Meet the Binibining Pilipinas 2026 Titleholders

Two new Filipinas have entered the pantheon of national pageant titleholders. Last July 18, the 62nd edition of Binibining Pilipinas held its coronation night at the Araneta Coliseum, which crowned select queens after months of competition. Ultimately, amidst a strong selection of 34 delegates, Bacolod City’s Tracy Mae Sunio was named second runner-up, with Julianne Raine Antonio from Dumaguete City earning the first runner-up position. 

Gwendoline Meliz Soriano of Baguio City ended the night as one of the two big winners as Binibining Pilipinas International 2026, while Sasha-Juli Lacuna of Tarlac was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2026. To clinch these crowns and join an impressive lineup of previous titleholders is an achievement in itself, but what makes it more special is that it served as a bit of a redemption moment for the two queens. As they prepare to represent the Philippines internationally in the coming year, here’s what you should know about these newly crowned titleholders.  

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Gwendoline Meliz Soriano – Binibining Pilipinas International 2026

For local pageant fans, Gwendoline Meliz Soriano’s name is a familiar one, as this isn’t her first time competing in Binibining Pilipinas, nor is it her first national pageant. Soriano, who took home a bevy of special awards, including Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown, during the coronation night, first joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2022. However, the BA Communication degree holder withdrew from the competition due to personal reasons.

Three years later, Soriano returned to the national pageant scene when she competed at Miss Universe Philippines 2025, representing Baguio City. There, she finished in the Top 12. Competing once more in Binibining Pilipinas 2026, Soriano was seen as a strong contender by many, and it showed as the Baguio City representative earned the crown to be the Philippines’ bet at the Miss International 2027 pageant in November 2027.

“I envision to be an aspirational leader. And with the Binibini crown, hopefully I get to inspire other people to believe in the beauty of their dreams and to be faithful. I’m here now not because of my own strength, not because of my own beauty and skills, but only by the grace of God. And I am here to share that hope, that message, that hopefully, even after this and beyond the crown, I will be remembered as someone who has a big faith and a big heart,” said Soriano during the final Q&A segment when asked: “What future do you envision for yourself, and how will a Binibining Pilipinas title help you get to that destination?” 

Aside from pageantry, Soriano appeared on Eat Bulaga! in 2019 as a contestant for their Miss Milennial competition and had a lead role on an episode of the Kwentong Jollibee Valentines Series in 2020. She also was a former member of her university’s dance troupe, the SLU (Saint Louis University) Dance Troupe in Baguio, currently works as a real estate agent, and is the founder of Project Beloved PH, a community-based organization that advocates for youth empowerment and positive change through outreach and volunteerism. To top it all of, the culture and arts advocate who has a background in traditional dance has also done modeling work over the years, from appearing in advertisments, music videos, TV commericals, and walking runways. Talk about being a multi-hyphenate.  

Sasha-Juli Lacuna – Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2026

Much like her fellow crowned queen Gwendoline Meliz Soriano, Sasha-Juli Lacuna’s victory is one built upon past experiences and misses in national pageantry. Last year, Lacuna served as Tarlac’s representative for Miss Universe Philippines 2025, where she finished her run in the Top 24. A year later, she once again took up the mantle of being Tarlac Province’s representative, this time in Binibining Pilipinas 2026. For her second national pageant, she made it all the way to the end as a titleholder. 

When asked during the Q&A portion, “What future do you envision for yourself, and how will a Binibining Pilipinas title help you get to that destination?”, Lacuna said, “The values of Binibini Pilipinas are all about charity work and are all about serving the Filipino people. And my life’s purpose is to put myself in situations of inconvenience in order to be of service to the Filipino people. And Binibining Pilipinas is already set on that legacy. And I stepped into this pageant in order to be a vessel, to be part of that legacy, and continue with the work of the organization that it is already built upon.” 

Growing up on a farm in Tarlac, Lacuna was born with Nevus of Ota, a skin condition that usually shows as hyperpigmentation on the face. But even with her humble roots, that didn’t stop Lacuna from dreaming big. Beyond her forays into the pageant stage, the 22-year-old is a fan of outdoor activities, posting her different adventures in different provinces on social media, and is into physical fitness. 

Lacuna is also a model, having worked with and walked the runways of brands such as Bench and Rian Fernandez in the past, is a self-described tech enthusiast, and considers Catriona Gray a role model. Now, this farm girl from the province is gearing up as the country’s representative to The Miss Globe 2026 pageant in Thailand this November 2026 as she hopes to be the third Filipina to win the Miss Globe crown and the first since Maureen Montagne in 2021.

Featured Image: RIAN FERNANDEZ (via Instagram), Photographed by STEVEN PASCUA  

Photos: RIAN FERNANDEZ (via Instagram), Photographed by JOSH VERGARA, GWENDOLINE MERIZ SORIANO (via Instagram), Photographed by SEVEN BARRETTO

Rafael Bautista

Senior Pop Culture Writer

Rafael Bautista is the Senior Pop Culture Writer of MEGA Asia, with a focus on producing articles and features about local and international entertainment, popular culture, and lifestyle.

Before this role, he spent five years in the youth-oriented magazine NYLON Manila, where he served multiple positions, including Deputy Editor, and created stories, profiles, and content on digital and print geared towards a Gen Z audience. In 2025, he was awarded Jr. Deputy Editor of the Year.

With years of experience in digital media, Rafael has an interest and passion for writing about movies, shows, pop culture, and entertainment, with a particular emphasis on titles, trends, and personalities who are making waves in modern culture or are on the cusp of becoming the next big thing people will talk about.

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