Kaladkaren defends Marina Summers amid the buzz over her hosting performance.
Drag artist Marina Summers makes history as the first transwoman to host Miss Universe Philippines 2026, and Kaladkaren has this to say about it.
A new queen has been crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2026. MUPH 2025 Ahtisa Manalo crowns Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union as her successor, and in the event, history was made as drag artist Marina Summers took the stage as the pageant’s host.
However, this is not her first time gracing the beauty pageant. In 2024, Summer performed at the coronation show, which was held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 22, with 2022 Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel as host.
As a host of MUPH 2025, mixed reactions were made, with some criticizing her energy. There were those mocking her and looking for the previous hosts like Alden Richards, Robi Domingo, Xian Lim, and Gabbi Garcia. One user expressed that it was “nakakaantok.”
Amid the buzz, Kaladkaren came in to defend her. According to her, regardless of opinions about Marina’s hosting skills, her presence on stage is what truly matters. She added that having a transgender woman host a major national beauty pageant is a powerful sign of progress, representation, and inclusivity. It shows that barriers are being broken and that the platform is becoming more accepting of diverse identities.
She wrote, “You can say whatever you want about Marina’s hosting but the fact that she’s there on stage… A trans woman hosting the biggest beauty pageant in the country speaks volumes. Periodt”
Meanwhile, the members of this year’s selection committee are Kapuso actress Jennylyn Mercado, beauty queen Gazini Ganados, Filipino fashion designer Rhett Eala, celebrity doctor Hayden Kho Jr., Villa Medica Philippines Crystal Jacinto, GMG Productions CEO Carlos Garcia Candal, and Cosmopolitan PH Executive Editor Ida Aldana.
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