ONE of the candidates of Miss Cagayan de Oro in 2018 will now be competing in Face of Beauty International next month in Taiwan.
Twenty-seven-year old Ericka Zayas – the recently croned Face of Beauty USA 2026 – will join more than 30 beauties from all over the globe to compete in the prestigious pageant to be held in Taipei on October 31.
When she was still a nursing student at Liceo de Cagayan University in 2018, Ericka joined Miss Cagayan de Oro. Although she did not become a runner-up, she garnered several awards such as best in swimwear, darling of the press, Globe people’s choice award, Miss Mags, Miss Peak Review Center and Miss Artsada.
Fast forward to 2021 when Ericka had already migrated to the United States this time as a registered nurse, she joined Miss Philippines USA that year representing her adopted hometown Munster, Indiana and won first runner-up! Miss Philippines USA is the beauty pageant of the Filipino diaspora in the United States.
By 2026, Ericka – who is now based in Los Angeles, California with her own wellness business – joined Face of Beauty USA. Face of Beauty is an annual international beauty pageant that features contestants from various countries and territories so the United States needed to send a representative. After carefully combing through multiple applications and getting to know so many incredible women, Ericka was chosen to be Face of Beauty USA 2026 in the unveiling ceremony held at I Venue LA in Glendale last September 14.
Ericka is now on her way to Taiwan for the month-long Face of Beauty International that will kick off this October 26 in Yunlin with the talent competition.
But first, Ericka did a recent reunion here in Cagayan de Oro City, guesting in the regional edition of Mags On The Catwalk last September 26 at SM CDO Downtown. (Remember that she was crowned Miss Mags eight years ago?)
Next week, she will have a series of courtesy calls with local officials in her hometown of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental led by Mayor Julio Uy and in the province itself led by Gov. Juliette Uy.
Ericka’s full circle journey doesn’t end here. Kagay-anons and Misamisnons are eagerly awaiting for her performance during the Face of Beauty International grand final night on October 31 in Taipei. We wish her the best of luck!
