Venus Raj

Venus Raj

Beauty pageant titleholder
Born	Maria Venus Bayonito Raj July 7, 1988 (1988-07-07) (age 23) Doha, Qatar
Agency	Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Measurements	35-22-35
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Title(s)	Miss Philippines Eco Tourism 2008 Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010
Major competition(s)	Miss Philippines Earth 2008 (Miss Philippines Eco Tourism 2008) Binibining Pilipinas 2010 (Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010) Miss Universe 2010 (Fourth Runner-Up)

Maria Venus Bayonito Raj (born July 7, 1988) is a Filipina beauty queen. She was crowned Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines)-Universe on March 6, 2010 during the pageant's Grand Coronation Night at the Araneta Coliseum. She represented the Philippines in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, and placed fourth runner-up to Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.^[1]

Early life

Maria Venus Raj was born to an Indian father and a Filipina mother. Raj was taken by her mother to Bato, Camarines Sur in Bicol Region, Philippines as an infant and was registered by an aunt as a Philippine-born child to Roman Catholic parents.^[2] Raj grew up with her mother, a former tenant farmer and dressmaker who brought Maria Venus Raj up as a child.^[3] A former Roman Catholic, She is now a Born Again Christian

Raj lived in a nipa hut made of wood, bamboo and anahaw leaves with no electricity in the middle of a sprawling rice field in the rural Bato town for more than twenty years. She allegedly used rice paddy dikes for her early training where she eventually developed her distinct catwalk.^[3]

The youngest among five children, Maria Venus Raj started joining local beauty pageants. She also joined oratorical contests at San Vicente High School where her English teacher served as her coach. With her victories in major contests, Venus Raj had started to buy land on installment basis for her mother as a means of improving their livelihood.^[3]

Raj obtained her Diploma in Communications Arts, major in Journalism, at Bicol University in Albay, with Latin honors (Cum Laude).^[4] She graduated through the scholarship that she received from the Francis Papica Foundation.^[3] Back in the Philippines, she works as an Information Assistant for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region V.^[5] In addition to this, she also works as a part-time fashion model in her native Bicol and Manila.

Pageantry

Miss Philippines-Earth 2008

Following her victory as Miss Bicolandia, Raj represented Legazpi City and competed in the Miss Philippines-Earth 2008, and was named as Miss Philippines Earth Eco Tourism 2008, and fourth runner-up to eventual Miss Earth 2008 winner Karla Henry on May 11, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Galleria, Manila.

Binibining Pilipinas-Universe

After joining Miss Philippines-Earth in 2008, Raj took a break from beauty contests and worked as an Information Assistant at the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.^{[citation needed]} On March 6, 2010, she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe during the pageant's Grand Coronation Night at the Araneta Coliseum. She won the right to represent the Philippines in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.^[1] She also won the special awards Best in Long Gown, Best in Philippine Terno, and was a co-winner for Miss Friendship - a rare feat for a major title winner.^{[citation needed]}

Dethronement

A few weeks after her coronation, Raj was dethroned by Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. citing alleged inconsistencies between her birth certificate and the personal account of her birth. Raj was briefly replaced by second runner-up Helen Nicolette Henson since first runner-up Diane Elaine S. Necio, also from Bicol was only 17 years old and did not meet the age requirement policies of Miss Universe.^{[citation needed]}

Raj had planned to take legal action to combat BPCI's decision in court,-plans-to-fight-for-her-crown- but she also weighed in on her decision because of its potential impact to her future career.A Lawyer Francis Padua Papica, who sponsored Raj’s college education, and another counsel volunteered to defend her for free. led supporters in sending an appeal regarding Raj's case to the Miss Universe Organization Dethroned-beauty-to-regain-crown-if-she-gets-passport.^{[citation needed]}

In a local television appearance, Raj stated that a representative for the Miss universe 2010 spoke with her and looked into her case. In the same interview, she said, “My fight is now more than just chasing a dream. It is about clearing my soiled reputation. It is about standing up for people who are poor and born out of wedlock. It is a fight for acceptance.”^[6]

Reinstatement

On April 10, 2010, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. allowed Raj to reclaim her title due to humanitarian reasons. An additional requirement that Raj should legally obtain a valid Philippine passport as proof of her true citizenship was also requested by the pageant organizers.^[7] On May 19, 2010, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs issued Raj a Philippine passport thereby attesting to her Filipino citizenship.^[8] According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Raj is a Philippine citizen by virtue of the jus sanguinis principle (“right of blood”), a basic right provided by the Philippine Constitution which bestows upon a person the citizenship of his father or mother regardless of where the person was born, thus declaring her of Filipino citizenship.^{[citation needed]}

