Karenza De Leon has added another major crown to her growing list of achievements, winning Miss International Australia 2026 at the National Miss Australia competition in Sydney.

The victory places De Leon among Australia’s representatives on the international pageant stage and marks another significant milestone in a journey that has increasingly combined pageantry, community service, education and advocacy.

National Miss Australia 2026 brought together finalists from across the country competing for major national titles, with contestants judged across areas including presentation, confidence, communication and stage performance.

For De Leon, the result followed an impressive performance throughout the competition. Scores displayed publicly during the event showed her performing particularly strongly across the Evening Wear, Swimsuit and Q&A segments, demonstrating consistency across very different aspects of the judging.

From Education and Community Service to the National Stage

De Leon is a former early childhood and primary teacher whose professional and community experience has also included working as a Qantas flight attendant, commercial model, community radio presenter, and modelling and confidence coach.

Community service has remained central to her public work.

She founded The Learning Glow Project, an initiative supporting students and schools in rural communities in the Philippines and Cambodia through educational resources, books, stationery and sporting equipment.

Her charitable involvement predates her latest pageant success. De Leon previously won the Miss Charity Australia title, recognition closely connected with her extensive volunteering and fundraising activities.

She has also been recognised for her contribution to community broadcasting through her involvement with Alive 90.5 FM.

Building an Impressive Pageant Record

In 2024, De Leon was crowned Miss Philippines Australia, representing New South Wales at the Grand Philippine Fiesta Kultura.

Her performance that year also earned several additional honours, including Charity Princess Australia and awards across areas such as Filipiniana, swimwear and evening wear.

During that campaign, De Leon raised more than $13,000 for charitable causes, with funds supporting organisations assisting vulnerable children and communities in the Philippines.

Her pageant journey later extended to the Philippines, where she participated as a Miss Universe Philippines 2025 delegate, further developing her experience on a larger stage.

Now, the Miss International Australia 2026 crown represents another major step forward.

A Crown With a Purpose

De Leon’s background distinguishes her as a contestant whose pageant career has developed alongside an established record of community involvement.

Her advocacy for education stems directly from her experience as an educator. Through The Learning Glow Project, she has sought to address inequalities in access to learning resources in rural South-East Asian communities.

That combination of advocacy, communication skills, community involvement and stage experience formed a strong foundation heading into National Miss Australia 2026.

Her latest victory now gives her an opportunity to take that message beyond Australia.

As Miss International Australia 2026, Karenza De Leon’s journey moves from the national stage towards international representation — carrying with her not simply another crown, but years of work in education, charity and community service.