Filipinas go beyond beautiful

The Filipino women are not only beautiful; they are also empowered. Amidst modernity, they still uphold values that make them more endearing. They know their worth — priceless. But there’s more to their beauty than meets the eye. Filipinas, indeed, go beyond beautiful.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary this year, hair-care brand Cream Silk launched its “Beyond Beautiful” campaign, which says, “beauty is power and when there’s no limit to how beautiful you can be, there’s no limit to what you can do.”

The brand’s beauty queen ambassadors (Binibining Pilipinas 2014 winners) cannot agree better about the limitless potentials that going beyond beautiful can bring.

“Beyond beautiful is recognizing your strength as a woman and using it as a tool for greater cause. Beauty can go a long way,” says MJ Lastimosa, 26, Binibining Pilipinas-Universe. MJ finished Computer Engineering at the University of Mindanao in Davao City. She grew up in Tulunan, a town in war-torn North Cotabato where she witnessed people being killed in front of her.

For Yvethe Marie Santiago, 21, Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational, being beyond beautiful means being limitless. “It’s about leaving our comfort zone, taking risks and doing everything without hesitation to reach our dreams. Having positive perspective in life despite imperfections boosts our confidence, which allows us to do things we never thought we could. We become the most beautiful we could be because we are happy, content, and we can live life without regrets,” says Yvethe, a certified public accountant who finished her Accountancy in Bicol University.

What is beyond beautiful for Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental Kris Tiffany Janson? “Beyond beautiful is being confident about myself; knowing that whatever challenges may come, I will be able to conquer them,” says Kris, 24, a BS Management Accounting graduate from University of San Carlos.

To achieve a “beyond beautiful” status means to inspire others, according to Bianca Guidotti, 25, Binibining Pilipinas-International. She told writer Greggy Vera Cruz,  “If I can inspire someone to step up, make a change and do something significant in this world, then that would be the biggest compliment for me. Beyond the beauty pageant trainings and being beautiful is to believe in yourself and know who you are. That is enough. Don’t compare yourself with anyone or anything. This is who I am. I know my faults and strengths. I believe I’m worth it.” Bianca is a European Studies International Relations graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Meanwhile, Binibining Pilipinas first runner-up Laura Lehmann, 21, believes that happiness gives her the total beautiful package. “I totally agree with Audrey Hepburn when she said that ‘happy girls are the prettiest.’ Because when you’re happy, it shows on your face and it makes you glow. Positivity brings out confidence and grace. That, for me, is going beyond beautiful,” says Laura who is still enrolled as a Psychology student at the Ateneo de Manila University.

“Beyond beautiful is being more than what people expect you to be. It is going beyond the physical standards and proving to people that you’re more than just a pretty face,” says Hannah Ruth Sison, 26, Binibining Pilipinas second runner-up. Hannah finished a degree in Multimedia Arts at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

To achieve the “beyond beautiful” status, so to speak, the body, mind and soul also undergo transformation. Discipline and eating the right food, for MJ and Hannah, keep their bodies beyond beautiful. The gym, for Yvethe, helps her tone her body. A healthy lifestyle, for Kris, makes her confident about her figure. 

“I always make my mind work and think outside of the box. You cannot be beyond beautiful if you don’t make your mind work,” adds Hannah.

MJ’s regimen for a beautiful mind: “Meditation and a lot of prayers, anywhere, anytime specially when I’m feeling stressed out. Meditation helps me a lot to keep myself back on the track. Prayers remind my mind to stay optimistic and be beyond beautiful at all times.”

Yvethe keeps her spirit beyond beautiful by having an appreciative heart and collecting happy thoughts. “I don’t let a day pass without giving thanks for all the blessings. I also pray for wisdom and guidance at all times because I know I have many more things to learn. These short moments of meditation reconnect me to the things I’m used to and remind me of the many gifts that are being given to me, which I can share. Hopefully I can inspire others to do the same, and go beyond beautiful.”

Her positive disposition keeps Kris’ mind and spirit at peace at all times. “My positive outlook in life keeps my mind beyond beautiful. Instead of noticing the negative side of life, I try to spend more time looking at the happier and brighter side of things.”

“What feeds my soul and spirit is doing what I know and think is right. Doing good for others lifts up my spirit,” MJ adds.

For Hannah, the love of God keeps her spirit beyond beautiful. “Without Him, I am nothing,” she says.

Indeed, their body, heart and soul are beyond beautiful. This trait, and I say this without reservation, will prop them to limitless possibilities of what they can achieve. Because beauty is power, they have the conscious effort to become the better versions of themselves each day. After all, these beauty queens are truly beyond beautiful.

(E-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Twitter @bum_tenorio and Instagram @bumtenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)