Ysabella Ysmael on her Miss Universe Philippines journey: 'This is not the end'

"Crown or no crown, a queen prevails."

This is the message that Ysabella Ysmael is taking home from her Miss Universe Philippines 2020 journey, after finishing as the 1st Runner-Up in the pageant.

Ysabella took to Instagram to congratulate her Miss Universe Philippines sisters.

"We made it, together. The friendship and the sisterhood we have gained in the last 9 months is something I will treasure forever. You all turned out to be what I had never expected, and I am pleasantly surprised. I am proud to be a part of Batch 2020, the inaugural batch, because of all of you," she wrote.

 

 

 

 

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Crown or no crown, a queen prevails. ???? First, a huge congratulations to all my MUPh sisters. We made it, together. The friendship and the sisterhood we have gained in the last 9 months is something I will treasure forever. You all turned out to be what I had never expected, and I am pleasantly surprised. I am proud to be a part of Batch 2020, the inaugural batch, because of all of you. To our mother hen @pianatics and the whole MUPh team who helped each girl with her needs, accessories, hair and makeup, call times, reminders, emotional support. You helped us all shine throughout this entire pageant. Thank you for being with us through every step of the way, for being the strong team behind us strong queens. To my The CAMP family, I say this all the time but I mean it — I would not be here without all of you. From the day I met @lolathesexy to the day he introduced me to @duds_santiago, @ecstaticjj, and @johnpmorante, @dennis.devera19, @genres5 @zicomanzano @krisusgamutan @guillyvalenzuela @itsjeffvalenzuela @_regicruz_ @tosshhhiiii and everyone that has been supporting me since day one, I knew my life changed. Thank you for making me the queen I am today. To my BELLArinas and my fellow Paranaquenos, thank you for being my guiding light and my motivation to keep going. I am forever grateful for your undying love and support for your Bella Ballerina ?? To my family and my friends, I love each and every one of you. Thank you for being the rock that grounded me and the force that pushed me to keep chasing my dreams. This is not the end. ?????? I may not have gone home with a crown on my head, but my crowning glory has undoubtedly been my entire experience during Miss Universe Philippines 2020. Our pillars and mentors in the pageant have taught us the value of being true and authentic, and that is something I can proudly say I am. Thank you for teaching me to stay true to myself and to remember that a queen is phenomenal not because of the crown on her head but because of her heart that is as big as the Universe. ? ???? @themissuniverseph

A post shared by Ysabella Roxas Ysmael (@bellaysmael) on

Oct 27, 2020 at 2:18am PDT

She also thanked her "BELLArinas and fellow Paranaquenos" for being her "guiding light and motivation."

"I am forever grateful for your undying love and support for your Bella Ballerina," she said.

She then thanked her family and friends, and vowed that "this is not the end."

"I may not have gone home with a crown on my head, but my crowning glory has undoubtedly been my entire experience during Miss Universe Philippines 2020," she said.

"Our pillars and mentors in the pageant have taught us the value of being true and authentic, and that is something I can proudly say I am. Thank you for teaching me to stay true to myself and to remember that a queen is phenomenal not because of the crown on her head but because of her heart that is as big as the Universe," she added.

Last Sunday, Iloilo City's Rabiya Mateo was crowned the new Miss Universe Philippines. Ysabella was named 1st Runner-Up, followed by Quezon City's Michele Gumabao as 2nd runner-up, Bohol's Pauline Amelinckx as 3rd runner-up, and Cavite's Billie Hakenson as 4th runner-up. 

Earlier, Ysabella's aunt, Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran said, "the first runner up is my Champion." —JCB, GMA News