The Universal Woman pageant is reaching its thrilling finale as it prepares to crown its new winner.
The grand coronation night is set for August 10, 2025, in Jaipur, India.
Representing the Philippines, Jasmine Omay is aiming to secure a back-to-back victory following Maria Gigante's win.
On July 30, 2025, during her send-off party at Victoria Sports Tower in Quezon City, she promised to do her best.
"Lalaban po tayo for the Philippines," she told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press.
Jasmine admitted she was feeling a bundle of nerves: "Grabe, nakalakaba po talaga yung pageant. I don't know how I'm handling it right now.
"We're just going day by day because a month ago, we definitely felt all of the pressure.
"And I know ALV (Arnold Vegafria) is expecting a back-to-back win so I really have to own up to it.
"And I don't have any other choice, but to do it but... I'm pretty confident as well that all my hard works will be paid off."
JASMINE OMAY: WHAT MAKES A UNIVERSAL WOMAN?
For those unfamiliar, the Universal Woman pageant, launched in 2022, is a relatively new international beauty competition that "champions the unique brilliance and beauty of women making a positive impact in the world today," according to its website.
The pageant is committed to inclusivity, welcoming women aged 21 to 45 from all backgrounds—regardless of height, weight, or marital status.
Jasmine described a Universal Woman as someone with a heart to serve and deep empathy—qualities she believes she embodies.
In her words: "I do feel like a Universal Woman is someone who embodies the qualities of having the heart to serve.
"And she also has, she empathizes with others. And I do believe a Universal Woman is someone who is able to create that impact.
"And once we create that impact, we allow young girls to live in a world that is embracing of their potentials.
"That is capable of what they can do and is accepting of women's rights. And just as long as she's able to do that, then I believe that she is universal."
"Understanding everyone" is equally essential.
Jasmine added: "You know, it's very shallow to think that understanding would be a huge requirement, but when you're put in an international setting, what you need is to understand individuals who are present and who want to share something else.
"And if you're more understanding towards other people, then you become accepting of what they can share to the world. And that circles back and it goes beyond."
Aligned with the pageant's focus on celebrating women who positively impact the world, Jasmine has been using her platform to advocate and raise awareness for the abused girls.
She is also actively collaborating with the C.U.R.E. Foundation Inc. at Rancho ni Cristo.
C.U.R.E., which stands for Children's Upliftment, Restoration, and Education, is part of Maranatha Christian Fellowship and aims to achieve social transformation through its programs.
Rancho ni Cristo serves as a safe haven and after-care shelter for girls rescued from online sexual exploitation.
Jasmine shared: "My advocacy is based on protecting women, VAWC, Violence Against Women and Children.
"And I've been doing it, I've been working with CURE Foundation in the past few months, since I started.
"And it has been very rewarding to just have these girls given a chance, bringing them to trauma-informed care and all that...
"And showing it and sharing it online, I guess, is just the simplest way of doing it.
"And I know that there are a lot of people who are inspired by it.
"And I've been with a lot of queens who are helping me for the past few months, also for CURE Foundation, so I guess that's one reason.
"Allowing them, inviting them, and showing it online gives you much help."
JASMINE OMAY: READY FOR THE COMPETITION
During the send-off party, Jasmine shared her excitement about meeting her fellow Universal Woman 2025 candidates, particularly Keylyn Trajano, a Filipino-Arabian transwoman representing Saudi Arabia.
She revealed that she and Keylyn had already met: "Actually, we've met during the Love Laban and I've seen it.
"A lot of our media friends are asking me about it, I think, after her presentation, as well.
"So I'm very much excited to know the organization, the Universal Woman Organization was very accepting of her joining.
"And it really is a new era of beauty where it is mostly inclusive of women. Not just what we see on paper, not just what the society tells us, but what that woman believes in."
When asked about her pageant preparations, Jasmine revealed her greatest challenge.
"The toughest part is preparing for a back-to-back because you really need to think about all the aspects: the wardrobe, how you would present yourself, how would you describe yourself to the organization, that they would see someone who is more capable than the previous Filipino winner because it's a back-to-back.
"So that's the most challenging part of it. You really need to dig into the spaces in between of what Maria did and make that two times better or even multiple times better just to have the back-to-back round."
Jasmine said she is pretty much confident in the fashion department, and was actively involved in the design of her wardrobe.
She thanked fashion designer Ehrran Montoya for bringing her visions to life, particularly for her national costume and evening gowns.
"My gown would be by the very creative Ehrran Montoya.
"And my national costume as well would be coming from Mommy Ehrran Montoya.
"We've been working the past few months, ever since... even way before the pageant got postponed.
"And very much excited for this new collaboration. It's my first time working with her, so I'm very much excited.
"I've seen it, did the shoot already, so I'm so excited for you guys to see the full detail of how it's gonna be.
"Because she really matched who I am, so I guess it will transcend on the photo of the gowns."
Jasmine added: "Mommy Ehrran really made sure that I was comfortable with what I'm going to wear.
"And we both decided on the color. It's a color that we've been deciding for many pageants way back but really never happened.
"So this is the first time I'm wearing that color. So I'm very excited to really see how it is on the stage, appreciated internationally."
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