Kinoronahan bilang Miss Teen Universe Philippines 2025 si Chiara Mae Gottschalk, ang 17-year-old Filipina-German na taga-Camarines Norte.
Magiging representative ng Pilipinas si Chiara sa 2025 Miss Teen Universe. But as of this writing, wala pang ina-announce kung kailan at saang bansa ito gaganapin.
Sa official sashing and crowing ni Chiara last January 19, 2025, sa German Club Manila in Makati City, sinabi ng teen queen na nasorpresa siya sa pagbigay sa kanya ng naturang beauty title.
First time niya kasi sumali sa pageant nang sumabak siya sa Miss Teen International Philippines, at runner-up lang siya sa naturang pageant.
Lahad niya, “Miss Teen International Philippines was my first-ever experience in the pageantry world, and it was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever done, especially meeting my fellow candidates.
“However, one of the biggest lessons I also learned was that coming up first runner-up for Miss Teen International, it does not always mean that when you do not succeed, that it is a door closing.
“It is more of a redirection. And this is why I’m sitting in front of you here today. And I’m very, very, very excited to accept this new responsibility.”
Mabilis na nangyari ang “redirection” na sinasabi ni Chiara dahil mula sa Miss Teen International Philippines ay agad niyang nakilala si Charlotte Dianco, ang National Director ng Miss Teen Universe Philippines.
“It was the day after the coronation night when we were already celebrating and congratulating all the girls and especially Miss Rizal, the new Miss Teen International Philippines.
“And then we had a meeting with Miss Charlotte, and she told me and offered this wonderful experience, and I graciously accepted the challenge.
“Thank you because I’m able to reach the youth. It is Miss Teen Universe for a reason, and it will be my first time representing the country on the national stage.”
chiara wants to deepen knowledge of filipino culture
Aside sa kanyang magiging pageant training, nais din ni Chiara na pag-aralan pa ang iba’t ibang kultura ng ating bansa.
“I really plan on developing my knowledge and having a deeper understanding of my heritage.
“So during my training, as much as I will focus on pasarela, I will also be doing a little bit of traveling around the Philippines so that I’m able to better indulge everyone and really give an authentic experience to those visiting the country.
“Cultures have a very unique understanding of what family is. It’s so deeply rooted in us that we are family-oriented.
“My father is German and my mother is Filipino, but I feel very connected to both cultures.
“It’s definitely a family that brings us together and as well as religion. We always, we attend mass and we pray together.
“So I feel that those values are deeply ingrained into me and who I am today.”
Malaki naman ang pasasalamat ni Chiara sa kanyang pamilya.
“My family, they are 100% supportive of anything that I endeavor to do.
“I keep saying this, but I really would not be here without their support and their encouragement because they believe in me and the potential that I possess more than what I believe I could do.”
chiara on joining pageantry to build self-confidence
Isang reason kung bakit sinubukan ni Chiara ang pagsali sa pageant ay para ma-achieve ang confidence sa sarili niya.
Dati rin daw kasing beauty queen ang mother niyang si Charito Vizcaya na nanalong Miss Bicolandia noong 1987.
Kuwento ni Chiara, “One of the biggest reasons why I actually joined Miss Teen International was because I wanted to build my confidence.
“I also went on an awkward stage. I was never the great girl in dresses. I was always in jeans and hoodies.
“So I feel that I’ve definitely stepped out of my comfort zone.”
Aminado si Chiara na hindi niya pinangarap noon na sumali sa mga beauty pageant.
Aniya, “If you would have asked me two years ago if I would have ever dreamed of being in pageantry, I would have been like, ‘No, I can’t do it.’
“But the people around me pushed me, and you know, this is why I’m here today.
“So definitely being on that stage for MTI [Miss Teen International Philippines] was a stepping stone and for my own self-development.”
Sa pageantry rin daw nahanap ni Chiara ang kanyang passion.
“Since last year, I began to really put myself into this industry and I fell in love with it immediately. I never had a passion that I stuck with.
“I went through ballet, I went through theater, I went through gymnastics and swimming and things like that.
“But this, I feel now, is something that I’m able to stand up and use my voice, and as well as be a role model for those girls who were like me before.
“So that is definitely why I think that this is the place that I want to be at right now.”
chiara advocates for inclusivity
Nag-share din si Chiara ng kanyang advocacy for inclusivity para sa maraming kabataan, lalo na raw yung mga nakakaranas ng discrimination dahil magkaiba ang lahi ng kanilang magulang.
Paliwanag niya, “Coming from a diverse background, I feel that I have different experiences.
“I see the world a little bit differently than my peers and I plan to bring those exposures with me and hopefully connect with my fellow candidates more.
“I want to explain to them that by being half-Filipina does not make me less than, that I’m able to carry the true strength of our country with us on a national stage.
“I try my best to be inclusive of everybody, to say hello to the girl who’s sitting in the corner or something like that. So I definitely think that that is my core.”
Looking forward si Chiara na gampanan ang kanyang mga tungkulin bilang Miss Teen Universe Philippines.
Aniya, “I’m able to share my voice more on a wider platform. And I hope to make my reign an impressive one, and hopefully empower the youth around me as I intended to do with any other crown or any other responsibility I will take on.
“I want to show them the resilience and the beauty that we hold here in the Philippines because it’s truly beautiful.”
Habang wala pang opisyal na pagdadausan na bansa ang Miss Teen Universe, babalik daw muna si Chiara sa kanyang responsibilidad bilang isang estudyante at isantabi muna ang kanyang pagiging beauty title holder.
“I’m a 110% of being myself and being present in this moment so that when I’m able to return to school, I’m also able to get 110% there.
“I don’t like to do things halfway. So when I’m here, I’m very much present. I’m in this moment with you all. But I also have to make a compromise in the same thing for school.
“So when my exams are coming up, I’m no longer a beauty queen. I’m just studying and trying to get through and then I’m able to step back and take on my passion once again.”
