Rachel Peters

Biography

Rachel Louise Obregon Peters-Villafuerte (Tagalog: [ˈɹeɪʃɛl ˈpɪtɚs bɪljaˈpwɛɾtɛ]; born October 20, 1991) is a Filipina model, host, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2017. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant and finished as a Top 10 semifinalist.

== Early life and education == Rachel Louise Obregon Peters was born on October 20, 1991, in Manama, Bahrain, to a British father, Nigel Peters and a Filipina mother, Annie Obregon. She has a younger brother named Daniel. Their family manages a concert promotion company that caters to shows across Southeast Asia. Peters graduated from the British International School, Phuket with an International Baccalaureate degree, and earned her bachelor's degree in Business, Tourism, and Events from La Trobe University.

== Pageantry ==

=== Miss World Philippines 2014 ===

Peters started her pageantry stint when she competed at Miss World Philippines 2014 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on October 11, 2014. She placed as the 4th Princess and lost to eventual winner Valerie Weigmann. She also bagged the Yahoo Readers' Choice and Miss Alluring awards.

=== Binibining Pilipinas 2017 ===

On April 30, 2017, Peters joined Binibining Pilipinas 2017 held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. During the question and portion round of the pageant, she was asked: "If you get to speak in front of the ASEAN leaders, what would be your message to the leaders?" She responded:

"I believe that one of the biggest problems that our country faces today is divisiveness in politics, in religion and also in culture. And I believe that it is something that is the same across the world. And that is something I would want to address. I believe that when people can learn to tolerate each other's differences and respect each other's opinions, then we will just be a stronger nation and world." By the end of the event, she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2017 by Maxine Medina along with the Best in Swimsuit, Miss Photogenic and JAG Denim Queen awards. On March 18, 2018, Peters crowned Catriona Gray as her successor at the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.