Maria Venus Bayonito Raj (or known as Maria Venus Raj) was crowned Miss Philippines Universe in a coronation night held at Araneta Coliseum, Philippines on March 6, 2010. She was crowned by Miss Philippines Universe 2009, Pamela Bianca Manalo.

The 22 year-old Venus was born on July 7, 1988 in Doha, Qatar, [...]]]>

Maria Venus Bayonito Raj (or known as Maria Venus Raj) was crowned Miss Philippines Universe in a coronation night held at Araneta Coliseum, Philippines on March 6, 2010. She was crowned by Miss Philippines Universe 2009, Pamela Bianca Manalo.

The 22 year-old Venus was born on July 7, 1988 in Doha, Qatar, a city located on the Persian Gulf. Her mother is a Filipina and her father is an Indian. After the separation of her parents, her mother sent her in Bato, Camarines Sur in Bicol region. Venus lived in a small house with no electricity for 20 years. Life in Bato town was hard but she never complained and never blamed her family. Despite of poverty, Venus performed well in class. She participated and won on major oratorical contests assisted by her English teacher, Maria Lourdes Pili. She was able to finish college through the scholarship she received from Francis Papica Foundation. She finished her bachelor’s degree in Communications Arts, major in Journalism, at Bicol University in Albay, with honor (cum laude). She is currently working as an Information Assistant in one of the executive department of the Philippine government – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and as a fashion model at the Carousel Productions, Inc, the Miss Philippines pageant organization.

Venus started to enter the beauty pageant world by joining the Miss Bicolandia 2007, where she won the title. She participated in the Miss Philippines Earth 2008 beauty pageant, where she won Miss Philippines Earth Eco Tourism 2008 title. Her big break was when she won the Miss Philippines Universe 2010 crown. But after three weeks, she was replaced and dethroned by 2nd runner-up Helen Nicolette Henson due to inconsistencies in her birth documents. After almost two weeks of working on her birth documents, she was able to regain her crown and the privilege to be the Philippines’ delegate to the 2010 Miss Universe pageant.

As of now, Venus leads the Miss Universe 2010 online poll with an average of 3.72 votes.

More on Miss Universe 2010:

• Anyoli Abrego – Miss Panama 2010
• Jimena Navarrete – Miss Universe Mexico 2010
• Rima Fakih – Miss USA 2010
• Miss Croatia 2010 Lana Obad
• Johana Benitez – Miss Paraguay 2010
• Malika Menard – Miss France 2010
• Joo-ri Kim – Miss Universe Korea 2010

* Picture credit: Owen Rey / Globalbeauties.com

Pamela Manalo was born on August 30, 1986. This beautiful lady from Parañaque City stands 5’10″ and weighs 149 [...]]]> Pamela Bianca Manalo was crowned as Miss Philippines 2009 (Binibinibig Pilipinas) last March 7, 2009 at the Big Dome (Araneta Coliseum) in Quezon City. She will be the Philippines representative for the 2009 Miss Universe pageant.

Pamela Manalo was born on August 30, 1986. This beautiful lady from Parañaque City stands 5’10″ and weighs 149 lbs. She is an Advertising graduate from Assumption College. And now, she recently works as a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines. She is not just a flight attendant, but she graduated “1st Honorable Mention” among 75 cabin crews.

Pamela came from a clan of beauty queens. Her sister Katherine Anne Manalo won the Miss Philippines-World crown in 2002 and was able to reached the top 10 in the over all Miss World pageant. Her aunt Nini Ramos is Miss Philippines-International and included in the top 15 finalist in 1968 Miss International pageant.

Aside from the Miss Philipiines 2009 title, she also grabbed the “Best in Swimsuit,” “Manila Bulletin Reader’s Choice Award,” “Miss Philippine Airlines,” and “Miss Natasha” awards.