On a Winning Quest: Meet Miss Universe Philippines – Ifugao Valerie West
For Miss Universe Philippines-Ifugao, Valerie West, the lure of pageantry began in childhood, a tradition shared with her mother. “I think, yeah, since I was a little girl, I’ve been watching pageants because of my mom. We bond over it, we watch Miss Universe every year, Miss Universe Philippines, and it’s always been a basis of our relationship. So, I wanted to do it when I was older, but of course, you really have to get ready, and I felt like this was the perfect time to try out and explore another dream.”
Early Starts and Educational Goals
Valerie’s journey into pageantry started at a young age with a practical aim. “I tried joining pageants ever since I think I was 14, 15 years old, but Miss America system, so very different, and I did it for scholarship basically because I wanted to pursue college and an engineering degree, so that was going to be a lot of money, and pageantry was the best way to support that because they give a lot of scholarships and support young women in development.”
The financial assistance from pageants, combined with her academic efforts, helped fund her education. “Yeah, so you get little scholarships here and there from participating in local and state pageants, and then other than that, I just applied for a lot of academic scholarships because I’ve always been quite a nerd, so I really pushed myself in that way so that I could succeed in my future,” she explained.
Beyond the Glamour: Finding Purpose
While the initial attraction might have been the spectacle, Valerie soon recognized a deeper significance. “Well, the glitz and glam is so nice, right? So at first, you see all the beautiful gowns, the walk, the elegance, but then you look further and there’s a lot that pageant queens can do. It’s really a platform to take charge and make change in the community. So having an advocacy was something I found really interesting and something I wanted to do as a teen.”
Being in pageants allowed Valerie to have a reason to have an advocacy. “I also implore younger people that you don’t necessarily need a reason, you don’t need to be in a pageant to take charge or have an advocacy. It just takes some confidence, so just go out there and do good in the community,” she said.
Navigating Identity and Beauty
Growing up in the United States, Valerie experienced the complexities of a mixed heritage. “Yeah, so it’s interesting because when I was in the US growing up, going through the school systems, I didn’t necessarily look like everyone else, right? There are Asian students, there are American students, and I was kind of in between, like where do I sit? And it was kind of a source of insecurity at times because you don’t have anyone that you directly relate to.” Valerie eventually looked at her situation with a positive lens.
“I found it as a strength because you have two cultures to explore, two different avenues that make you who you are, and that made me unique. And then coming here in the Philippines, I’m also unlike everyone else. I’m not full Filipino, I’m not full American, I’m right in between, which I find as a happy medium because I’m a dual citizen, so that allows me to explore the world and really, really embrace two different cultures.”
The realization of her own beauty has been a gradual process. “I feel like that’s an ongoing journey. It’s of course, some days you feel beautiful, sometimes insecurities are going to creep in, and it’s not honest to say that you feel 100% confident all the time, especially as a pageant queen. I think it’s a misconception that pageant queens feel very confident and we’re always willing to put ourselves out there,” she shared. “But I just remind myself of my blessings and why I’m in my positions and all of the things I’ve done in the past that make me such a unique person, such a strong individual, and that’s where I find my beauty from. And sometimes that has to come from other people, and that’s okay. I have a very supportive family, very supportive friends back home that I can call up at any time, and they can remind me of why I should feel beautiful, why I should feel confident.”
Valerie’s return to pageantry was partly encouraged by her mother. “My mom pushed me, not to the point where I did it unwillingly, but she said, ‘You really need to use your talents, don’t waste what God gave you.’ I said, ‘Maybe you’re right, maybe this is a sign that I just finished school, I have nothing else going on, just go for it.’ And here I am, she was right, mother’s always right.” This led to the opportunity to compete in Miss Universe Philippines through Reina Filipina North America. “So Reina Filipina was fortunate enough this year to send three different candidates to the Miss Universe competition. So I joined first Reina Filipina for the title, and then that’s why Miss Universe came about. But of course, Miss Universe Philippines has always been a dream, and it gave me an opportunity to come back home here in the Philippines.”
