We all know International Women’s Day falls on March 8th, but the month of March is actually known as Women’s Month. In honor of this celebration, here are 8 fabulous Pinays, listed in no particular order, who prove that the world is their oyster through their respective fields.
8 Filipina Women Who #RunTheWorld
8. Lea Salonga
A true icon in her own right, Lea Salonga is easily recognized as a legend in musical theater worldwide, winning multiple awards for roles in Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, as well as lending her voice to Disney films such as Aladdin and Mulan. Lea has just finished a Broadway run of musical Allegiance, which she starred in together with George Takei of Star Trek fame, which centers on the persecution of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War.
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7. Aisa Mijeno
Aisa Mijeno is the 31-year-old engineer who invented SALt lamps, lamps powered by salt water, as an environmentally sustainable source of light especially for far-flung areas that are not powered by electricity. SALt also stands for Sustainable Alternative Lighting. Her amazing invention was especially lauded during the APEC Summit 2015 in Manila, as an innovative power solution that addresses the issue of climate change.
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6. Rachelle Ann Go
From her outstanding career as a pop singer in the Philippines, Rachelle has met recent success abroad, after first landing the role of Gigi in the West End revival of “Miss Saigon”, the very same musical that catapulted Lea Salonga to fame. After her critically acclaimed stint in the aforementioned musical, she went on to bag the role of Les Miserables’ Fantine on West End, and is currently back in the country for the Manila run.
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5. Shangrila Rendon
Pinay athlete Shangrila Rendon has been breaking all sorts of records left and right — the most recent being the Guinness World Record holder as the fastest female to finish the IUTA World Cup Quintuple Ultra Triathlon in Mexico, clocking in at 83 hours and 48 minutes. Shangrila is also the first person from the Philippines to finish the said triathlon. This year, Shangrila was also the first Filipino to complete Ultraman in Florida, USA, one of the most prestigious triathlon competitions in the world.
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4. Kelsey Merritt
19-year-old Kelsey was launched to supermodel stardom after international modeling agency, Wilhemina Models, discovered her on Instagram in 2015. A student of Ateneo de Manila University, she flew to New York City over her college break, where she was signed to the agency immediately and booked various campaigns such as an editorial for Harpers Bazaar Vietnam, a Maybelline commercial with Gigi Hadid, and worked with brands such as Vera Wang, Steve Madden, among others. .
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3. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
Pia Wurtzbach constantly makes headlines — and with good reason. Pia is the reigning Miss Universe, after memorably winning the renowned beauty pageant in December 2015, ending a drought of crowns in the country spanning more than 40 years. She is currently based in New York City, where she will reside for the rest of her reign. .
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2. Reese Fernandez-Ruiz
Reese is the 29-year-old co-founder of Rags2Riches, a social enterprise started in 2007 that provides livelihood to women living in the Payatas dumpsite through crafting indigenous fabrics, and upcycled scraps into designer items. Reese was also included in Forbes Magazine’s list of 30 social entrepreneurs under 30 in 2015.
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1. Chef Margarita Fores
Chef and restaurateur Margarita Fores has been celebrated by various media outfits after she was named as Asia’s Best Female Chef for 2016 by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. With a career in the country spanning for almost 30 years, Fores is the chef behind beloved restaurants in Manila such as Cibo, Grace Park, and Lusso.
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And there you have it, eight outstanding Filipina women making their mark worldwide, among many other Pinays doing their country proud!
What are your thoughts on this? Is there anyone else you’d like to include in this list?
