Medical scientist hopes to make impact in MUPH 2025

MANILA, Philippines — This year’s Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) is touted to be an intense and fierce competition as pageant veterans and titleholders are taking another shot at the crown.

But Quirino bet and pageant first-timer Bianca Ysabella Rei Olay Ylanan is not pressured at all, given how tough the MUPH 2025 edition is expected to be.

She, along with other 68 contestants, including Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez, Miss International 2018 first runner-up Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Earth-Air 2023 Yllana Marie Aduana, will vie for the crown on May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

“I think this is what you’ll see throughout the competition,” declared Bianca at her presscon on how she will bring her A-game into the much-anticipated beauty contest. “Because to me, there’s so many of us that give so many different things and it’s hard to compare. I don’t know you guys do it, how we do it, how you keep up but for me, it’s a competition with myself.

“And I think how I do this, puksaan this year, is really just… looking at myself in the mirror and finding content with what I see. (There’s) no need for anything else really.”

The 25-year-old medical scientist has been rigorously training under beauty camp Aces & Queens to prepare for the finals night.

She recently graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Medicine at the University of Tasmania in Australia and spent her formative years at Dominican School and UST Junior and Senior High School, under STEM strand. She would frequent her hometown Maddela, Quirino during school breaks and holidays to spend time with her family.

She accepted the offer to be the representative of Quirino at the MUPH because she “wants to do more than my career.” The MUPH is her first-ever pageant.

“When I got the invitation, I saw it more (like) I wanna be whole as a person. I wanna be an advocate. I wanna be a good ate. I wanna be a good partner. I wanna be a good daughter. And if being an advocate means being Miss Universe Philippines, then I’ll take that role.”

Coming from a family of health professionals, Bianca’s advocacy is focused on Filipino children’s health and nutrition.

 “With this platform, I really want to showcase not only Quirino but also my advocacy which is on Filipino children’s health because I have like two inspirational generations of women who are in the field of medicine. I grew up looking up to them. So, to me, it’s really close to my heart that I get to not only work as a medical scientist but also as someone who can promote Filipino children’s health,” she maintained. 

She also looked up to Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus Raj as her inspiration in the world of pageantry.

On why she should be the next MUPH winner, she answered, “Miss Universe to me is representing the Filipinos. Right now, I’m representing Quirino but to represent Filipinos is such a big responsibility.

 “And I think I should be the next Miss Universe because like Filipinos, I’m multifaceted. I show our pakikipagkapwa tao not only from my experience in Australia but also from being in Quirino and in Manila. I think I can bring a fresh perspective not only to the Philippines but also to the universe.”

Moreover, the “craziest thing” that Bianca did for love was to move to the Philippines with her foreigner boyfriend Jim Wyndham.

“We sold the house, packed up all our things to move here to pursue my interest as well. The craziest thing we’ve done is literally move halfway across the world to find our passions,” she recounted. 

“We grow as a couple but I think we should also let each other grow individually. Because that’s what makes you stronger. If I am flourishing as a beauty queen, I think he is flourishing in his own stuff as well.”

Jim, who was also at the presscon, recalled to The STAR that he and Bianca met at a museum and gallery where they worked together. They have been in a relationship for nearly three years now.

“I just want her to know that she’s got our full support at all times…I’m willing to do anything for her,” said Jim.

Bianca was further asked to choose between love and the crown.

“Right now, it would be the crown ‘cause I know that my partner is gonna be backing me up with whatever I do and this is my goal now. This what fulfills me now so the crown,” replied Bianca.