12/10/2025
Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi, 27, may once be remembered as the queen who ended the Philippines’ placement streak at Miss Universe, but she will now be remembered for a far greater reason, her generosity. The 18th Miss Philippines-Earth and 69th Miss Universe-Philippines donated $171,453 to aid the victims of the unexpected earthquake that struck Cebu and Davao.
She is one of only five beauty queens who have represented the country in at least two of the “Big Four” pageants (Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth). Celeste was crowned Miss Philippines-Earth in 2018, and four years later, she returned to the national pageant stage and won the opportunity to represent the Philippines in Miss Universe 2022.
Although her Miss Universe journey ended without a placement, ending the country’s long-standing streak (from 2010-2021), she did not let this define her. In 2023, she was even excluded from the local pageant opening dance, but another pageant in Thailand welcomed her with a walk before a large crowd, showing appreciation for her achievements.
Celeste also runs her own makeup company in partnership with a business venture. Through this, she decided to donate 10 million pesos to help the victims of the earthquake that struck two major provinces in the country.
This is only the second time in history that a Filipino beauty queen has donated such a large amount. The first was Gemma Cruz Araneta, the first Asian to win Miss International in 1964, who gave her full prize, amounting to 5.9 million pesos (adjusted for inflation), to a hospice in Marikina.
Thank you, Celeste. You are a queen not just for your charm and popularity, or for being dubbed the most beautiful to ever represent the Philippines in Miss Universe, but for your actions and generosity, which make you even more beautiful.