It was sayang talaga — what an abrupt, what a near miss! Many Filipinos and pageant fans share the same sentiment: Miss Earth Philippines 2025 Joy Barcoma should have made it to the Top 4 of Miss Earth 2025. Representing the Philippines with beauty, intellect, and compassion, Joy captured the hearts of many with her strong presence, calm confidence, and purpose-driven advocacy.

During the crucial Q&A round, Joy’s sincerity truly shone through. Before answering her question, she first delivered a heartfelt message, appealing for prayers for the victims of Typhoon Tino in the Philippines. The moment was deeply touching — a glimpse into her genuine empathy and sense of humanity. However, in such a decisive segment of the competition, every word, second, and expression can shape a contestant’s final impression.

While her message was undeniably heartfelt, some believe that it might have unintentionally affected her overall score. Our take? Joy could have saved that meaningful message for another time or platform, rather than delivering it right before her answer. It was a kind and thoughtful gesture, but perhaps that paandar — that spontaneous emotional lead-in — slightly shifted the judges’ focus away from the precision of her actual response.

Her message carried weight, but timing plays a critical role in pageants. That moment of compassion, though admirable, may have made her answer seem less direct compared to others who maintained sharper focus on the question itself. Unfortunately, this might have contributed to her not advancing to the Top 4.

Still, Joy represented the Philippines with grace, intelligence, and authenticity. Her calm composure, meaningful advocacy, and natural charm reflected the kind of queen Filipinos take pride in — one who leads with both heart and mind. For many, her journey was a strong reminder that being a beauty queen is not just about winning a crown but about embodying purpose and compassion even when the spotlight dims.

The Final Top 4 of Miss Earth 2025 included Natálie Puškinová of the Czech Republic, who was crowned Miss Earth 2025; Sóldís Vala Ívarsdóttir of Iceland, who finished as Miss Earth Air; Trịnh Mỹ Anh of Vietnam, named Miss Earth Water; and Waree Ngamkham of Thailand, who earned the Miss Earth Fire title.

Despite not making it to the final four, Joy Barcoma’s performance will be remembered as one of sincerity and substance. She stood out not just for her beauty but for her compassion — a queen who showed that heart will always matter most.

So yes, sayang talaga — that kind of beautiful “what if” moment that lingers long after the crown has been placed. But one thing’s for sure: the Philippines is proud of Joy Barcoma, a woman whose grace and authenticity shone brighter than any title.