Fresh from her international pageant journey, Cebuana beauty queen Gabriella Mai “Gabbi” Carballo is shifting her focus toward new personal and professional milestones after finishing as a Top 21 finalist in Miss Eco International 2026 in Egypt.
Carballo returned to Cebu after competing in Alexandria, where she represented the Philippines and helped sustain the country’s strong showing in the environmental-themed global pageant ultimately won by Mexico’s Palmira Ruiz.
In a homecoming press conference on Friday, May 29, she described her international stint as both challenging and meaningful, highlighting lessons on purpose and resilience.
“It’s such an honor for the dream to be fulfilled to represent the country on the international stage,” she said.
Carballo said carrying the Philippine flag came with significant pressure, especially amid ongoing social and national concerns.
“It’s definitely a big weight to carry to represent the whole country, all the more during a very difficult time in our country when so many issues are going on,” she said.
“I kind of knew that I had to be some sort of positivity and light for our nation during that time.”
She also shared that she personally financed a large part of her pageant preparation and participation, noting that while she received some support, most expenses came from her own work.
“For the most part, I funded a lot of my journey on my own,” she said.
Carballo said the experience made her reflect on resilience and sacrifice, adding that it deepened her appreciation of how many Filipinas work hard to support themselves and their families.
“For me to have carried myself like that, I feel is the best definition of a Filipina, that you have to look for ways to provide,” she said.
She added that one of her biggest realizations from the competition was learning to separate self-worth from public opinion.
“Don’t ruin your self-esteem on the reactions of people, and always remember why you started to begin with,” she said.
Carballo also acknowledged the adjustment from relative anonymity to becoming a widely followed national representative, saying the sudden attention online was overwhelming at first.
Despite the pressure, she said she made it a point to embody Filipino warmth throughout the competition and build genuine connections with fellow candidates. “Filipinos are known to be warm and welcoming, and I wanted to make sure that I gave that experience to my co-candidates,” she said.
Looking ahead, Carballo said she is not planning an immediate return to pageantry, citing the emotional and financial demands of competition.
“At the moment, I’m not thinking about another pageant,” she said.
Instead, she said she is focusing on her next chapter, including her upcoming wedding and plans to return to the medical field after taking board examinations.
“I’m hoping to go back to the hospital and finally take the boards so I can work as a professional,” she said.
She also expressed interest in continuing her work in hosting, which she discovered through pageantry and now considers a growing passion.
“I really love doing it,” she said. “It’s another form of work that when I’m there, I don’t even think about how much I’m getting paid. I just enjoy it so, so much.”
Carballo said she views pageantry as a stepping stone that opened opportunities, but not the final destination of her career. (LLP)
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