The Philippines has a plethora of women who can compete in beauty pageants not only locally but also internationally. We peaked in 2015 with Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray in 2018 but we seem to have been less fortunate from the recent editions of the Miss Universe.

But there’s this one candidate in the Miss Universe – Philippines that got our attention, Miss Ifugao Valerie West and we got the chance to talk to her for first Philippine pageant.

Is being a beauty queen Valerie’s dream?

“Coming from a Filipino mother, and I am an only child, of course you watch Miss Universe Philippines growing up and you’re watching pageants. I actually said this earlier, my mom’s 4’9, so she could never do pageants back in the day when there were strict guidelines. So, I finished school and said maybe it’s time to give it a try because these are the girls that I looked up to as a child. Watching Miss Universe Philippines, they’re really role models in the community. So, now that I’m 23, done school, I finished my Biomedical Engineering degree, I think it’s time to try some creative outlets because I wanna be the most well-rounded in life, especially, we just celebrated Women’s Month and one of the most beautiful things being a woman is the diversity and how many hats you can wear. So, engineer and pageanty, why not?”

How does it feel being around the other candidates? Was there pressure?

“It was almost like a vacation for all of us. There’s a competition that’s going to happen, but everyone’s in their relaxation mode between all the shoots. We’re in bikinis anyway, so we jumped in the pool, hung out and we had an after-party. It really was more like a time to get to know each other because we’re travelling, everyone misses home.”

But how about during the swimwear

“There’s always pressure; it’s not true if someone says no. You still wanna impress, you still wanna do well. But I just had fun with it because swimwear is one of my favorite competitions.”

Among the segments in the pageant, which one is Valerie most challenged?

“I think originally when I joined the pageant, the phase of the competition I’m unfamiliar with was pasarela. My pageant background is in Ms. America, which is more on how you speak, volunteering, being a spokesperson, there’s no rampa rampa. And of course, here in the Philippines, it’s everything. Everyone wants to see your walk. So, I had a couple of sessions in New York before coming here and every week now, I’m still training. It’s an ongoing training and there’s a lot of pressure because you see Catriona Gray with her signature walk, everyone wants a signature. So, I think that is my most challenged but that is what I’m also working hardest on.”

Among the candidates, who makes Valerie inspired?

“Of course, there’s ate Winwyn. Because there are a lot of veterans and they’re my friends and they’re respectable, but for some reason with ate Winwyn, she’s like another mother or a big sister. She’s really helped everyone with her calming presence. You can really see her professionalism in why she succeeded.”

Which of the candidates does Valerie consider a threat?

“I think we’re all secret killers in the pageant. Of course, we want to win. We all have our things in our back pocket. But actually, even talking to the staff, they’re saying this group is super chill. They’re saying there’s no cattiness, we’re all just happy to be there. So, right now, no claws out.”

With her beauty and impressive background, does Val think that men would be intimidated by her?

“I hope not. I think in this day and age, it’s 2025, we should be embracing each other’s abilities rather than being intimidated by someone’s characteristics; instead, we should uplift each other and use each other’s uniqueness to our benefit. So, if they’re intimidated by me, I hope they’re inspired by me instead.”

What are the challenges she faces joining Miss Universe Philippines?

“I don’t speak fluent Tagalog. So that comes with challenges, but I’m challenging myself throughout this journey to learn the language. I understand a bit, especially if it’s Taglish, so that’s my biggest thing I’m trying to adjust to. I need to learn the language, so that I can communicate myself properly.”

But what about the adjustments from competing in the US and now in the Philippines?

”A lot actually. The pageant systems in America are lovely. I had a great time doing that but here, it’s a sport. Here in the Philippines, you love pageantry. So, the adjustment is to fulfill and step up to the plate because there have been so many beautiful queens that have come before me and so many people that I look up to, that it’s time that I also step up and fulfill the dream.”

Is Valerie also interested in entering showbiz?

“Well, you have to embrace every possibility, especially since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wanna see where this journey takes me. And of course, I have a passion for singing, acting, and dancing, so it doesn’t just stop with pageantry, hopefully I can get something afterwards too.

Any Filipino actors Valerie looks up to?

“Kathryn Bernardo is my favorite Filipino actress. My first Filipino movies were all her movies, I binged-watched a lot during COVID. And then, in terms of singing, it’s hard because there are so many good Filipino singers, but I really love Regine (Velasquez). When I was growing up, my mom listened to a lot of Regine and also Lea (Salonga). Those are big ones that I look up to.”

More off the record conversations after the interview, I was really stunned at how beautiful, insightful and talented Valerie is. I like talking to her because the flow in the conversations felt organic, it seems as though she has been through a lot to have the wisdom she has now.

We’re rooting for you, Valerie. May you have the best time during the competition and hopefully get the crown.

Watch our interview with Valerie West below: