Maria Gigante, the Universal Woman 2024 winner, returned to Manila on Monday after her victory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

The beauty queen was welcomed with open arms as she landed in the Philippines. She expressed joy and gratitude for the support she received throughout her journey to the crown.

In an interview just after her arrival from Cambodia, Gigante shared her excitement, saying, "I'm so happy! The last thing I did before leaving Cambodia was have an interview with all these lovely people, and I'm so happy to be returning home with the crown. Nauwi ko na yung korona finally! It's so unreal, I have to touch it to remember it's there."

Gigante also opened up about her strategy during the competition, emphasizing the importance of representing the Philippines authentically. 

"I just really want to take it one step at a time and put my best foot, the Philippines' best foot, forward. I wanted to tell my story as authentically as I could because when I was growing up, I felt like being a 'probinsyana' was not an advantage. But this time, I really took it upon myself to be vulnerable and share my story, hoping that people will see themselves in it as well."

The Universal Woman winner is set to have a grand homecoming parade in Cebu after Holy Week. 

While no specific details have been provided about the parade, it is expected to be a joyous celebration of Maria Gigante's achievement and a showcase of Filipino pride.