Emma Mary Tiglao: A Story of Dreams, Detours, and Determination

 

Emma Mary Tiglao’s life is proof that dreams never expire. She once said, “Dreams have no deadlines, they only have detours.” Her journey shows us that even when the road is long and full of challenges, determination and faith can still lead us to success.

Born on December 8, 1994, in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, Emma grew up with strong Kapampangan values of resilience and hard work. She studied International Tourism Management at Holy Angel University, but her heart was also drawn to the world of pageantry.

Emma’s path to the crown was not easy. She joined many competitions before finally reaching her biggest victory. In 2012, she was 1st Runner-up in Mutya ng Pilipinas. In 2014, she joined Binibining Pilipinas and reached the Top 15. In 2015, she became 4th Princess in Miss World Philippines. Four years later, she returned to Binibining Pilipinas and won the title of Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental. She represented the Philippines in Miss Intercontinental 2019 and placed in the Top 20.

But Emma did not stop there. In 2025, at the age of 30, she joined Miss Grand Philippines and won. Many people thought she was already “too old” for pageants, but Emma proved them wrong. She believed that if you still have the passion, you should keep going. That same year, she represented the Philippines in Miss Grand International 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Out of 76 candidates, Emma was crowned the 13th Miss Grand International queen. She is the second Filipina Miss Grand International, and the first back-to-back winner in the history of the competition, following CJ Opiaza the year prior.

Emma is more than just a beauty queen. She also worked as a news anchor and TV presenter, showing her talent in communication and journalism. On the international stage, she used her voice to talk about important issues such as corruption, natural disasters, online scams, and human trafficking. She also won the Country’s Power of the Year Award, which helped her secure a spot in the Top 22.

Her story teaches us many lessons:

• Never give up. Emma joined pageants for more than a decade before reaching her biggest win.
• Age is just a number. At 30, she proved that determination matters more than youth.
• Use your voice for good. She showed that beauty queens can also be leaders and advocates.
• Stay proud of your roots. Her Kapampangan identity gave her strength and confidence.
• See failures as detours, not dead ends. Every setback prepared her for her historic victory.

Emma Mary Tiglao’s journey is not just about crowns and titles. It is about hope, resilience, and purpose. She inspires us to keep believing, no matter how many times we fall. Her life is a reminder to every dreamer: your time will come, because dreams have no deadlines, they only take detours.

Photo courtesy of Miss Grand International