Alicia Faubel Conquers the Universe Through the Best of Both Worlds

Pageants have long been associated with glamour, poise, and beauty but today, the crown represents far more than appearance alone.

What was once centered primarily on elegance has evolved into a platform where purpose, influence, and authenticity hold equal importance. Women are no longer measured solely by physical attributes, but by the stories they carry, the causes they champion, and their ability to create meaningful impact behind the spotlight. In many ways, modern pageantry has become a space where identity and substance define what truly makes a candidate stand out.

This evolution has changed the image of a beauty queen: not just as someone who embodies grace and confidence, but as someone with a voice that extends beyond the title itself. Achievements, personal experiences, and advocacy now play a vital role in establishing relevance in an increasingly competitive yet saturated arena. And for Alicia Faubel, this shift feels less like a trend and more like destiny.

Crowned Miss Universe Spain 2022, the 26-year-old carries the unmistakable polish of a conventional titleholder: statuesque, composed, and effortlessly magnetic in front of the lens. Yet what defines her is not the image she projects, but what exists beyond it, a life shaped by movement, adaptation, and perspective.

As a model, Alicia has lived across continents, including the Philippines, immersing herself in cultures that shaped both her worldview and sense of self. Her journey reflects two defining sides of her life: the fast-paced world of international modelling and the grounded experiences she gained while living in the Philippines.

Standing at the intersection of both, Alicia steps onto the biggest stage of her life—bringing with her not just beauty, but a story that quietly commands attention.

From model to role model

On set, Alicia ( pronounced Ali-thia) enters with a soft smile and an unassuming, “Let’s begin?”

From the very first frame, she moves with instinctive precision. There is no hesitation, only rhythm, as she navigates each layout with a fluency that speaks to years of repetition and refinement. Every angle is understood, every movement deliberate yet effortless. In between shots, she remains attuned not only to herself but to the people around her, a professionalism shaped by eight years in the international modeling industry, where time, discipline, and respect are non-negotiable currencies.

Scouted at the age of 14 and thrust into the industry three years later, she quickly realized that her path around fashion was something she truly wanted to pursue. While still figuring out how to fit into her new role as a beauty queen, Alicia relies on that one thing she’s good at.

I always knew I wanted to do something creative, whether that was acting or modeling. I’ve always been drawn to that world, I enjoy being in that scene because I love putting on a show. I’m comfortable in front of the camera, I know what works for me, I know my body, and I’ve developed my own sense of style. It is an advantage, and I can use that to boost myself up.

Pageantry, however, was never part of the original plan.

Throughout the years, we have heard countless stories about how candidates have dreamed of making it onto the Miss Universe stage, but Alicia was different, as it was never something she set out to achieve in the first place.

In Spain and much of Europe, beauty competitions do not hold the same cultural weight as they do in countries like the Philippines. Dated misconceptions initially created hesitation but eventually, she chose to step into Miss Universe Spain, entering a world where she carried far less preparation than many of her peers but a clarity of purpose that could not be taught.

As a neophyte, she arrived without the polish of pageant tradition, but with something more difficult to manufacture—direction.

I think if I have to be similar to any beauty queens, it would have to be with our reigning Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu. We both share the same battles when it comes to our bodies and her winning made me want to tell my own story, like I want people to know me. I want to be appreciated because of who I am because I feel that my persona is better than my actual physical appearance.

Now blessed with a platform to do so, Alicia is learning to anchor herself in become more raw and authentic. In an environment that often demands perfection, she chooses groundedness over any form of pretense.

Through lived experience, she reshapes visibility not as performance, but as honesty, using her platform to question the very idea of flawlessness itself.

I want to be an “Ate” to many girls because I was alone. I want to be that person that someone reached out about their insecurities, about what they feel, about their problems because I didn’t have that. Since I already experienced all of it, so I want to pass on the message, pass on the knowledge.

