The Kim covert story: A stuff for soap operas

CEBU, Philippines — With the powerful strides and striking glances that accompanied her electrifying performance, it’s hard to imagine Kimberly Covert as anything less than secure. Yet right after she was crowned Binibining Cebu Tourism 2018, a crying Kim was on the sidelines of a celebrating stage. But for more reasons than you think.

Breaking into a smile amidst her tears, Kim allowed herself to bask in her triumph, saying that she had proved something to herself and to the world that night. After all, behind that commanding image is a woman who fought hard to be where she is.

A few days after the coronation, Kim took a deep breath to collect herself after a photo shoot at the Summit Galleria Hotel, mulling over her thoughts on how to go about sharing her life story. But she gets there, beginning to how she was born in Olongapo City in Zambales, and that her American father had been in the navy. At eight months old, her father whisked a sick Kim to the United States where she lived with her grandma.

At four years old, she returned to the Philippines – to Bais City, Negros Oriental – where she was raised by a stepmother. The family later on settled in Valencia, Dumaguete where Kim grew up with two younger siblings.

Kim acknowledges that her stepmom raised her well and was someone she learned a lot from. While she grew up oblivious to the fact that the woman she had known as her mother was actually a stepmom, Kim often felt like she was singled out while growing up. So when her dad talked to her one day after school when she was around 12 about “mom not being her mom,” a lot of things suddenly made sense.

Kim, who studied Music at the Silliman University College of Performing Arts, spent most of her days at church where she learned to sing and play the piano. Amidst the chores and the restrictions, the church was a place she went to for fun, whereas others might feel like church was an obligation. There, she made friends and sang in the choir, attending the daily, even nightly, classes.

In 2013, Kim and her dad moved back to the US so the latter could get better medical treatment. She was 18 then, and shortly before flying abroad, her stepmom handed her a letter. It said that whoever wrote it wanted Kim to have it when she turned 18.

 “All my life, I was told my birth mother wasn’t ready, that she was mad. That she didn’t like me,” revealed Kim, who only ever had one photo of her birth mother around that time.

Search for birth mom

After sitting on the idea of looking for her birth mom, she finally decided to do something about it. She only had a name to work with. When she posted about the search on Facebook, it turned out she wasn’t the only one looking for the same person.

 “Somebody messaged me if my mom had a twin brother. So I asked my dad. I remember it so clearly and he said yes,” she narrated. “Turns out she was my aunt and she was looking for my mother who ran away when she was 12. She was a big dreamer, and she didn’t want to live in the farm anymore.”

That was the last her aunt saw of Kim’s mother who worked in Cebu and was recruited for another job where she eventually met her dad in Zambales. Communicating with relatives via Skype, Kim felt somehow more complete. Soon enough, someone found her mom’s name on a voting list in Bulacan. Her aunts were quick to visit.

They found the hut, but learned that Kim’s mom passed away three years ago. In her absence stood five girls who resembled Kim.

 “We found her but wala na siya,” Kim recounted tearfully. “My dad cried. It was the first time I saw him really cry. He felt guilty for hiding the truth from me. He always believed that one day I would meet her. I said I was going home to the Philippines. I was so sad because a part of me…nahugno.”

Despite her dad’s protests, a 19-year-old Kim, overcome with different emotions all at once, came back to the Philippines to meet her sisters and visit her late mom. On the plane ride home, she thought about writing her story and sending it to Charo Santos.

When she got to Bulacan, Kim made sure that her mom’s grave was cleaned up and well-kept. During her visit, she learned so much about her mom: how she was so tall and how she loved to sing just like Kim. She also heard about how her mother looked for her but didn’t know where to start because she didn’t even know her daughter’s name, how the search only ended in the records within the capital, not knowing that Kim was already in the US.

New chapter

Shortly after that, Kim joined Miss Philippines Earth 2014, landing the Miss Philippines Earth-Water title in the year where Cebu’s Jamie Herrell won the top crown.

In 2015, living on her own and supporting herself, she worked as a travel writer for a luxury magazine based in Dubai. After travelling internationally to places like Maldives, Dubai and Europe, Kim settled back in the US in 2016 where she met her current partner, Ben. The couple lived in Hollywood where Kim found herself acting in a few series. She also worked as an online stylist. Soon enough, Kim had her baby boy Sol Genesis, who is nine months old today.

 “Sol meaning the sun,” offers Kim. “‘Genesis’ was Ben’s mom’s idea, meaning first son, a new chapter, the beginning.”

 “I’m a mom now. I can’t imagine how painful it must have been for my mom na makuha ang iyang baby.”

Today, Kim is part of a happy family: her parents and siblings in San Diego, California, and a household of her own here in Cebu City.

While she was enjoying the blessings, pageantry had always been at the back of her mind. Which was why when she found out that Binibining Cebu was opening its doors to moms, Kim and Ben were all aboard for another adventure. Ben, who is competitive like Kim, was with her all the way even after being briefed that this was not going to be easy.

