Binibining Pilipinas
In 1999, Quiambao joined the Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) pageant. She received several awards, including Miss Photogenic, but in the end managed to capture the Binibining Pilipinas-World title.
However, controversy soon erupted when the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe titleholder Janelle Bautista was dethroned due to questionable citizenship.
Quiambao was then asked to take over the title and be the Philippine representative to the 1999 Miss Universe pageant to be held that year in Trinidad and Tobago. Binibining Pilipinas-International Lalaine Edson took over Quiambao's previous title.
Read more about this topic: Miriam Quiambao