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Baguio City's Gwendoline Meliz Soriano. Photo from Binibining Pilipinas
MANILA — For Gwendoline Meliz Soriano, preparing for the Miss International pageant is not just about physically staying in shape — it is also about finding balance, staying grounded, and knowing herself.
After emerging triumphant in Binibining Pilipinas International 2026, the Baguio City delegate is now setting her sights on an even bigger goal: representing the Philippines at the prestigious Miss International contest in 2027.
Soriano made her mark on coronation night in July, taking home several awards, including Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown, before ultimately being crowned Binibining Pilipinas International.
READ: Baguio's Gwendoline Soriano wins Miss International PH 2026 in Bb. Pilipinas return
With plenty of time before she takes on the international stage, the 27-year-old queen is already working on becoming the best version of herself — both physically and mentally.
"Now, I'm trying to be active in badminton. Aside from badminton, I want to start running again. Because you know, we have experienced a lot of typhoons so it's kind of hard to do outdoor activities. But now that it's getting sunny again, I want to get into running," Soriano shared with ABS-CBN News at an ANTA Philippines event in Quezon City.
Binibining Pilipinas partnered with ANTA Philippines for official pre-pageant events and sporty fashion showcases.
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Staying active, however, is nothing new for Soriano.
Even before joining Binibining Pilipinas, she had already made it a point to take care of her physical well-being through sports and simple activities such as walking.
"Even before my Binibining Pilipinas competition, I'm trying to be healthy physically and active. So I've been doing some sports. Before, I kind of tried running and walking. I do walk all the time. I like walking. It's when I get to reflect on things. And that's my deep breathing every single day," she added.
Photo from Binibining Pilipinas
For Soriano, those quiet moments are just as important as physical training.
One of the things that helps her maintain her peace of mind is her faith. She makes time for daily devotions, using them as a way to stay focused on her goals while keeping outside noise at bay.
"I do my daily devotions. For me, it's important to really focus on my goal and to not be affected and consumed so much by the external forces. Let's say the criticism or the bashers — because we have audiences, we have fans, we have bashers. And it's normal. It's okay. What I try to really focus on is that really knowing myself," said Soriano, who also studied at Saint Louis University in Baguio City.
"Because if I'm sure about myself, I wouldn't be affected much about what other people would say. And it helped make me more composed and relaxed and confident about who I am and who I get to present to other people."
That confidence is something Soriano has built over time — and her journey to Binibining Pilipinas was far from straightforward. She initially put her pageant plans on hold in 2022 to focus on work, believing at the time that she might have already missed her chance.
However, years later, the opportunity came knocking again.
"I believe in perfect timing, just like in any aspect of our lives. But when it comes to pageants, I'm not supposed to join anymore after 2022. I've withdrawn from the competition because I had some work. And again, that time I had to experience a lot of things," Soriano shared.
"And I felt like I've grown so much from all those years of waiting. And so when 2026 came, and I had the opportunity to join again. So, I really prayed about it. I really prepared myself for it."
The decision ultimately paid off.
Soriano bested 34 other contestants to capture the Binibining Pilipinas International 2026 crown. She also took home the Binibining Philippine Airlines and Binibining Urban Smiles titles, adding to a memorable coronation night.
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