Anna Carres Medina De Mesa has long been in the spotlight. But her latest triumph shines brighter than ever. In April, she dazzled in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where the Filipina beauty queen claimed the Miss Tourism Worldwide 2026 crown. This international victory marks a new high in a path that began in Batangas, passed through Manila, and ultimately led her to the world stage.
The Batangas City native became only the second Filipina to win the title since the competition began in 2018. The first was Zara Carbonell, daughter of television and film actor Cris Villanueva.
Long before the shimmer of evening gowns and the dazzle of stage lights, Anna faced a string of competitions where victory often slipped past her fingers. Semifinal placements, repeated attempts, and near-misses became familiar milestones along her path.
Her international win is less a sudden breakthrough and more the latest chapter in a story defined by unwavering persistence.
A beauty queen with a balance sheet
Before De Mesa ever set foot on an international stage, she was already mastering a world that required sharp focus and thorough precision.
A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy, graduating cum laude. She subsequently became a Certified Public Accountant after passing the Professional Regulation Commission’s licensure examination in October 2019.
It is a striking combination: the methodical discipline of accounting paired with the variable excitement of pageantry. This contrast reveals the unique combination of skills that characterize her journey.
Her professional life also uncovers a lesser-seen side of beauty pageants. Behind the glamour and spectacle are contestants who dedicate years to building careers, pursuing education, and bravely returning to the stage time and again.
Learning through every competition
She made her pageant debut at Miss World Philippines 2021, representing Batangas City, and advanced to the Top 24. That began what would become a recurring presence in some of the country’s most prominent pageants. The following year, she entered Binibining Pilipinas 2022 as Batangas’ representative and reached the Top 12.
Miss Manila 2023 followed, where she represented Sta. Mesa and earned the Miss Manila Charity title. Instead of stepping away after each contest, De Mesa returned, her determination growing with every appearance.
In 2025, she returned to Binibining Pilipinas, this time representing Batangas. She received the Playtime Digital Binibini special award and advanced to the Top 14. A year later, she returned to Miss World Philippines, this time representing Manila, and finished as First Princess, with Asia Rose Simpson of Quezon City taking the title.
While others might see a string of near-wins as a reason to stop, De Mesa embraced them as important steps in her ongoing journey.
The international opportunity
ALV Pageant Circle appointed De Mesa to represent the Philippines at Miss Tourism Worldwide 2026, held across Malaysia and Singapore. During the competition, she received the Miss Celebrity special award.
Outgoing titleholder Joyce Tuijaerts crowned De Mesa Miss Tourism Worldwide 2026, and she also won Best in Evening Gown and National Costume.
More than a crown
Miss Tourism Worldwide was founded in 2018 by Justina Tan Quek and is owned and operated by Singapore-based Lumiere International Pte. Ltd. The pageant centers on tourism, cultural communication, and global goodwill, giving an international title a purpose beyond the competition itself.
For De Mesa, this title is far more than a final ranking. It represents the triumph of perseverance, the courage to rise after setbacks, and the ability to find new beginnings when others might have given up.
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