Miss Universe Philippines 2026 candidate Jacqueline Gulrajani paid tribute to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, which struck her hometown, Tacloban, Leyte, in 2013.
During the pageant’s national costume showcase, the Filipina beauty queen strutted the stage wearing a Charlotte Rodriguez masterpiece, which “embodies the story of Tacloban City after the fury of Super Typhoon Yolanda," Jacqueline wrote in a joint Instagram post with MUPH Tacloban and the designer.
The hem of her costume was made of sculpted waves carrying the solemn image of the MV Eva Jocelyn, the cargo ship which served as a memorial to the lives lost during the super typhoon.
“Once a humble vessel of the sea, it was thrust ashore by unimaginable force—now immortalized as a symbol of how high the waters rose and how deep the wounds ran. In this design, it no longer drifts in ruin but stands as a quiet sentinel of memory and resilience,” Jacqueline said.
The costume came complete with a headpiece that's embellished with crystal raindrops that look like a storm’s eye. Meanwhile, the fractured patterns across the bodice “mirror shattered homes and broken horizons.”
According to Jacqueline, the costume is not just about sorrow but also about courage and hope.
“This is not a costume of sorrow alone. It is a crescendo of courage. The surging waves move forward, just as the people did—rebuilding, rising, reclaiming their light. More than remembrance, it is a declaration that Tacloban City remains steadfast—a City of Hope, unshaken in spirit, undefeated in heart,” she said.
Jacqueline is among the 50 candidates for Miss Universe Philippines 2026, along with pageant veterans Nicole Borromeo and Apriel Smith of Cebu Province and Cebu City, respectively, as well as Sparkle beauty queen Roxie Smith.
The winner will be crowned by Miss Universe Philippines 2025 and newly minted Sparkle artist Ahtisa Manalo at the coronation night on May 2.
The new queen will then represent the Philippines in Miss Universe 2026, which will take place in Puerto Rico come November.
— LA, GMA News