Though not through our official Miss Universe bet, the Philippines almost came to a back-to-back win in the person of Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier, who is actually part Filipino.

In an interview with GMA Network’s entertainment portal, the beauty from Haiti revealed that she was doubly excited about the pageant being held in the Philippines, because finally this can lead her to learning more about the Filipino culture.

“Before coming here in the Philippines, I was really excited because from my mom’s side, I have Filipino blood, and since I was little, they used to tell me that I never lived with that side of the family, but I’m interested in learning about the culture and that’s why I’m happy to be here,” Pelissier said.

The 5’11 beauty queen is attending graduate school for a master’s degree in optometry.

“She is working on a research project on the regeneration of the optic nerve,” her Miss Universe bio states.

The 65th Miss Universe was held in Manila, Philippines last January 30, which crowned Miss France Iris Mittenaere as Pia Wurtzbach’s successor.