Upon the issuance of her Philippine passport, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. announced that they are reinstating Raj. Currently, Raj holds the record as the first-ever dethroned Binibining Pilipinas to have successfully attempted for a reinstatement of a Binibining Pilipinas crown.^{[citation needed]}

Miss Universe 2010

In August 2010, Raj flew to the United States and took part in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant. As part of the six delegates which were handpicked for a media tour, Raj along with Jesinta Campbell of Australia, Natalia Navarro of Colombia, Sarodj Bertin of Haiti, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico, Mariana Vicente of Puerto Rico and Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez were scheduled for several television appearances prior to the actual pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the Miss Universe question and answer portion, Raj was asked by American actor William Baldwin about the biggest mistake that she made in her life and what she did to make it right, to which she simply replied that she had never made any big mistakes in her life.^[9] Raj received the highest rating in the Miss Universe website, with 3.54 points, the highest-ever for a Filipina delegate.^[10] In an event held in Diablos Cantina at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Raj won in a Chicken Wing Eating Contest, increasing her popularity even more during the run of the pageant.^[11]

While competing at Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, Raj was emotionally distressed to hear about the death of Filipina-German beauty queen Melody Gersbach and make-up artist Alden Orense in a car accident. Gersbach, a fellow Bicolana who previously competed and secured a place in the Top15 finalists at Miss International 2009 in China, was one of Raj's coaches in her preparation for the Miss Universe pageant.^[12][13]

Career

Prior and post-Miss Universe, Raj guested on multiple networks as guests. On January 14, 2011, Raj signed up an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN, including the airing rights of the Binibining Pilipinas for at least five years.^[14]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Network
2011	Kris TV	Guest	ABS-CBN
	Mutya	Mikki
	Happy Yipee Yehey	Performer/Herself
2011-present	ASAP Rocks!	Host/Performer
2011-present	Umagang Kay Ganda	Host - Present
2010	Showtime	Guest Host/Judge
	ABS-CBN Christmas Special 2010	Performer/Herself
	Show Me Da Manny	Special Guest	GMA-7
	Unang Hirit	Guest Co-Host
	Hole in the wall	Guest Co-Host
	Paparazi	Guest host	TV5
	Juicy	Past-Host
	P.O.5	Guest
	E-Live	Host	ABS-CBN
	SNN	Guest-Host
	The Buzz	Guest
	Inside the Cinema	Guest	Cinema One

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Pageant Updates: Binibining Pilipinas 2010 Official Results!
2. ^ 'Goddess' in distress.
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Dethroned Bicol beauty queen fights for dream.
4. ^ Venus Raj | Pinoy Profile
5. ^ Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2010.
6. ^ Lyn Cacha (August 31, 2010). "Venus Raj: From rice paddy girl to beauty queen". Philippine Online Chronicles. http://www.thepoc.net/thepoc-features/beauty-and-fashion/the-spotlight/9501-venus-raj-from-rice-paddy-girl-to-beauty-queen.html. Retrieved August 27, 2011. 
7. ^ Venus Raj given chance to reclaim Bb. Pilipinas-Universe title.
8. ^ MANILA BULLETIN 5/21/10: Venus Raj gets her passport, braces for Miss Universe contest
9. ^ 'Major major:' Venus Raj's legacy? | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features
10. ^ Miss Universe : Members
11. ^ Raj a top choice for Miss Universe crown | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online
12. ^ Another mishap: beauty queen dies | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online
13. ^ Venus mourns, but is ready to shine | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online
14. ^ Santos, Rhea. "Venus Raj declines Willie Revillame’s offer, signs up with ABS-CBN". Push.com.ph. http://www.push.com.ph/news-feature/2204/Venus-Raj-declines-Willie-Revillame-s-offer-signs-up-with-ABS-CBN.aspx. Retrieved 16 January 2011. 

External links

• Maria Venus Raj - Miss Philippines Universe Official Website

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Bianca Manalo	Binibining Pilipinas – Universe 2010	Succeeded by Shamcey Supsup
Preceded by Anna Katrina Bautista	Miss Philippines-Earth Eco Tourism 2008	Succeeded by Grezilda Adelantar

Persondata
Name	Raj, Maria Venus
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 7, 1988
Place of birth	Doha
Date of death
Place of death