– 3 hours ago
Miss Asia Pacific International-USA Kayla Jane Usison. Image: Armin P. Adina/INQUIRER.net
The United States is sending a Filipino-American woman to the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant, a competition that celebrates “beauty in diversity.”
As a follow-up to Dominican-American contender Janelis Leyba, who bagged the title in last year’s competition, Kayla Jane Usison will bank on her mixed heritage to further push the pageant’s thrust.
“Coming with a background of [human resources], one of the first things I’ve learned in a professional environment, or in life in general, is that diversity is important,” Usison told an intimate group of journalists and content creators at The Vault at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City at a recent gathering.
The beauty queen, who holds a degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources, is based in California’s Bay Area. “I had Filipinos, I had Mexicans, I had all cultures around me. And standing right in front of you here is a great testimony of how diversity is important,” she said.
“I am not only representing the US or the Philippines. I am representing every woman throughout the world. And I learned through my last pageant that people relate with it,” continued Usison, who was fielded by the Filipino community in San Francisco to the recent Miss Universe Philippines pageant.
“Just simply, authentically showing up and being vulnerable and being transparent about your journey, that’s how I show up and show people the diversity and how it’s important,” she added.
Reigning Miss Asia Pacific International Janelis Leyba (left) with the US’ Kayla Jane Usison. Image: Armin P. Adina/INQUIRER.net
Usison was recently appointed to compete in this year’s Miss Asia Pacific International pageant by Michiko Unso, who had just acquired the license to select the representative from the US, in coordination with the Aces and Queens pageant camp.
The beauty queen was trained by Aces and Queens for the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, and will still be under the camp’s guidance for the Miss Asia Pacific International competition.
“What gave me the most comfort is knowing that I will still be working with Aces and Queens. Aces and Queens has been my home since I moved here in the Philippines. And just the familiarity of it and being around the same people, even the same makeup artist, it just felt like an extension of my last journey, but I’m back stronger. I’m a little more prepared now,” Usison declared.
She also said she is unfazed by the mission to post the US’s second consecutive win in the contest. “The pressure is there. But since meeting [Leyba] and developing a friendship, I’m actually at ease,” Usison shared.
“She really just wants to have a friendship and just make sure that I enjoy this journey. So, although a back-to-back would be amazing, I don’t feel that much pressure because I just wanna enjoy this pageant,” the Filipino-American beauty added.
Usison will be among a field of 50 delegates around the world, including the Philippines’ Anita Rose Gomez, in the 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant. The coronation will take place in Cebu on Oct. 8.
