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Cheska Cinderella Friend

@cheska.friend

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Miss Philippines USA 2026 2nd RU
UC Merced ’24 | CSE & COGS

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To God be all the glory! 💙

As someone competing in her very first beauty pageant, with no background in pageantry, performance, or stage life (unless you count walking across a stage to receive my diplomas lol), I’m forever grateful to have been considered one of the frontrunners and honored to walk away as Miss Philippines USA 2026 2nd Runner-Up.

But what makes this moment even more meaningful is remembering where I was exactly one year ago.

During those same dates last year, I was at the lowest point of my life. I felt completely lost, like I had failed at life. I couldn’t see a future for myself, and I didn’t think I would survive.

Exactly one year later, I was standing on the MPUSA stage.

Throughout this entire competition, I never felt like I was performing. I was simply, unapologetically me and proudly Filipina. From choosing and designing my own outfits to bringing my creativity, vision, and culture into every detail, I got to do what I love while celebrating who I am and where I come from. I laughed loudly, embraced my awkward moments, made people laugh (which I loved), made mistakes, spoke from the heart about my advocacy, and stayed true to my values without ever compromising my integrity.

So if you’re in a season where you feel lost, behind, or unsure of where your life is going, please don’t give up on yourself.

I am living proof that it does get better. When you finally believe in yourself and have the courage to be who you truly are, you realize you were never meant to force every door open or shrink yourself just to belong. What is truly meant for you will make room for exactly who you are, without you ever having to abandon yourself along the way.

P.S. I can officially say I faced one of my biggest fears: public speaking… by somehow choosing to do it on a stage in front of hundreds of people. 😭😂

Onto the next fear: heights. Maybe skydiving next? 👀

📸 @jkp_photography

Post 1 of 6 taken in Los Angeles, California by @cheska.friend

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2 months ago

It’s been almost two years. UC Merced gave me more than two degrees. It taught me that no dream is too big to walk toward 👑

Special thank you to the power couple, @virge__ and Juan, for making this vision come to life, even on such short notice. taken in University of California, Merced by @cheska.friend

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2 months ago

Pageant week. It’s almost showtime.

Preliminary - August 6th
Coronation Night - August 9th

Wearing @bezuriofficial

Message me for tickets :) taken in In-Shape Fitness by @cheska.friend

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2 months ago

wearing art by @kiel_ortega04. what an honor.

📸 Rob Ryan by @cheska.friend

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4 days ago

Rare footage of the cape before she disappeared 🥲 gone but never forgotten lol by @cheska.friend

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21 days ago

Better late than never!

Appreciation post for the best glam team I could ask for 🥹
@__bymercy @alejandromazariegosartist

You guys were so much more than just my glam team. During pageant week, you became my little support system. I never felt alone because of you guys! 🫶

Mercy, it’s actually so crazy to think that you did my makeup for my college graduation, and now you were there doing my makeup for my very first pageant. Thank you for flying all the way from Merced to LA just to be there for me. From graduation to the pageant stage, you’ve now been part of two really special milestones in my life.

And Alejandro, thank you for coming through for me so last minute and making sure my hair was perfect every single time and all the encouragements! Thank you for making my vision come to life!

Pageant week was sooo exhausting and overwhelming, but you guys made everything feel lighter, more fun, and a lot less lonely. Thank you for listening to all my little rants lol, calming me down, hyping me up, and making sure I felt beautiful and confident every time I stepped out.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the time, effort, patience, love, and encouragement you gave me. 🥹
Couldn’t do this without you both! Muchas gracias! <3 by @cheska.friend

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21 days ago

Last week’s adventure @suphermodel 💗

bezuri code: cheskafriend by @cheska.friend

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7 days ago

fun fact: i was struggling to move my arms in my gown AND forgot all my poses that night lol. also, had to sacrifice my coachella tix for the gowns soooo worth it though

thank you @anthonysincomodeliste for bringing my vision to life and creating all my gowns. thank you for translating all my random ideas, screenshots, and revisions into actual gowns. sa sunod napd! (;

and a special thank you to @sheilareyesdesigns for literally saving the day. my gowns arrived from the philippines just a few days before the pageant, and because i had lost so much weight throughout pageant prep, they ended up being way too loose on me. sheila came through with the last-minute alterations and made sure everything fit perfectly just in time.

so sooo grateful for everyone who helped. it truly takes a village. 🥹 by @cheska.friend

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17 days ago

new season just dropped 🎃🍂 taken in Live Oak Pumpkin Patch by @cheska.friend

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25 days ago

Used to be insecure wearing swimsuits. Now I’m wearing one on a whole stage. Yeah… I’m proud of her taken in Los Angeles, California by @cheska.friend

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21 days ago

It’s been almost a month since the pageant, and it still feels so surreal.

My heart is so full of gratitude. The girl you saw on that stage was never the work of just one person. She was supported, challenged, encouraged, and poured into by so many people.
So here’s a little appreciation post for the amazing mentors and coaches behind the scenes who helped me get there.
Thank you for believing in me.

To the Miss Philippines USA organization @missphilippinesusaofficial, especially Tita Lou, thank you for giving me this opportunity and an experience of a lifetime. I grew sooo much throughout this journey. And walked away so much more secure in who I am and truly understanding what it means to be confidently beautiful with a heart.

Pageant Manager: @mserikahhh

Coaches:
@ruetesoro, @angelscebu_pasarela, @beautyqueenexpert, and Renato

Q&A:
@michpadayhag

Gown:
@anthonysincomodeliste

@alejandromazariegoartist thank you so much for the free hair and makeup session and photoshoot in my gown! You’re the sweetest!

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To Miss Erika, our pageant manager, thank you for guiding us and for everything you did behind the scenes to keep us prepared and on track. I know managing all of us was NOT easy 😂 Grabe, superwoman jud ka! Thank you for always looking out for us and being so patient with us. Coming into the pageant, I was honestly so scared and nervous because everything was completely new to me. Thank you for making me feel at home from the very beginning.

To Coach Rue, thank you for teaching me everything from how to do a t-pose 😂 Thank you for always making our training feel less intimidating kasi lagi mo kaming pinapatawa You made learning something completely new feel so much more fun. Thank you for your patience, your good energy, and for always reminding me to just enjoy the journey.

To Nate, thank you for pushing me, correcting every little detail, and helping me become so much more confident in my walk and presence. Our trainings were completely online and sometimes we’d literally start at 12 AM after I got off work 😭 Grabe, naa jud times nga kapoy na kaayo ko I would start zoning out mid-training hahaha, but you were always so patient and sti taken in Los Angeles, California by @cheska.friend

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2 months ago

The tropical season kicks off with this beautiful woman 🌴☀️🌊

Team✨
Makeup and hairstyle by. Me 🤴🏻
Modelo by. @cheska.friend
Photographer by. @wilfredo_photography
Production by. @bluetv76ad
Production by. @merhausofvanityco

#miss #tropical #production #losangeles #viral by @cheska.friend

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2 months ago