Miss Cebu 2023 Up Close: Niña Danielle Illustrisimo

We will finally witness the crowning of Miss Cebu 2023 tomorrow, January 11, 2023.

Miss Cebu is one of the highlights of the annual Sinulog Festival. The pageant began in 1983 and aims to “showcase the total beauty with the holistic personality of the Cebuana.”

This platform has been utilized to promote Cebu City’s tourism.

The Tourism Commission also emphasized the role of Miss Cebu as an inspiration and role model to young individuals and to the Cebuanos.

CDN Digital had a chance to speak with our 12 lovely candidates backstage and got to know them better personally. Here are some up close Q&A with Candidate No. 11 Niña Danielle “Nini” Illustrisimo, 23, from Mandaue City, Cebu.

**This article is part of a series featuring all the candidates for Miss Cebu 2023.*

Candidate No. 11 Niña Danielle “Nini” Illustrisimo, 23, from Mandaue City, Cebu. | Photo by: Dan Douglas Ong

Q: What makes you unique?

Niña: I am tenacious. With life, I’ve always faced it head- on, with a heart that is constantly burning and a mind that does not waver. As the eldest of my siblings, and an expected breadwinner of the family, I made it my mission to conquer life and to rise amongst challenges. As I engage into the world of pageantry, the values instilled to me are what I am grateful for. Embodying this mindset, I know I can be at a place of contentment no matter what may happen because I know I persevered through it.

Q: Where is your favorite place in Cebu and why?

Niña: Basilica Minore de Sto. Niño is a place where my heart rests easy. I was born on January, and my name is inspired from our patron. Ultimately, all that I do and aspire to be is because of Him. He gives me the strength to push forward and He provided me the purpose of my actions. My life has been tough the past few months, but I know He was there to give me direction, and I’ll make sure to remember Him in my triumph just as He remembered me in my lowest.

Q: What is your favorite Cebuano delicacy and why do you love it?

Niña: Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and Buwad Bulinao is always there! I love it because it reminds me so much of how my family bonds over food. It’s a great way to start a day with affirmations from your loved ones and little discussion on how our day will go.

Q: Which celebrity would you invite for dinner and why?

Niña: It has to be Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021. She has empowered me to continuously fight for what I believe in. My advocacy aligns so much of what she went through as someone who underwent medical conditions that made it difficult to uphold the standard of physicality in the industry. However, she remains steadfast and inspirational to women and I aspire to be like her.

Q: Why do you deserve to win Miss Cebu 2023?

Niña: It has always been my “why” that puts me in the right direction. As someone who vies for the crown the second time around, I deserve it because I am ready to accept the responsibilities that Miss Cebu will bring. I am ready to empower women in our city, to create change within their lives and to multiply that change within our community. Ultimately, this has been my “why”, to prove that this time will be mine and to inspire Cebuanas to exude confidence in realizing who they are meant to be in this world.

Stay updated with Miss Cebu 2023 events and activities here.

Miss Cebu is the official search for Cebu City’s Ambassadress of Goodwill and spokesperson. Its coronation night is set on January 11, 2023, as one of the highlights of next year’s Sinulog festival.