The Philippines’ Nicole Borromeo was named third runner-up at the Miss International 2023 coronation night held in Tokyo, Japan on 26 October.

During the question-and-answer portion, the Cebuana beauty queen was asked: “The Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations have targets that are set to be achieved by 2030. What have you done so far in terms of SDGs?”

Borromeo answered: “As someone who experienced the wrath of natural disasters, home is everything. I’ve worked tirelessly with Habitat for Humanity under the SDG goal number 11, sustainable cities and communities. It is through this volunteer work that I could see in the faces of the children, how much they wanted to help, how much they wanted to be a part of the future. Because when it comes to sustainability, we must keep in mind that is not only for the next generation, but to include them in the process.”

Andrea Rubio of Venezuela was crowned Miss International 2023. Her court includes Sofia Osio Luna of Colombia (first runner-up), Camila Diaz Daneri of Peru (second runner-up), Borromeo (third runner-up) and Vanessa Hayes Schutt of Bolivia (fourth runner-up).

Borromeo, 21, is an interior design student at the School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design of the University of San Carlos. She succeeded Hannah Arnold as Miss International Philippines in 2022.

Before her Miss International stint, Borromeo won the titles Reyna ng Aliwan 2019 and Sinulog Festival Queen 2019. She represented Cebu in Miss Millennial Philippines and won the title in 2019, and Miss Teen Philippines where she placed second runner-up, also in 2019. 

The Philippines has so far produced six Miss International winners: Gemma Cruz Araneta in 1964, Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, Lara Quigaman in 2005, Bea Santiago in 2013 and Kylie Versoza in 2016.