan Bryce, Kevin Hermogenes, Cristiani Rebada, Maddison Habaluyas and Breyenna De Leon. Bunny Paras and Chris Trondsen hosted the red-carpet arrivals ahead of the main program. The pageant’s official material also identifies Paras and Trondsen as the Aug. 9 red-carpet hosts.
In the Miss Philippines USA competition, Ashlie Benasa was named Miss Grand Ambassador and Alexandria Watsonreceived the Miss Tourism title. Missia Ishikawa finished first runner-up, Cheska Cinderella Friend second runner-up and Heart Noble Dean third runner-up.
In Miss Young Philippines USA, Amanda Isabelle Agoncillo received the Miss Tourism title and also placed second runner-up. Kaylee Viado was first runner-up and Asha Bautista third runner-up.
For Ms. Philippines USA Empress, Ardiente also received the Ms. Tourism title. Summer Wallace was first runner-up, Leeana Bade second runner-up and Kelsie-Ann Suan-Kon third runner-up.
In the Mister Philippines USA division, Justin Cadiz was named Mister Tourism. Lachlan Ma finished first runner-up, Andrew Ramirez second runner-up and Alexander Kochoa third runner-up.
The anniversary also illustrated how the organization has grown beyond its original competition. Miss Philippines USA now operates Miss Young, Miss Philippines USA, Ms. Philippines USA Empress and Mister Philippines USA divisions. The organization says its mission is to promote Philippine culture while providing participants opportunities in leadership, community service, fashion and personal development.