Filipino Traits and Future Aspirations
Beyond singing, Valerie identifies strongly with certain Filipino characteristics. “Oh, very Filipino. Well, I’m one of the shorter candidates,” she jokingly quipped. “Besides that, traits that make me Filipino, well, I’m a woman in STEM, woman in engineering who wants to go into the medical field. I really want to be a pediatric cardiologist when I grow up. And to be honest, I think the Filipinos in being in healthcare comes from our compassion as a culture. We want to help each other out, even strangers. If we find out they’re Filipino, we want to get to know them, we want to help them out, and that really comes from a place of being Filipino and having pride in our culture. So I think that’s why I want to be in healthcare because I have a big heart. I watched my mom being a nurse, of course, and the impact she has in her patients’ lives. So that’s the end goal for me, of course, hopefully Miss Universe first, but eventually doctor.”
The Pageant Whirlwind and Preparation
The journey so far has been intense. “It was whirlwind. I said it’s pretty tiring because we have a really strict schedule, we’re working every single day, but I think it’s really worth it and we’re having a once-in-a-lifetime [experience]. Imagine, I just went to Boracay, first time in Boracay, and I was on a swimsuit showcase in Aqua, that’s crazy.” Preparation has involved significant lifestyle changes. “Yeah, so before coming to the Philippines, I was on a really strict diet because I decided to make a lifestyle change. I lost 40 lbs. in preparation for the pageant, but also just because I regained a love for fitness and well-being and really wanted to do it on my own terms. So that was a really strict diet to get me to a place to come here. But then now I’m just maintaining a healthy diet, balanced, good vegetables, protein. Of course, I have fun sometimes and Korean barbecue, but just making myself healthy enough to be in a good place for the competition.”
Experiencing different parts of the Philippines has been a highlight. Valerie shared, “I’ve been to Metro Manila, I’ve been here in Quezon City and then Pasig, just staying in the area for shoots. But we traveled to Northern Samar recently for our provincial tour, and that was a lovely trip. It actually reminded me a lot of when I went back to Ifugao because the people were so gracious, in a good way, like so, so happy to see the queens, happy for us to be there, accommodating, warm. So that was a nice taste of home without actually being able to go to Ifugao. Other than that, we went to Aqua Boracay recently, so that was our vacation of the trip.”
Reflecting on the Aqua Boracay competition, she felt a sense of relief and honor. “I’m first of all really relieved that it went well for me. Of course, I’m really honored to be part of the top eight Aqua Angels. This was our first exposure being on a runway, and that was intimidating at first. But this year’s show was really fun in the fact that they had all of the girls stand up on stage and dance during the whole time. I think that got the jitters out, especially we’ve gotten really close, all the candidates, so it became more of like a dance party and then you just ramped, came back and had more fun. So it was a really nice experience, and of course, Aqua Boracay is always such so, so good to all the candidates and accommodating, so we had such a blast.”
Valerie’s secret weapon for staying prepared? “My secret is sleep because I was told early on, someone gave me the best advice, whenever you’re in the car, Valerie, sleep, sleep, sleep, whenever you have a chance, on the plane ride, on the bus rides, just sleep because I had the tendency to want to be a bit of a social butterfly, especially with new candidates, but it’s really important to prioritize yourself, your sleep, of course, your wellness, what you’re eating, get good vitamins. So, I’m just trying to maintain that on the back end when I have time, take that time, don’t try to fill it with all these schedules, it’s really meant to be a rest day.”
Expect Freshness and Authenticity
Looking ahead, Valerie wants to bring a unique energy to the competition. Asked what pageant fans can expect from her, she said, “I think just expect freshness from me every time. As a new candidate, you never know what you’re going to get from me, and I think that’s an advantage, I think that’s a plus as a candidate to be new. People don’t know me yet, so I have new things to bring to the table, also a fight in me to prove myself. So just expect freshness, and also I’m going to be my genuine self throughout. So what you see is what you get, that’s really me as a person, and I hope to be that same bubbly kind person on stage.”