Pageant comeback

 “No hesitation. Even my handler didn’t know yet, so everyone was so shocked nga si Kim Covert nabalik,” Kim said with a chuckle.

The couple wasted no time preparing. They signed up for a gym membership the next day and began to work out twice a day. When she sent her photos to apply for Binibining Cebu, Kim knew she wasn’t as prepared as she would have wanted. Not wanting to let herself down, she made sure she was in top shape and of sound mind upon her return.

 “I never worked this hard my entire life. I’m a mom na baya. That put a lot of pressure…competing with girls who are so much fit, who don’t have to go on diets, who didn’t have to work twice as hard,” quipped Kim, who represented the town of Alegria.

Kim believes her performance on coronation night was on point.

 “There were so many times where I felt down and doubted myself but I really, really wanted to make it to the top. My performance was good, I made sure to do everything that I can. I’m so proud of myself,” said Kim, whose only concern was her final Q&A answer about honesty, which she felt she wasn’t able to wrap up nicely.

Her dad was sad to see her leave for Cebu, but was so proud when she finished strong in the competition and that she was the only one out of six moms to nab a crown.

 “For me, that was such a big moment in history. I was the first ever mom crowned. People will remember me for that. That even though I already gave birth and I have responsibilities with my family, I was able to push through. I didn’t miss any of the practices, I put my best foot forward every single time.”

Kim just wanted to prove a point and show fellow moms that giving birth will never be a hindrance to anything. The beauty queen believes in the purpose she serves with her crown. Although she wanted to win, she also told herself that if someone was much more deserving, then so be it.

Music program

Looking at her fellow winners beside her, Steffi Aberasturi (Binibining Cebu 2018), Tracy Maureen Perez (Binibining Cebu Charity 2018), Lou Dominique Piczon (Binibining Cebu Heritage 2018) and Isabela Deutsch (Binibining Cebu Ecology 2018), Kim believes they were meant for the crowns perched on their heads.

 “This is what I do, really. I have a lot of skills, I can talk, I have a lot of love to give. We really need this platforms to utilize our thoughts and talents. Our batch, I hope in our reign that we really do something with the crown. These are very powerful connections, you can do anything you want with this group of people,” Kim says of the Sacred Heart

School for Boys, Batch 1985 Foundation Inc., founders of the pageant.

 “People listen to you, people respect you. You’re not just a pretty face, she insisted. “We really want to help, and we want people to cooperate and be open to the idea of change.”

Kim said she couldn’t have done it without Ben, acknowledging how lucky she is to have him look after her and Sol.

She also pointed out how she feels the term “single mom” gives a negative connation. Kim has a family, she said, and would like to be referred simply as a mother.

 “Right after the coronation, Ben talked to me. Like a football game, he’s really competitive. He says it’s off season. So after winning the crown, relax, focus on your duties and responsibilities. I’m focused,” she said.

“I’m back. Might as well get the ball rolling. I have a very supportive team. This is the best experience ever. Honestly, I’m here, I’m complete.”

It takes a secure man to have their woman constantly in the spotlight. So when she sat down with Ben to ask him if she’s supporting him enough, Kim was grateful to hear what Ben had to say: He reassured her that it was his dream to make her and their son happy.

With the support of the Binibining Cebu organization, Kim is eager to get her advocacy project rolling. Dubbed as Melody Makers, she plans to put up a youth-based music enrichment program. Tapping on her love for music, Kim (aside from the piano, she plays the flute, ukulele, among other instruments) believes it is important for children to be exposed to music.

 “It makes you think outside of the box. And our culture as Filipinos, we’re known for our musicality,” she said. “I want to start in Alegria, to donate musical instruments to the schools and start off with music lessons and working with the teachers.”

Kim hopes to make Melody Makers last beyond her reign. She envisions gathering all the students and anyone who wants to join for a fund-raising concert after a year-long Melody Makers sessions all throughout  Cebu. Proceeds will go to the schools so they could further develop their programs and provide for the school’s needs.

Whole and loved

Kim said this is really what she’s always wanted to become. Come to think of it, she never dreamt of a specific job or a career as a kid. “I wanted to just share my story, inspire others and tell them that they can do it,” she shared.

Despite being a little lost in the beginning, Kim is enjoying the happily ever after she’s prayed for. She’s at peace knowing she is whole and loved. Instead of pretending like they never happened, Kim prefers to learn from her experiences and turn them into the foundation that built the person she is today.

“Nag connect-connect gyud. Tinuod gyud. God’s time is so powerful. You have so many questions in the past,” she shared. “But I really believe everything is meant to happen. God has a plan for everyone. Sometimes what we really want is not for us. This is for me. And I really believe it.”

Wise beyond her 23 years, the beauty queen/host/model/writer wants to go down in the books as someone who actually did something.

 “I want to create a legacy,” she said. “That people remember me for the things I’ve done, for inspiring them. I want to be remembered as a godmother, a role model…I want my son and his sons to remember me and say ‘Kim Covert made a difference. I know Kim Covert.’”

 “I want to leave a mark. I may not know what it is, but I want to be remembered for my good work.”