MANILA — “The crown is not for sale.”
That is the guiding principle behind Empress of the Universe, a new pageant founded by Nenuco Nomoto (Dr. Tomo) and Clarisse San Felipe that aims to put advocacy, character, leadership and humanitarian service at the center of its search for titleholders.
“A crown may make you a queen, but a lifetime of purpose, advocacy, and service is what makes you an Empress of the Universe,” Dr. Tomo said.
“It is not about how much money you can give. It is about how much impact you can create,” San Felipe added.
Their goal is not simply to crown another beauty queen, but to build a community of women whose voices, experiences, leadership, character, and advocacies can positively influence others.
"Empress of the Universe is not only an advocacy-driven pageant. We envision it as a global movement of advocacies and humanitarian action. We want to emphasize character, leadership, compassion, and what each woman can contribute to society. For us, the pageant is the platform — but the advocacy is the purpose," Dr. Tomo said.
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Crown with a purpose
Central to the advocacy of Empress of the Universe is its support for Autism World of Love and Acceptance (AWLA), a foundation and advocacy dedicated to promoting autism awareness and inclusion.
"Because advocacy should not exist only on stage. We want our humanitarian activities to happen before, during, and after the pageant. Even after a titleholder’s reign ends, we hope the advocacy she represents continues. The crown may be passed on, but the responsibility to create positive change should remain," San Felipe said.
The pageant also highlights upcoming humanitarian efforts through its Integrative Medicine Holistic Medical Mission in November 2026 with partner IBHIM International.
"This medical mission represents the kind of work we want Empress of the Universe to be known for: turning advocacy into meaningful action and bringing people from different fields together in service to the community," Dr. Tomo said.
Who can become an Empress?
When it comes to candidate qualifications, the organization welcomes women from different walks of life, including mothers, single mothers, married, separated, or divorced — who have genuine willingness to use their platform for advocacy and humanitarian service.
"We are not simply looking for the most beautiful woman in the room. We are looking for a woman whose character remains beautiful even when no one is watching — a woman with compassion, integrity, leadership, and a genuine heart for service. An Empress should understand that the crown is not merely a symbol of recognition. It is a responsibility and a platform that can be used to inspire others and create meaningful change," San Felipe said.
When asked for the meaning of 'the crown is not for sale,' Dr. Tomo shared: "It means a woman’s financial capacity should never define her worth or determine whether she deserves a crown. We want our candidates to be recognized for their character, advocacy, leadership, and genuine desire to serve, based on our established judging criteria — not simply on how much they can spend."
Selected candidates will receive personalized skincare support and skin and holistic treatments throughout their pageant journey, based on their individual needs.
Together with pasarela training, personal development, confidence-building, and advocacy opportunities, the journey is designed to help each woman grow from the inside out.
Official winners will receive cash prizes, together with complimentary travel opportunities, and one year of sponsorship from a holistic aesthetic clinic.