A 27-year-old painter, model and host from the town of Maasin bagged the Miss Iloilo 2025 title during the pageant’s coronation night held at the West Visayas State University Cultural Center on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Karen Nicole Piccio bested nine other candidates from different parts of Iloilo. She was crowned by Miss Iloilo 2024 and Miss Eco International 2025 Alexie Mae Caimoso Brooks.
The Maasinhon beauty will represent Iloilo City in this year’s edition of Miss Universe Philippines.
Aside from the title, Piccio 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.
In the final round of the competition, the Top 3 candidates were asked the same question: “As a woman of heartfelt beauty, what do you believe is one best practice of Iloilo that the rest of the Philippines can emulate?”
“Given that our LGU or Iloilo LGU and our beloved mayor has already taken a step in applying and having been awarded by UNESCO as one of the Creative Cities of Gastronomy in the world, this is something that we can surely exemplify to the rest of the Philippines and in the world,” Piccio answered.
Piccio is a pageant veteran. She was crowned Miss Philippines-Ecotourism 2019 and proclaimed as first runner-up in the Miss Manila 2023 pageant.
Meanwhile, Elaine Segura of Guimbal and Rhea Marissa Puyong were named heartfelt queens. They also clinched the Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit awards, respectively.
The Miss Iloilo pageant is part of the celebration of the Dinagyang Festival 2025.IMT