Keeping Spain at Heart and the Philippines in Mind

As her Miss Universe journey officially begins, so too does the work that comes with it. More than just training in terms of, pasarela, body conditioning, and Q&A, an equally essential layer of preparation lies in connection—getting to know the women she will share the stage with.

It is a skill she has unknowingly honed through years of global exposure, moving between countries, cultures, and languages with ease. Her work has taken her from New York City to Dubai, among others, but it was the Philippines that left the deepest imprint.

Arriving with little expectation and no familiarity, she recalls feeling disoriented in her first weeks, with homesickness weighing heavily. But what followed was an unexpected sense of comfort. Through friendships formed in unfamiliar places, she discovered a culture where warmth comes naturally and connection often matters more than definition.

Slowly, what once felt foreign became familiar, as the Philippines did not just host Alicia anymore—it became a place she can finally call home.

I think anyone that comes here will say that they become a better person. When you come here, you just really learn how to appreciate things and be happy. Because you see people being so happy with so little and they appreciate everything that they have. And the energy is so infectious like I feel energized recharged here. You’re motivated, you’re inspired, you’re happy at life and for me, I would recommend everyone to come and stay at least two weeks just to observe the culture. You just feel so much lighter, and you don’t appreciate it because you live here but for me, everything becomes lighter.

What began as a short stay stretched into three years. In that time, her understanding of belonging shifted.

She speaks not only of shared values, but of the people who shaped her experience, their openness, their sincerity, their ease in making space for others. It became less about adaptation and more about transformation, a reorientation of how she sees the world.

Merging Two Worlds to Conquer the Universe

Now, as the countdown to what is often called the most beautiful day in the universe begins, Alicia prepares to carry Spain onto the Miss Universe stage in New Orleans. The anticipation is undeniable, but so is the weight of history.

Spain has not placed in the semifinals since 2017 and has not claimed the crown in nearly five decades

As she continues to grow into her role, Alicia draws parallels from her own journey, using them as important points to navigate the pressure and guide her mission of placing her country back on the map in a meaningful way.

Years in an industry defined by scrutiny have taught her to metabolize criticism into clarity, turning what others might perceive as vulnerability into quiet strength. Independence, earned early in life, has also shaped her into someone who understands both discipline and distance.

I really salute all the beauty queens because I’ve been in that situation, and I think it is something you don’t realize until you’re there how hard it is. Modeling and beauty pageants are very complicated industries that in a way, it could go both ways. You can either become a very strong person and learn and make the most out of it or it can either destroy you. Because you’re literally being observed, being judged, being labeled by your physical appearance all the time, constantly. Being a model, being a beauty queen is a 24-hour job.

Designer | Gown (Arhon Macaraig) Filipiñana top (Job Dacon)

For Alicia, success is not measured solely in earning a placement. Even if the crown does not come, she says it will not consider it a failure if her message remains. What matters is resonance, the ability to leave something behind that feels genuine and lasting.

Even if I don’t win, if I can make an impact, if I can help one person to get out of the pressure, to prevent them from doing anything, and just for them to be inspired, then I feel like I’m accomplished. I feel happy because every single life matters. If I was that girl when I was seventeen and I was lost, and I felt insecure about my life, my weight, my body. If one girl would have inspired me the way I want to inspire, it would be enough.

However, if she does achieve the impossible, she is certain it will not belong to a single flag. While her sash reads Spain, the Philippines remains part of her story, inseparable from who she has become.

The pressure is higher, but the love is higher, I’m very happy. I always say that If I were to win the crown, it can’t just be about Spain. I owe the Philippines my training and everything, so, if necessary, I won’t think twice about chopping the crown in half.

As our conversation draws to an end, there is no grand conclusion—only a quiet understanding. As a long-time pageant fan, like many others, I have often placed figures like Alicia on a pedestal, their lives shaped by public imagination. Yet what I encountered was something far more compelling: the power of transformation.

More than simply refining herself to win, Alicia is committed to becoming the best version of who she can be. Through the balance of these two defining worlds, I believe she finally carries the kind of depth that may ultimately help her conquer the universe.