Bella Ysmael

Biography

Maria Ysabella "Bella" Roxas Ysmael (born August 8, 1996) is a Filipino beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Cosmo Philippines 2026. She will represent the Philippines at the Miss Cosmo 2026 pageant. She previously competed twice in Miss Universe Philippines in 2020 and 2026, reaching the finals in both stints.

== Early life and education == Ysmael was born on August 8, 1996, to The Breed vocalist Charlie Ysmael and Ika Roxas. Her family includes several personalities active in the entertainment industry; her grandmother is veteran actress Marita Zobel and her aunt is Margie Moran, the winner of Miss Universe 1973. She has trained in ballet since the age of four and has explored other genres of dance, including contemporary ballet and hip-hop. At the time of her first attempt in Miss Universe Philippines, she was part of the Hampton Court Ballet. Ysmael studied psychology at the De La Salle University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. While in university, she interned for Metro Magazine in 2015. Afterward, she held corporate roles at Louis Vuitton Philippines and Salico PH.

== Pageantry ==

=== Early competitions === In 2014, Ysmael won Binibining Parañaque. Later, in 2018, she competed in the fitness competition Century Tuna Superbods, where she placed first runner-up in the female category.

=== Miss Universe Philippines 2020 ===

At age 23, Ysmael entered the inaugural Miss Universe Philippines competition, representing Parañaque. During the contest, publications including GMA News regarded her as a frontrunner for the title. For the preliminary competition, Ysmael competed in a gown designed by Dubai-based Filipino designer Furne One, a performance that would earn her the Best in Evening Gown award. She would work with him again for her gown for the finals. Ysmael would go on to advance to the top 16, where she and her co-candidates were asked about how they can create a "positive and lasting impact". She shared the importance of authenticity, urging listeners to "proud of who you are". She then progressed to the top five question-and-answer round, where the remaining delegates were asked two questions. She was first asked to describe a beauty queen to a child who has never seen a pageant, to which she emphasized the humanity of a beauty queen over her physical attributes. In the follow-up question, all finalists were asked about the role of pageants during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her response, she noted the role of pageants in Filipino culture and its positive impact among Filipinos. At the end of the event, she was first runner-up to Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City. Following the competition, she was named Ambassador for Arts and Culture.

=== Miss Universe Philippines 2026 ===

Following her debut stint, Ysmael expressed her openness in competing at Miss Universe Philippines in future editions. While figures like Janine Tugonon, the winner of the 2012 contest, voiced her support for Ysmael, she did not return to the pageant until the 2026 edition, when the accredited partner of Taguig appointed her as their candidate for the competition. Like her previous stint, publications named her as a frontrunner for the title. She collaborated with Rian Fernandez for her gown for both the preliminary and final rounds, presenting an iridescent design for in the former and a white and gold design in the latter. Ysmael qualified for the top 30 through the selection committee' choices and progressed through the top 15 and top 7. During the final question-and-answer round, she was asked about the importance of representing the Philippines on the global stage despite the citizens' frustration over their country. In her response, she touted herself as a "representation of a Filipina who never gives up" and emphasized the resilience of her compatriots. She finished as a top 7 finalist, with Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union winning the competition.