Maria Sesaldo Gigante of Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines in 2014. She was appointed Universal Woman Philippines 2024 on January 26, 2024.
On March 22, 2024, Gigante represented the Philippines at Universal Woman 2024, competed against 43 other candidates at PNN TV in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and won the title. On August 10, 2025, she crowned her successor Ivana Carolina of Puerto Rico in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
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Universal Woman 2025 results
| beauty pageant: Universal Woman chief executive officer: Carolina London |
| edition: 3rd date: August 10, 2025 venue: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India candidates: 39 |
| hosts: Karibel Perez, Luis Portelles performers: Aldris Vargas |
JUDGES
- Apeksha Dabral
- Carolina London
- Caroline Teixeira
- Kartika Aurora
- Mohini Sharma
- Roger Castaños
FINALISTS
| PLACEMENT | NAME (COUNTRY/TERRITORY) |
| Top 39 | Agustina Bruenner (Argentina) Negar Ostad (Canada) Fernanda Villalobos (Chile) Jana Marvanova (Czech Republic) Katya Molina (El Salvador) Elyss Wong (Malaysia) Shreeyanka Thapa (Nepal) Briar Kerapa (New Zealand) Paulina Pieniazek (Poland) Gwen Chin (Singapore) Charne Cronje (South Africa) Monica Singh (Thailand) Esna Nur Turkey (Turkiye) Lushomo Kaumba (Zambia) |
| Top 25 | Adry Vargas (Bolivia) Nathalee de Armas (Cuba) Madli Vilsar (Estonia) Natalie Magez (Great Britain) Monica Nadia Chirila (Italy) Jennifer Cafardy (Martinique) Sidney Golden (Mexico) Laina Mwatukange (Namibia) Barbara Gavaia (Portugal) Gio Nicoly (Switzerland) Carolina Lopez (United States) Shelly Bent (Zimbabwe) |
| Top 13 | Chia Doreen (Cameroon) Daniela Miranda (Colombia) Catherin Hernandez (Dominican Republic) Gazal Sachdev (India) Tatiana Merel (Peru) Jasmine Omay (Philippines) Keylyn Trajano (Saudi Arabia) Ha Bich Ngoc (Vietnam) |
| Top 5 | Roci Pankov (Brazil) Katty Lopez España (Ecuador) Ivana Carolina (Puerto Rico) Iris Miguelez (Spain) Ismelys Velasquez (Venezuela) |
SPECIAL AWARDS
| AWARD | CANDIDATE |
| Miss Congeniality | Shreeyanka Thapa Nepal |
| Miss Inspirational | Agustina Bruenner Argentina |
| Best in National Costume | Gazal Sachdev India |
| Ambassador of Change | Katya Molina El Salvador |
FAST-TRACK EVENT WINNERS
| EVENT | WINNER |
| Social Project | Natalie Magez Great Britain |
| Social Media | Roci Pankov Brazil |
| Influencer Challenge | Shelly Bent Zimbabwe |
| Universal Voice Challenge | Keylyn Trajano Saudi Arabia |
| Popular Vote Winner | Ivana Carolina Puerto Rico |
CONTINENTAL QUEENS
| TITLE | WINNER |
| Universal Woman Africa 2025 | Chia Doreen Cameroon |
| Universal Woman Caribbean 2025 | Nathalee de Armas Cuba |
| Universal Woman Americas 2025 | Tatiana Merel Peru |
| Universal Woman Asia 2025 | Gazal Sachdev India |
| Universal Woman Europe 2025 | Madli Vilsar Estonia |
| Universal Woman Oceania 2025 | Briar Kerapa New Zealand |
| Universal Woman Pacific 2025 | Ha Bich Ngoc Vietnam |
WINNERS
| PLACEMENT | 2025 | 2024 |
| 4th runner-up | Roci Pankov Brazil | Chabeli Tavera Peña Dominican Republic |
| 3rd runner-up | Katty Lopez España Ecuador | Brianna Mai Cambodia |
| 2nd runner-up | Ismelys Velasquez Venezuela | Elisa Mysyshyne France |
| 1st runner-up | Iris Miguelez Spain | Lisandra Chirinos Venezuela |
| Universal Woman | Ivana Carolina Puerto Rico | Maria Gigante Philippines |
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