Ariella Arida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ariella Arida
Arida in 2013
Born	Ariella Hernandez Arida (1988-11-20) November 20, 1988 (age 36) Alaminos, Laguna, Philippines
Education	University of the Philippines Los Baños (Chemistry)
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Title	Miss Universe Philippines 2013
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Major competition(s)	Miss Philippines Earth 2012 (Unplaced) Binibining Pilipinas 2013 (Winner – Miss Universe Philippines 2013) (Best in Swimsuit) Miss Universe 2013 (3rd Runner-Up) (Ice Princess)

Ariella "Ara" Hernandez Arida (born November 20, 1988) is a Filipino model and actress. She is also known for winning beauty pageants. She was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2013. After winning, she represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2013 competition. There, she placed as the third runner-up.

After her pageant career, Arida started acting. She appeared in films like Coming Home (2020). In 2025, she became a national director for the Miss Universe Philippines Organization. In this role, she helps train and develop contestants.

Early Life and Education

Ariella "Ara" Hernandez Arida was born in Alaminos, Laguna, Philippines. Her parents, Arlesito and Estella Arida, were both academics. Arlesito was from Alaminos, and Estella was from San Pablo, Laguna.

Ariella studied at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. She earned a degree in chemistry. Before she joined beauty pageants, she received special training from a group called Aces and Queens.

Pageant Journey

Miss Philippines Earth 2012

Ariella Arida first competed in the Miss Philippines Earth 2012 pageant. However, she did not place in this competition.

Binibining Pilipinas 2013

Ariella Arida with Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Datul in 2013

Arida then competed in the Binibining Pilipinas 2013 pageant. This event took place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 14, 2013. She made it into the top 15 finalists. She also won a special award for Best in Swimsuit.

During the question and answer part, she was asked: "Name a lesson about life that women can teach men." She talked about how women can teach men to be more sensitive. She explained that men often think logically, while women use their hearts and emotions. She felt this emotional side was a valuable lesson women could share.

At the end of the event, Ariella Arida won the Miss Universe Philippines title. The previous winner, Janine Tugonon, crowned her. Janine Tugonon had placed as the first runner-up in Miss Universe the year before.

Later, when her time as Miss Universe Philippines ended, Ariella crowned Mary Jean Lastimosa as her successor. This happened at the Binibining Pilipinas 2014 pageant.

Miss Universe 2013

Ariella Arida represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2013 pageant. The competition was held in Moscow, Russia, on November 9, 2013. She earned a spot in the semifinals through an online vote. She also won the Ice Princess award in a winter-themed photo contest.

She advanced to the top five and answered another question. She was asked what could be done about young people struggling to find jobs. Ariella emphasized the importance of education. She said that education was her main cause and the best way to a better future.

Ariella Arida finished as the third runner-up. The winner was Gabriela Isler from Venezuela. Ariella's placement meant the Philippines had been in the top five for four years in a row. She was also the only contestant from an Asian country to reach the Top 5 that year.

After Pageantry

On February 16, 2025, Ariella Arida was named a national director for the Miss Universe Philippines pageant. She took over from Shamcey Supsup-Lee. Shamcey Supsup-Lee decided to run for a local government position. The pageant announced that Ariella's main job would be to focus on training and developing the contestants. This new role started with the 2025 pageant.

Film and Television Appearances

Films

Television Shows

See also

In Spanish: Ariella Arida para niños