Netflix’s A Queen’s Runway is not your average pageant documentary. It doesn’t just dazzle with rhinestones and evening gowns—it digs into what happens when national pride, personal dreams, and impossible standards all come colliding under the spotlight. Directed by Belgian filmmaker Tom Sys, the film tracks the journey of the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 contestants over three and a half intense months leading up to the coronation night. The result is a raw, vivid, and unexpectedly emotional story that refuses to treat pageantry as fluff.
There’s something deeply revealing about watching someone transform—publicly, painfully, and with little room for error. That’s the real heart of the film. The camera follows the contestants from the moment they’re selected until the grand stage, lingering not just on their runway walk but also on their late-night practice sessions, self-doubt in bathroom mirrors, and the tiny wins they celebrate away from the crowds.
We’re introduced to several key personalities, but it’s Chelsea Manalo who emerges as the standout. Representing Bulacan, Chelsea’s quiet resilience becomes the emotional anchor of the film. Her story isn’t one of sudden success or overnight transformation. It’s about consistency, humility, and grace under pressure. By the time she steps onto the international Miss Universe stage in Mexico, you’re no longer just watching a contestant—you’re rooting for someone who has earned every inch of that spotlight. Her Top 30 placement globally and historic win as Miss Universe Asia don’t feel like pageant titles; they feel like deeply personal victories for every girl who’s been told she’s not enough.
What makes A Queen’s Runway especially powerful is how it strips back the usual sheen of pageantry. Instead of only showing glitter and glamour, the film captures the sweat, the nerves, the chipped nail polish between fittings, the 4 AM rehearsals, and the intense emotional toll of trying to be flawless under scrutiny. Contestants share what they’ve had to give up—family time, mental health, and sometimes, their sense of self—to meet the pageant’s relentless demands. The competitive atmosphere is palpable, but so is the unexpected sisterhood that forms among the women.
There’s also an interesting layer of cultural commentary. In the Philippines, pageantry is more than a national pastime—it’s treated almost like a sport or religion. Winning isn’t just a personal achievement; it’s a matter of national pride. The film gently touches on the pressure this creates, especially for women who carry not just their own dreams, but the expectations of entire provinces. While it could have pushed further into this socio-cultural analysis, what it does present is honest enough to leave an impression.
Visually, the film is rich and layered. It switches effortlessly between handheld intimacy and sweeping, cinematic shots of runways and cityscapes. The lighting often mirrors the internal state of the contestants: bright and sterile during rehearsals, soft and golden during moments of reflection. The fashion, of course, is a visual feast—from elaborate national costumes to dramatic gowns—but what lingers more than the clothes are the stories sewn into them.
Not every moment hits perfectly. Some supporting contestants’ stories feel rushed, introduced briefly only to disappear. And a few transitions between segments feel slightly abrupt like there’s a chunk of context missing. The pacing occasionally drags in the middle stretch, especially during training montages that become repetitive. But even these moments serve to underline how exhausting and consuming the entire process is.
Despite its minor stumbles, A Queen’s Runway is compelling from start to finish. It’s not a celebration of perfection but of persistence. It doesn’t reduce these women to smiles and sashes—it gives them space to be fierce, fragile, ambitious, flawed, and real. For a film about beauty queens, it avoids the trap of prettiness. It’s far more interested in what it takes to stand tall in heels on a world stage, carrying not just your gown, but your whole story with you.
This isn’t a film just for pageant fans. It’s for anyone who’s ever chased something bigger than themselves and dared to dream under pressure. A Queen’s Runway walks a fine line between spectacle and sincerity—and in doing so, it earns its place in the spotlight.
Final Score- [7.5/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times