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Johnson, who hails from Davao, successfully completes her comeback bid after finishing as 1st runner-up in 2023
MANILA, Philippines – Davao’s Katrina Anne Castañeda Johnson was crowned Binibining Pilipinas (BBP) International 2025 during the 61st edition of the national beauty pageant on Sunday, June 15.
The 27-year-old Filipino-American beauty queen from Davao bested 35 other girls from all over the country, bagging the night’s top crown. She succeeds last year’s winner, Myrna Esguerra of Abra, who is set to compete in the 2025 Miss International pageant later this year.
The certified pharmacist and fur mom
For most beauty queens, pageantry is not their only profession nor hobby. Binibining Pilipinas International 2025 is no stranger to such a concept, as she also works as a licensed pharmacist.
In her 2023 Binibining Pilipinas profile, Johnson spoke about her love for sightseeing, cooking and volunteering. She also shared that she enjoys spending time with her loved ones and fur babies.
In fact, Johnson shared in her 2025 profile video that she takes care of 13 dogs, some of which are seniors, while others are rescues. She also looks after one special needs dog who needs a wheelchair to move around. The Davao stunner says she is fascinated to be surrounded by such positive beings every day, making her feel a sense of humility and gratefulness for the life she is living.
Johnson has another interesting trick up her sleeve: she can learn languages quickly. The Davaoeña said that it only took her five months to learn Bisaya, doing so by merely listening in on her classmates’ conversations to pick the language up through context clues.
Personal advocacy
Johnson’s late mother’s legacy lives on as she credits her passion for service to her. As a medical professional, her advocacy is on accessible healthcare for all Filipinos.
Exposed to the realities of the healthcare industry, she began her volunteerism in 2016, starting out with extending assistance to local medical charities in her area. Johnson would later realize, however, that she wanted to do more than just donating.
When she had the chance, she moved away from the four walls of the hospital and began community engagement within vulnerable sectors, such as children. Since then, she has been able to do symposiums and donations. She has taught children who have no access to health literacy how to maintain good health through proper diet, sleeping well, and proper handwashing.
Road to the crown
This year’s Binibining Pilipinas competition is not Johnson’s first hurrah in joining the beauty pageant. In 2023, she won first runner-up, only bested by Palawan’s Angelica Lopez as Binibining Pilipinas International and Bataan’s Anna Valencia Lakrini as Binibining Pilipinas Globe.
While only notching a 1st runner-up finish in the 59th edition of the Binibining Pilipinas, Johnson was still proud of herself for making it to the top four. She expressed that being runner-up does not equate to being “not good enough,” nor does it take away from her self-worth as a woman.
“Our purpose transcends that of being on the pageant stage,” she said.
For the 27-year-old stunner, beauty queens have a voice that can amplify issues and be used to call for change.
Johnson, however, was still not 100% content with her 2023 journey.
“I knew that I had more to offer. I knew that I could offer something better and I wanted the chance to do that,” she said in an ambush interview with Rappler.
This time around, then, Johnson was fueled with the determination to showcase everything she’s got — and authenticity was the final puzzle piece.
In the end, it all paid off for her, expressing that she was finally able to show more of her true self, free from the fear of being disliked or criticized. She also believed that she was able to show her true self more, letting go of the fear of getting disliked or criticized.
But another value Johnson held onto throughout her comeback was her intentionality, which had really shone through — manifesting itself in her being named Binibining Dunkin’ and also winning the Best in Evening Gown award.
Her Evening Gown award was symbolic, too, as it was a tribute to her late mother. Conceptualized by Johnson herself and designed by Louis Pangilinan, the gown was a stunning display of endless crystals forming into a butterfly pattern.
“Just before my mom passed, she told me she’d always come back as a butterfly,” Johnson said.
Now, the butterfly is her lucky charm.
A clear standout of the night, Johnson’s Q and A segment also touched the hearts of many as she brought up the influx of fake news that pollutes social media.
While she acknowledged how social media is a blessing, allowing people all around the world to connect, she also shed light on the rampancy of false information.
“I think the best way we can combat [fake news] is to make sure that we are educating people on how to discern information,” she said, as she called for safer online communities for everyone.
As the newly crowned Binibining Pilipinas International, expect Johnson to compete in next year’s edition of Miss International.
With her lies the hopes of many Filipinos in bagging yet another crown for the international beauty pageant. – Rappler.com
Mikay Tormon is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Sociology at the Ateneo de Manila University.
