cover story magazine The Sunday Times
Venus ‘bites’
ON BEING TEASED FOR HER LOOKS AS A CHILD. “BASTA SABI NG NANAY KO
MAGANDA DAW AKO KAYA SA KANYA AKO NANIWALA.”
makadagdag sa Nanay ko. Kaya po buong pag-aaral ko doon [Bicol Univer- sity], wala po siyang ginastos [Even before high school graduation, I was already looking for ways to go to college without burdening my mother; she never spent a single centavo all through my college education],” Raj humbly narrates. With her scholarship a feat in itself, the dutiful daughter further made her mother proud when she eventually graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts major in Journalism. She then worked as an information assistant for the Department of Environ- ment and Natural Resources in Region V, during which time she also modeled on the side, and joined bigger beauty contests, which ultimately led her to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant. Yet, her journey to the prestigious beauty pageant was marred with contro- versy. It will be remembered that Raj was stripped off her crown because of citizen- ship issues. She faced the challenge head on in a fight she considered more than just chasing a dream, but about clearing her reputation. Her conviction and determination resulted to her reinstate- ment, and she quickly became an icon of an empowered woman.
■ Some of the Cream Silk Women Empowerment Program scholars (from left) Larielyn Hope Aggabao (BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology), Angelie Joice Reglos (BS Chemical Engineering), Ayzeris Ong (BA Political Science), (from right) Trisha Guevara (BS Geodetic Engineering), and Desiree Ico (Public Administration), with Venus Raj and Unilever’s Tricia Chiongbian.
It is Raj’s inspiring climb to her reign as one of the world’s most beautiful women that urged the executives at Unilever (the makers of Cream Silk) to ask her to become the product’s new ambassa- dor. For not only do they look for physical beauty in choosing the endorser, but also a true model for their two-year-old Cream Silk Women Empowerment Program, which provides scholarships to deserving female college students enrolled in male- dominated courses such as Engineering and Architecture.
According to Anna Mangilin, Unilever’s marketing manager for hair, a total of 30 scholars from the University of the Philippines (UP) and 10 from the Polytechnic University of the Philip- pines (PUP) are chosen every school year to transform the lives of promising
young ladies who are hindered by the lack of opportunities.
Cream Silk currently supports a total of 96 scholars in both UP and PUP, while 10 scholars already graduated in March from PUP.
Meanwhile, Vic Gutierrez, the product’s senior brand manager, adjoins, “Venus is the perfect choice for this campaign. Apart from her elegance and beauty, she actually went through a lot of hardships in order to attain her aspirations. A lot of women can surely relate with her inspir- ing life story.”
For her part, Raj cannot think of a more perfect first product endorsement, one, which she says, will allow her to give back the kind of opportunities she was fortunate to come across while she worked toward her college degree: A scholarship and a support system—like her mother, her teachers and benefac- tors—that encouraged her to make her dreams come true. “I am very flattered to be chosen by Cream Silk as its new brand ambassador. Together with Cream Silk, I hope I will be able to inspire and empower more Filipinas to rise above the challenges, and realize their aspirations,” ends Raj, who is truly a beauty in every sense of the word.
On her choice of hair products.
“Cream Silk talaga ang conditioner ko noon pa. Dati nga lang naka-sachet yung ginagamit ko, pero ngayon naka-bote na.”
On her experience with the other candidates at the Miss Universe Pageant. “Meron talagang iba na tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Pero lahat sila, inggit talaga sa buhok nating mga Pinay! Tinatanong pa nga nila kung totoo yung buhok ko o pinatanim lang.”
On her future plans. “Siguro maging part ng iba pang foundations tulad nito [The Creamsilk Woman
opportunities that I had that helped me become stronger and more confident about myself.”
Program]. I want to be able to give back the
Empowerment » talaga.”
December 5, 2010
On her hair care routine. “Naliligo lang!
Shampoo and
conditioner lang
b
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