Gazini Ganados


Gazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados, popularly known as Gazini Ganados, is a Filipino-Palestinian fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas 2019. Known for her work in advocating for elderly care and HIV and AIDS research, she represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant, where she placed in the Top 20.

Early life and education

Ganados was born in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines to a Palestinian father and Filipino mother and was raised by her maternal grandparents. Ganados and her family moved and have resided in Talisay City, Cebu since she was in sixth grade. She holds a degree in Tourism Management and a certificate in Health Care Services NCII both from the University of San Jose–Recoletos in Cebu City.

Pageantry

National Competitions

Ganados joined Miss World Philippines 2014 and placed in the Top 13. On June 9, 2019, she competed in Binibining Pilipinas 2019 representing Talisay, Cebu and won the title of Miss Universe Philippines 2019.
Ganados is the second Cebuana to win the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title, after Pilar Pilapil who won in 1967. During the national costume competition, she wore an ensemble inspired by Queen Juana of the ancient Rajahnate of Cebu, and the whole representation of the festivities and meaning of the Sinulog Festival in the whole island of Cebu. In honor of her Middle Eastern roots, she chose to perform a belly dance presentation during the talent competition. As she is very close to her grandparents, her main advocacy is elderly care. Ganados was crowned by outgoing Miss Universe Philippines 2018 and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
Ganados won the following special awards:
During the question and answer portion of the national pageant, she was asked: "If you win the crown tonight, what can you do to get more women in the workplace?" She replied:

[Miss Universe 2019]

As Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Ganados represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2019 competition on 8 December 2019 at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States. Entering the competition she was one of the favourites to win the crown according to bookmakers. During the final competition, she failed to advance as one of the 5 representatives chosen from the Africa/Asia-Pacific continental block but was able to advance as one of the 5 wildcards. This made it the second time the Philippines had entered the Miss Universe semifinals as a wildcard contestant since Rachel Peters' Top 10 placement in 2017. Ganados talked about her advocacy focused on elderly care in her opening statement but was not able to advance to the top 10. Her Top 20 finish broke the ongoing streak of the Philippines' appearance in the Top 10 for 9 consecutive years, but successfully sustained its ongoing streak of yearly semifinal appearances at Miss Universe since 2010, making it the first participating country to qualify to the live Miss Universe finale for at least a full decade in the 21st century. Ganados won the national costume competition with her Philippine eagle-inspired ensemble, becoming the second Filipina to win the award after Charlene Gonzales in 1994.
By then end of the event, outgoing Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray crowned her successor Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa as Miss Universe 2019.