Salvador Panelo Joins Miss Universe Pakistan Judges

Salvador Panelo Surprises Viewers as Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 Judge

SALVADOR PANELO – Netizens had plenty of questions after spotting Salvador Panelo, wearing his signature sunglasses and leather jacket, at the Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 coronation night.

Many Filipinos were surprised to see former presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo taking part in the recently concluded Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 coronation night.

The lawyer, who previously served as spokesperson and chief legal counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was among the judges in the national beauty pageant. The competition was streamed on YouTube on August 18 and 19, giving viewers in different parts of the world a chance to watch the event.

Panelo immediately caught the attention of many viewers with his distinctive appearance. Wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket, he took part in the question-and-answer portion and personally asked one of the candidates: “Tell us what belief that you have that despite opposition thereto, or disagreement by so many people here, still stand by it. Explain to us, why?”

His presence on the judging panel sparked curiosity among Filipino netizens. Several Pinoys took to social media to question what qualified the veteran lawyer to judge a beauty competition and how he ended up becoming part of the Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 pageant.

However, some online users were quick to find a possible connection. Miss Universe Pakistan is headed by Dubai-based Filipino entrepreneur Josh Yugen, which helped explain why several personalities from the Philippines were also included in the panel of judges.

Panelo was not the only Filipino celebrity or public figure who participated in selecting the winner. Actress Arci Muñoz was also among the judges, along with Miss Globe 2021 Maureen Montagne, Miss World Philippines 2022 Gwendolyne Fourniol, and singer Bailey May.

At the end of the competition, Misbah Arshad emerged victorious and was crowned Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 after surpassing nine other finalists. Her win earned her the opportunity to represent Pakistan on the international stage.

Arshad is now set to compete in this year’s Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Puerto Rico. There, she is expected to face contestants from different countries, including the Philippines’ representative, Bea Millan-Windorski.

While the pageant produced a new queen for Pakistan, Panelo’s unexpected appearance as one of the judges also became a talking point among Filipino viewers, leaving many intrigued by his unusual role in the international beauty pageant.