Miss Asian Global Singapore shares her inspiring message to anyone who has ever struggled with self-acceptance.
“From a very young age, I learnt how deeply words can wound. Being half Chinese and half Filipino-Spanish, I grew up constantly feeling like I did not belong to a single box.
In societies where fair skin was often idealised – especially for someone with a Chinese name – my darker complexion became a target. I was called names like Blackie and Dirty Skin, words that slowly taught me to believe that something about me was unacceptable.
Those experiences shaped how I saw myself. As I grew older, the pressure to conform intensified. I began to internalise the idea that fairness equalled beauty, success, and acceptance.
Wanting to fit in and to be seen as worthy, I turned to skin-whitening products, injections and pills. At the time, I believed I was improving myself. Looking back, I realise I was trying to erase a part of my identity just to survive in a world that struggled to accept difference.
Life, however, has a powerful way of redirecting us. In 2024, I had the honor of representing Singapore at Miss Global Asian, a moment that changed everything for me. Winning the title was not just a personal achievement—it was a turning point in how I understood beauty and self-worth.
Later that same year, I competed at Miss Planet International, standing alongside contestants from more than 70 countries. I was proud to place in the top 10, and to be honored as Miss Planet Asia 2024, helping put Singapore on the global pageant map.
Yet the greatest victory was not the crown—it was the awakening. Through international exposure, travel and cultural exchange, I began to see beauty through a much wider lens.
In many European countries, my skin tone was admired and celebrated; so much so that people seek tanning salons to achieve what I once tried to remove. In African countries, whitening products are virtually nonexistent—beauty is rooted in authenticity and pride.
These experiences made one truth impossible to ignore: the standards I once suffered under were not universal. They were learnt, imposed, and deeply flawed. I finally understood that my skin was never the problem. The problem was the narrative I had been taught to believe.
Today, as I continue my journey in pageantry – not only as a contestant but also as a judge and mentor – I see beauty with clarity and purpose. I see it in different shades, cultures, and stories. I see it in confidence, resilience, kindness, and self-acceptance.
I now dedicate myself to guiding others – especially those from diverse backgrounds – who have been told they are ‘too dark’, ‘too different’ or ‘not enough, helping them believe that their dreams are valid and achievable exactly as they are.
My story is not just about titles or accolades. It is about healing from internalised prejudice, reclaiming identity and transforming pain into purpose. It is about standing as proof that you do not need to change yourself to be celebrated—you need to embrace yourself fully.
If my journey offers any message, let it be this: your skin color is not a limitation. Your background is not a disadvantage. Your difference is your strength. I once tried to lighten myself to fit into the world. Now, I stand proudly in my own skin—hoping my story becomes a light for others learning to do the same.”
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