Have you ever looked at someone and say, “Oh, how I wish I could be like her”. Almost everyone has experienced it one way or another – having these wishful thoughts that we could be as flawless, intelligent, and successful as other people. What we do not see are the battle scars they’d acquired in their fight to reach their current status. We only want to see who they are right now. Our minds refuse to comprehend that these women are like us who face challenges that seem unconquerable, feel fear in their gut, and question their competency for their dream. We always thought that we achieve success with a flick of a finger. But the reality remains. These women experience what everyone is going through. The difference is they continue to persevere, work hard, to fall, try again until they’d achieved what they’re aiming for.
Below are some of the well-known beauty personalities we’d come to admire for their grace, wit, and resilience and their feat in conquering the world (the universe rather):
Catriona Gray
Catriona Gray is a professional singer, model, and youth advocate. She is known as the first Filipina to represent the Philippines in Miss World (2016) and Miss Universe (2018).
In 2016, Catriona was predicted by experts to win Miss World but failed to clinch the coveted blue crown. Pageant enthusiasts encouraged her to join Bb. Pilipinas (Miss Philippines). In 2018, this wish came true when she submitted her application. Eventually, she won Miss Universe Philippines 2018. It felt like 2016 again with every prediction lists turning on her favor. This time these forecasts are proven right when she was crowned Miss Universe 2018 last December 17 in Bangkok, Thailand.
She is a testament that sometimes things happen for a reason. We are experiencing these setback because we are prepared for our greatest comeback. She may not have won Miss World but the Universe welcomed her with open arms. With her determination and resilience, she rose up from the ashes and becomes the blazing siren that she is today.
From my story I want people to know, if ever they feel that they are on a path and a door closed on them, or they had an opportunity that didn’t work out, I want them to know that they are being redirected and not denied.
Catriona Gray
Pia Wurtzbach
Pia Wurtzbach is a Filipina German actress, model, HIV awareness advocate, and Miss Universe 2015.
It seems all glitz and glamour for the beauty queen but it has not always been that way. She joined Bb. Pilipinas three times before she got the right to represent the country in Miss Universe. Eventually, she won the pageant and the rest is history (albeit a controversial one). She remembered being judged for joining many times. “People are saying na trying hard daw ako,” she recalled. Failures and criticisms didn’t diminish the fire within her. On the contrary, it fuels her fire to work harder so she can live her ultimate dream of being Miss Universe.
If she hadn’t persevered and joined BBP for the last time, we wouldn’t earn our third Miss Universe crown.
Sometimes you’d throw away 100 percent, and still (have) nothing. But there’s a lesson here. You have to trust what you really want, and it’s there. It’s going to take a while but you just have to work hard, have the discipline for it.
Pia Wurtzbach
Kylie Verzosa
Kylie Verzosa is a Filipino model, actress, mental health advocate, and Miss International 2016.
Kylie first joined Bb. Pilipinas in 2015 but only made it into the semi-finals of the competition. She joined again the next year and won Bb. Pilipinas International. She competed in Miss International and became the 6th Filipina to win the Miss International title.
Her first loss didn’t dampen her fighting spirit. Instead, it shaped her to be a better queen worthy of a major crown that is Miss International.
The things I don’t expect in life are the things I get. That’s a pleasant surprise. God doesn’t always put me on the path that I want to go. But He puts me onto the path where I guess He expects me to do well. I want people to know… that there are many other ways towards success. My path was different, very unconventional. And I’m proud of it.
Kylie Verzosa
Like these ladies, we face our own everyday battles. These challenges hinder us from getting what we want. We consider giving up. We do not want to try again. We are afraid of being judged. But the journey is never a smooth sailing one. We have to surpass the storms of hardships and self-doubt before we attain success. When we are in our darkest moments, we only have to look at the stories of these empowered women. If they did it, so can we!