Miss Philippines-Universe 2010 Venus Raj

After briefly losing her crown on a technicality, Miss Philippines-Universe 2010 Maria Venus Raj is set to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Country Girl

The bright lights of Vegas are a certainly a long way from this country girl’s humble origins. Born out of wedlock to a Filipina mother and an Indian father, Venus was raised by her mother in a palm hut surrounded by a rice field in the Philippine countryside. She trained for the catwalk by walking on rice paddy dikes.

Venus is certainly no stranger to the pageant scene, having competed in Philippine beauty pageants since she was seventeen. Before becoming Miss Philippines-Universe 2010, this twenty-two-year-old stunner was already Miss Philippines Earth Eco-Tourism 2008. Like the endearingly earnest farm girl that she is, Venus uses her pageant winnings to buy more farmland for her mother.

True to her countryside roots, Venus now works to protect Mother Earth. This journalism Cum Laude graduate serves as an information assistant for the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Unique Appeal

One thing you will notice in Venus’ interviews is the carefree, animated way she conveys her emotions. That demeanor provides a stark contrast to the dignity with which she carries her statuesque 5′ 9″ 35″-22″-35″ frame on the runway. That combination of rough-riding country girl and elegantly regal beauty queen gives Venus a unique appeal: she’s the glamor girl who knows how to kick it old school.

Venus’ unique appeal is not lost upon the Miss Universe audience. She’s a crowd favorite who consistently garnered some of the loudest cheers during the preliminaries. She’s also leading the Miss Universe online polls. You can cast your vote for Venus on her Miss Universe online profile.

As the first dethroned Miss Philippines-Universe to ever reclaim her crown, Venus exemplifies the sheer willpower and determination of a feisty fine Filipina. That determination could see her through to becoming Miss Universe 2010.

Like This Post: Share This Post: Tweet This Post Share on Facebook Stumble This Post Post to Reddit

August 21, 2010 by Mike Abundo

Previous Post: Alodia Gosiengfiao in Talks for Warcraft Movie

Next Post: Alodia Performs at Cyberzone Cosplay Event