‘I want to be a queen with purpose… this crown is not just for fame’—Miss Tabuk 2025 Rachel Baday

Tabuk City, Kalinga—Rachel Angela Valencia Baday was crowned Miss Tabuk 2025 in the recently concluded biggest pageant in the City, following an intense and electrifying competition.

Rachel of Barangay Bulanao, an incoming fourth-year social work student, won the title on June 14, triumphing over 17 other beauties who vied for the crown. Miss Tabuk 2024 Ezra Kiser Lagasi, thereafter, passed the crown to the new queen.

The question the new queen nailed

"Imagine Tabuk in ten years; what role do you see yourself playing in its story?" 

The queen answered with conviction saying that in ten years, she sees herself contributing to a Tabuk known for transparent governance, excellent service delivery, and a higher quality of life for its people. 

“…and I believe that in ten years, Tabuk City will bloom even more. As the future Miss Tabuk, in ten years, I will be part of this history-making, making a change, making an impact, and helping Tabuk to be progressive through my advocacies. Since I’m already here, I will use this platform to promote sustainable tourism and to support [with] the advocacies and causes that I have. And I will amplify my voice to inspire others and to create a future generation of Tabuk that is empowered,” she answered.

 The newly crowned Miss Tabuk likewise took home with her the Best in Talent and Choreographer’s Choice awards. 

Journey to clinching the much-coveted crown 

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Rachel shared her belief that God helped her throughout the pageant.

“The first thing I did before my appointments, sumaglit lang ako sa church, I prayed. Kung para sa iyo talaga yan, ibibigay yan sa iyo ni Lord. It’s really heartwarming that last Saturday, I went to church, to the St. William’s Parish, as a candidate, and then yesterday, I went back as Miss Tabuk 2025,” she said. 

The young queen fondly recalled admiring beauty queens like Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray, joking that she used to practice her runway walk on the way to the bathroom during commercial breaks. 

Rachel grew up a self-proclaimed ‘pageant fanatic’ but not a contestant until this year, and in just six months, she’s claimed three titles back-to-back. 

Her titles include Miss Kalinga State University, which she won on January 22, and Miss Bulanao on March 14.

Apart from said titles, she emerged as the fourth runner-up during the search for Mr. and Ms. CARASUC 2025 held at the Municipal Plaza Grounds in Bontoc, Mt. Province, on March 25, 2025. 

With no formal training and limited support, Rachel still gave her all, wanting every win to be proof that she earned it with heart and hard work.

On her advocacy 

Recognizing the need for community empowerment, Rachel highlighted her causes to the press, especially amid today’s widespread misinformation. 

“When it comes to my advocacies naman, lagi ko talagang sinasabi: sociopolitical empowerment of the youth and the IPs, and sa mga minorities narin,” she added.

Rachel believes her advocacy goes beyond pageants. Crowned or not, she’s committed to pursuing it even as a future professional, staying passionate about the things she wants to do and sees as needed to do. 

“If given the chance to engage in outreach programs, kung may io-offer sakin ang CLGU, why not? Gustong gusto kong sumasali sa mga ganyan, and that’s one of the reasons na sumali ako sa pageant kasi gusto ko pang ma-engage sa community. Gusto ko pang magkaroon ng experience—to socialize, to meet new people. So I want to be a queen with purpose, and this crown is not just for fame,” she further relayed.

When asked about her advice to the insecurity-filled youth, the young queen talked about self-love, worth, and empowerment, and that measured by no one’s word. 

“You are enough, kasi. In a world where we set standards for everything—not just beauty but also success—and we measure everything by our achievements, I want to tell them that they are enough. You can achieve everything that you pour your heart into if you know your value and worth. And despite the challenges that I had, I stood tall and finished with flying colors. So gusto kong maging example na kung kinaya ko, gusto kong isipin nila na kaya rin nila; just have faith in theirselves,” she concluded.