Maica Cabling Martinez, 29, of Pagas, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines is competing for the right to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in anthropology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
In 2015, Martinez graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. She is Binibining Cabanatuan 2019, Miss Millenial Philippines 2019 third runner-up, Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen 2022 first runner-up and Miss Petite Global 2023 second runner-up.
On February 13, 2024, Martinez was officially appointed Miss Universe Nueva Ecija 2024. She is the first ever Miss Universe Philippines candidate from Nueva Ecija.
Representing Nueva Ecija, Martinez will compete against 54 other Miss Universe Philippines 2024 candidates at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila on May 22, 2024. Among her fellow candidates are Chelsea Manalo, 25, Bulacan, Cyrille Payumo, 26, Pampanga and Anita Rose Gomez, 23, Zambales.
On February 18, 2024, Martinez, Manalo, Payumo and Gomez and their fellow Miss Universe Philippines 2024 candidates were officially introduced at the Grand Ballroom of Hilton Manila in Pasay City. Miss Universe 2021 top 5 finalist Beatrice Luigi Gomez, 28, and Ralph de Leon, 26, hosted the event.
Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Lee, 35, attended the event along with Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up Janine Tugonon, 34, Miss Supranational 2023 first runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, 28, and Miss Universe 2023 top 10 finalist Michelle Dee, 28. Since 2020, Supsup-Lee has been the national director of Miss Universe Philippines.
Currently, the Philippines has 27 Miss Universe placements including the coronations of Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margie Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015 and Catriona Gray in 2018. The most recent one was in 2023 when Dee finished in the Top 10.
CONAN Daily 