Her preferred segment is the Q&A. “I really enjoy Q&A because when you’re on stage, it’s nice, everyone’s looking at you, but then everyone’s looking at you and you’re just smiling. But with Q&A, you get to know each other, it’s a conversation, and I feel like that’s the best way I can portray myself. So Q&A definitely.”
Sisterhood and Support
The camaraderie among the candidates has been a positive aspect of her experience. “Well, of course, it’s, there’s a lot to choose from in terms of candidates, but people are really nice. I haven’t seen any claws out, which is so nice to see, 69 women really empowering each other. So I’d say my closest friends at this moment are of course my Reina Filipina sisters. But then we’re really outreaching, it’s so nice that there’s a lot of Filipino society candidates this year. So of course, Canada who is also Las Piñas, Christelle, is one of my closest friends. And then also the veterans, I really love Ate Winwyn, I said earlier, she’s like a big sister to me, and I really look up to her, but she’s also so genuine that I don’t feel like I’m a fan when talking to her, we’re having genuine meaningful conversations.”
Advocacy and Future Paths
Her advocacy lies with the Puso Foundation. “My advocacy is the Puso Foundation, which means the puso, well of course, puso [means] heart, but their abbreviation is the Purposeful Unconditional Service to Others. They have medical missions, typhoon relief, other small and big acts of kindness so that they can affect communities that most need.”
Open to future opportunities, including showbiz, Valerie stated, “Well, you have to be open to opportunities always, right? So I’m having the question, are you willing to move here? Are you willing to pursue things? I think this is the best time if ever, I’m 23 years old, I just finished school, why not explore whatever comes my way, especially if it has to do with singing, acting.”
Inspiration and Overcoming Challenges
Among beauty queens, Catriona Gray stands out as an inspiration for Valerie. “It’s hard because there are so many successful beauty queens here in the Philippines, but I’ve been saying Catriona Gray because I feel relatable to her story and her journey and her background, and I appreciate how after the crown, she still is so kind, so approachable and really making the most out of her career, and that’s something I want to do whether I win or lose, I hope to have a very fresh career afterwards and still being my best self throughout.” Like Catriona, Valerie is also an only child of an interracial couple.
Valerie also admires strong women in general. When asked about women she looks up to, she said, “Icons, Margaret Thatcher actually is someone I look up to because not because of her political views, besides that, she is someone who was willing to hold power in a position that’s predominantly male, so I look up to that in the fact that she’s fearless, she’s strong, and she commands any room she walks into.”
Growing up with a Filipino mother provided unique beauty insights and support, especially during a personal struggle. “Well, she always made sure to provide me with opportunities, so she enrolled me in singing, dancing, so she was really careful for me to take care of myself, my skin always, and make sure because I had acne, really bad acne.”
Valerie opened up about that beauty problem years ago. “I had severe acne, went through several rounds of harsh medications, and that was a really big source of insecurity for me, but my mom was always supportive in helping me through that journey and helping me take care of that. So, the love of a Filipino mother,” she happily recalled, sounding grateful.
For younger girls, facing similar skin issues, Valerie offers encouragement. “It’s natural really, there’s so many, even beauty queens you wouldn’t realize that went through the same thing as you, and it’s a part of life, and your perseverance is what matters because when you get older, I’m sure it will resolve, and if even if it doesn’t, find what makes you feel beautiful because I’m sure you’re still beautiful even with or without the pimples.”
Valerie brings with her a wealth of experience, wisdom, talent, and heart as she vies for the much-coveted Miss Universe Philippines title on May 2. Beyond the pageant, the bright-eyed Filipina has so much promise and we cannot wait to witness more of her adventures and milestones unfold in the coming years.
WATCH the FULL VIDEO:
