Czech Republic wins Miss Earth 2025, Philippines in Top 8
MANILA, Philippines — In a surprising twist of fate, Natalie Puskinova of Czech Republic won as the 25th Miss Earth titleholder as she ended her final answer in Filipino at the close of glitzy rites from The Cove in Okada Manila.
The second to win the crown from Czech Republic after Tereza Fajksova in 2012, Puskinova endeared herself to Filipinos during the final question and answer portion.
All four of the remaining contestants, which include Iceland, Thailand and Vietnam, were asked the question: "Bill Gates, who is the leading proponent for carbon emissions reduction, recently proposed that resources must be shifted away from the battle against climate change to efforts that prevent disease and hunger. Do you agree?"
"I'm not here today to pick a finger and choose what is worst, whether it is environmental causes or social problems. I believe that even though I live in the other side of the world, we are still facing the same climate change and we are facing this issue together.
"I believe that if we all unite, we can prevent both hunger and environmental causes. And one message I wanna say, protektahan natin ang kalikasan," Puskinova said.
After the final question and answer portion, Puskinova was crowned by Australia's outgoing queen Jessica Lane, beating 81 other contestants for the crown.
Soldis Vala Ivarsdottir of Iceland, meanwhile, was named Miss Earth Air 2025, the same title her predecessor won last year.
Trinh My Anh of Vietnam was proclaimed Miss Earth Water 2025 and, completing the elemental court was Waree Ngamkham of Thailand as Miss Earth Fire 2025.
The other ladies who made it to the Top 12 were Elizaveta Guryanova (Russia), Delina Girma (Ethiopia), Justyna Daria Roguska (Poland), and Genesis Vera (Mexico), winner of the People's Choice Award.
Mariia Zheliaskova (Ukraine), Nathalie Briones (Chile), Laila Frizon (Brazil), and the Philippines' Joy Barcoma made it to the Top 8.
While the lucky ladies who made it to the semifinal round were Jenique Botha (South Africa), Florencia Hernandez (Argentina), Aria Keilbach (Northern Marianas), Elizaveta Kuznetskova (Moldova), Ndeshipewa Tweyaangula (Namibia), Hailey Hamelin Wilson (Canada), Evangeline Chen (Macau), Massiel Suarez (Peru), Yunseo Choi (Korea), Natalie Guglielmo (Italy), Komal Choudhary (India), Justyna Daria Roguska (Poland), and Ana Zafyra (United Arab Emirates).
The other delegates who won special awards, albeit unplaced, were Valentina Arangocollazos, Best in Swimsuit (Colombia) and Rachel Chang, Best in Evening Gown (Cuba).
This year's selection committee included Miss Earth Air 2016 Michelle Gomez, Jasper Vicencio, beauty queen-turned-actor Suzanne Gonzales, hotelier Gino Mariñas, Miss Earth 2023 Drita Ziri, Philippine Airlines executive vice president Vivienne Tan, and Carousel Productions executive vice president Lorraine Schuck.
Hosted by James Deakin, the Miss Earth 2025 final show was streamed live to a global audience through the Carousel Productions channel on YouTube and Facebook.
The 25th Miss Earth coronation night will also have a delayed telecast through the Kapamilya Channel on November 9.
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