Katrina Llegado is a Filipina banker-turned-model, entrepreneur, and beauty queen who made history on August 1, 2026, by winning the Miss Supranational crown, becoming only the second Filipina titleholder in the pageant’s history.
From a finance career at global institutions to the international pageant stage, Llegado’s journey reflects both academic achievement and years of pageant perseverance.
This biography covers her early life, education, career, pageant history, and rise to global recognition.
Profile
| Full Name | Maria Katrina Llegado |
| Born | November 8, 1997 |
| Age | 28 years old |
| Birthplace | Manila, Philippines |
| Hometown | Bagumbayan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation | Banker, Model, Entrepreneur, Beauty Pageant Titleholder |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
| Education | Manresa School, Parañaque (2014); De La Salle University, Manila (BS Financial Management, cum laude, 2017) |
| Military Service | Philippine Air Force Reserve Command (2023–present) |
| Known For | Miss Supranational 2026, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2019, Co-founder of a cosmetics brand |
Early Life
Maria Katrina Llegado was born on November 8, 1997, in Manila, Philippines, and grew up in Bagumbayan, Taguig City, in Metro Manila.
From an early age, she balanced academic discipline with an interest in modeling and pageantry, values that would come to define both her professional and pageant careers.
Education
Llegado graduated from Manresa School in Parañaque, Metro Manila, in March 2014.
She went on to attend De La Salle University in Malate, Manila, from 2014 to 2017, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management.
During her studies and shortly after, she completed internships in finance and economics, working as a finance accounting intern at Johnson & Johnson Philippines from May to August 2017, and as an economic research intern at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (the Philippine central bank) from September to December 2017.
Career
Following her graduation and internships, Llegado joined Citi in April 2018, launching a professional career in banking that ran parallel to her growing involvement in pageantry.
Alongside her finance career, she became a co-founder of a cosmetics brand and built a modeling career, and later joined the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command in 2023, following in the footsteps of other Filipina beauty queens who have served as Armed Forces reservists, including Michelle Marquez Dee and Beatrice Luigi Gomez.
Llegado’s pageant journey began locally in April 2018, when she represented Bagumbayan at Mutya ng Taguig 2018, finishing as third runner-up among 26 candidates.
She went on to compete in Miss World Philippines 2019, and was subsequently crowned Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2019, earning her the right to represent the Philippines at Reina Hispanoamericana 2019 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, where she placed as fifth runner-up (Quinta Finalista).
In 2022, Llegado represented Taguig at Miss Universe Philippines, finishing as second runner-up, with the main crown going to Celeste Cortesi. She returned to the Miss Universe Philippines stage again in 2025, reaching the Top 6.
That same year, she was named The Miss Philippines Supranational 2026 during the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, earning the right to represent the country at the international Miss Supranational competition.
On July 31, 2026 (August 1 in Manila), Llegado made history at the 17th edition of Miss Supranational, held at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Nowy Sącz, Poland.
Competing against 66 other delegates from around the world, she was crowned Miss Supranational 2026, becoming the second Filipina to win the title, 13 years after Mutya Datul secured the Philippines’ first Miss Supranational crown in 2013. She was also the first titleholder to receive the pageant’s new “Fioletowa” crown, featuring purple stones in place of the traditional blue.
Her victory was sealed by a widely praised final Q&A answer about learning to stop conforming to others’ expectations and embracing her authentic, “perfectly imperfect” self.
Pageant Titles & Achievements
- 3rd Runner-Up, Mutya ng Taguig (2018)
- Contestant, Miss World Philippines (2019)
- Winner, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas (2019)
- 5th Runner-Up (Quinta Finalista), Reina Hispanoamericana (2019, Bolivia)
- 2nd Runner-Up, Miss Universe Philippines (2022)
- Top 6, Miss Universe Philippines (2025)
- The Miss Philippines Supranational (2026)
- Winner, Miss Supranational (2026, Poland)
Social Media
| @katllegado |
Personal Life
Katrina Llegado has spoken publicly about the personal growth journey behind her pageant career, describing how seeking support and focusing on what she could control helped her embrace her authentic self rather than trying to fit into others’ expectations.
She continues to serve as a reservist with the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command alongside her modeling, entrepreneurial, and pageant commitments.
Net Worth
Katrina Llegado’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed, but her income is understood to stem from her banking career at Citi, her co-founded cosmetics brand, modeling work, and pageant-related endorsements and appearances, which are likely to expand significantly following her Miss Supranational 2026 win.
FAQs
Who is Katrina Llegado?
Katrina Llegado is a Filipina banker, model, and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Supranational 2026.
How old is Katrina Llegado?
She was born on November 8, 1997, making her 28 years old at the time of her Miss Supranational win in 2026.
What did Katrina Llegado study?
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management from De La Salle University, graduating cum laude in 2017.
Is Katrina Llegado the first Filipina to win Miss Supranational?
No, she is the second Filipina to win the title, following Mutya Datul’s win in 2013.
Does Katrina Llegado have a military background?
Yes, she has served as a reservist with the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command since 2023.
Conclusion
From a cum laude finance graduate interning at global institutions to a history-making international pageant queen, Katrina Llegado’s journey embodies discipline, resilience, and authenticity.
Her 2026 Miss Supranational victory caps years of pageant perseverance and cements her place as one of the Philippines’ most accomplished modern beauty queens.