This coming August 23 is the much-awaited event for beauty pageant fanatics in the world – the Miss Universe 2010 Pageant. The said event will be held at Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Eighty-two hopefuls will compete for the title.
The Philippines candidate is the controversial 22-year old, Ms. Venus Raj. If you remember, she was crowned the title of Binibining Pilipinas – Universe last March 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila. Two weeks after the grand coronation night, she was dethroned due to a questionable nationality and inconsistency in her birth record. She was born out of wedlock in Doha, Qatar from a Filipina mother and an Indian father. However, from infancy until now, she has lived in the Philippines with her family. The dethronement caused a massive controversy amongst the beauty pageant industry. The show organizer, BPCI, was scrutinized and was subjected to criticism. Obviously, it was their negligence and irregularities that caused the problem. Right from the beginning, they should have disqualified Ms. Raj, if she did not pass the requirements. Ms. Raj, along with her countless number of followers, fought for this injustice and she succeeded.
On April 10, BPCI reversed their decision and gave Ms. Raj an opportunity to correct any clerical error in her birth record. Ultimately, she had to get a valid Philippine passport to prove her citizenship From a humble beginning in a nipa hut in the middle of a rice paddy in the hinterland of the Bicol Region, she knew that she had a valid reason to fight for her cause. It was not about the money. It was a fight and a chase for her dream. On May 9, she got her passport and officially reclaimed her title.
Miss Philippines Venuz Raj - a photo for the Miss Universe Pageant and photos inside her nipa house in the Philippines (source : Wish Ko Lang)
I know, all the candidates to this pageant are all stunning. But I hope that, this time – the Ms. Universe judges can see through the optimism and the good-heart of Ms. Philippines. A good role model for a modern-day woman.
Let us wait and see. Good luck, Ms. Philippines – Venus Raj!
