Venus Raj’s new take on beauty
By Jojo P. Panaligan
Venus Raj started the four-year
streak of Pinay bets winning at the most prestigious international pageants in
2010 when she ended up as Miss Universe 4thrunner-up. Her victory
was made more significant by the fact that the last time the Philippines
reached the Top 5 was more than a decade prior.
These days, ask Venus about her views
on beauty and you’d see her in a different light.
“Lagi na lang beauty is about
physical appearance dahil na din sa yan ang na-pro-promote sa media pero ang
totoo, hindi lang yan tungkol sa kulay mo, sa kutis mo, sa tangkad mo, sa liit
ng bewang mo. Walang peg ang beauty. As long as may maganda kang kalooban and
you do what’s right, you become beautiful in the eyes of people,” she said in
an exclusive interview.
Venus recalled a time when she
wanted to become fair-skinned.
“But then I became a Born Again
Christian and I realized that seeing maputi as a measure of beauty is the
world’s standard. Now I look at my brown skin and I’m thankful for it. Eto ang
bigay sa akin, so why would I want something else?”
It doesn’t mean, though, that
one should not do anything and everything to enhance or preserve ones’ looks.
Beyond vanity, Venus believes taking care of oneself is divine mandate.
“God wants us to be healthy,
both inside and out. We also reflect His work in our lives by the way we look.
Wag mong pabayaan ang mga gifts Niya sa yo,” was her simple explanation.
In renewing as endorser of the
42-year-old Dermclinic, the beauty queen is happy that its anniversary theme is
“Be in the Pink,” with emphasis on beauty a by-product of being healthy. The
go-to dermatological center of Dr. Vinson B. Pineda already has 18 branches
nationwide and Venus can explain the success from a personal point of view.
“This company treats me and all
of its clients like family. Mararamdaman mo yan. In my case, comfortable ako
even sa pinakamay-ari. He guides me in things beyond our professional dealings.
He reminds me to be a channel of blessings to people,” she said.
Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva concurs.
“His existence and the way he
runs the business are testaments to God’s goodness and faithfulness. He is my
idol and I am one of those who can tell that he is successful because of God’s
approval,” Villanueva said to that effect.
Venus advises women and
beauty queens to not compare themselves to others. She said that everyone has a
time to shine and what’s more important is integrity even when another has
taken the spotlight.
“There will always be someone
greater or ‘lesser,’ if that’s the word to use. It really doesn’t matter. Just
be yourself---the way you were meant to be---and the world will see your
beauty. Have peace in your heart, your life. Be happy, stay happy.”
Source: Manila Bulletin, December
2, 2013
