MANILA – Gazini Ganados is set to return to the international pageant stage as she prepares to compete in the Miss Grand International All Stars, citing personal growth and a renewed sense of purpose.

In an interview, the 30-year-old beauty queen said her decision to rejoin pageantry comes after years of self-development and rediscovery of her roots.

“I am coming back right now because I have evolved as a woman. I was 23 when I was competing for Miss Universe Philippines before,” Gazini shared.

She said a turning point came after her stint in Miss Universe 2019, when she met her Palestinian father for the first time.

“I found the gravity of the situation that they have in Palestine and how I wish I was able to represent them on an international stage. But I didn’t really realize that this opportunity would come up to my door. And I was offered with a chance to represent them again this time,” she said.

“So I took that, and I grabbed that opportunity because I am not the same woman I was when I was competing as Miss Universe Philippines. I’ve learned, and I’ve grown, and I’ve cultivated a value that would make me proud to represent them on a global stage, finally,” she added.

Ganados said her advocacy aligns with the pageant’s theme, “Stop the War and Violence.”

“I feel like it’s an alignment for me talaga. ‘Stop the War and Violence’ has been my advocacy since the pandemic started because ‘yun nga, I met my dad before the pandemic happened. And I feel like this is my calling. This is an alignment for me to be able to represent them finally,” she said.

She also described her return as both a personal mission and a second chance.

“I know that people will understand why I came back to pageantry because of that. And family is everything. And for me, this is the right thing to do even if I’ve already had my time before. And besides that, this is also my redemption. It’s an obligation for me to represent my family this time,” she said.

The pageant will be held in Thailand, where Ganados said she is preparing more intensively compared to her previous international competition.

“I believe I could do better this time. And I am more prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally,” she said.

She noted that her past experience influenced how she will approach the competition, particularly in the pasarela segment.

“I said to myself, had I known, I should have just pushed for my limits during that time, bahala na kung madulas ako. So, maybe this time, I’ll put more energy into it because I didn’t really get to unleash the version of myself during that time, how much more now that I have more conviction and grit towards my personality,” she said.

Ganados said she is currently undergoing training to enhance her performance.

“I’m already training for my pasarela and I’m so excited to be able to cultivate new steps. Kasi I know MGI is grand eh. Their vision is towards massive and huge movements. So hindi ko na siya bibitinin this time. So I’m hoping, and I’m excited that I will get to represent, or I will get to show the capabilities that I’m supposed to show during my Miss Universe era.”

She also thanked Filipinos for their support ahead of her return to the international stage.

“I would like to say thank you so much for the love and support. I did not expect, I mean, I’ve heard a lot of people say that I’m on their wish list, but I did not expect the gravity of the support I will be getting from the Filipinos. Ilalaban ko po kayo,” she said.

Ganados previously placed in the Top 20 of Miss Universe 2019 and won the Best National Costume award.

She will be joined by fellow Philippine candidates Keylyn Trajano, Alexia Núñez, and Fuschia Anne Ravena in the competition.

The MGI All Stars pageant is open to women and trans women aged 20 to 40 who have previously competed in international pageants.