Newly crowned Miss Iloilo 2025 Karen Nicole Piccio revealed that Alexie Brooks, her predecessor and reigning Miss Eco International Philippines, inspired her pageant journey.
“If we are talking about a beauty queen who [inspired me], it would be no other than Alexie Brooks,” Piccio said in an interview.
“I love her advocacy so much, Àbanse Babaye. That’s also something I hope I can work with her a lot,” the beauty queen from Maasin town added.
The Àbanse Babaye advocacy of Brooks, who experienced bullying and discrimination in school because of her dark skin and short curly hair, aims to promote women empowerment.
Piccio won the Miss Iloilo 2025 title during the pageant’s coronation on Jan. 11, besting nine other candidates from different parts of Iloilo.
She also won the Best in Introduction Video, Best in Advocacy and Tourism Video, Best in Closed-Door Interview, Best in Gastronomy Costume, and Best in Runway Model awards.
The 27-year-old pageant veteran will represent Iloilo City in this year’s edition of Miss Universe Philippines.
In 2019, Piccio took home the Miss Philippines-Ecotourism title. She also joined Miss Manila 2023 pageant and finished first runner-up.IMT