Miss Philippines Earth’s beauty secret: ‘Be yourself’

Newly crowned Miss Philippines Earth Loren Artajos taught kids about the true meaning of being beautiful at the #MyInquirer Read-Along Festival held on Friday morning at the Inquirer main office.

In one of her first public appearances, Artajos read in tandem with Read-Along ambassador and former Miss Earth beauty Cathy Untalan-Vital the book “Tanya Ang Uwak Na Gustong Pumuti” written by German V. Gervacio and illustrated by Gino G. Borja.

“In your everyday life you don’t need to have a skin as white as porcelain like those of actresses,” said Artajos. “You just have to be yourself.”

“What matters is that you have the proper attitude toward other people accompanied by a sweet and kind heart,” she added.

“It’s not all about beauty. It sounds cliché, but if you are a good person a lot of people will like you,” Artajos told the Inquirer.

“And I hope the kids learned that,” she added.

Artajos shared that she viewed children differently prior to joining the pageant. “Before I joined pageant I was not really a fan of kids. But as the activities for Miss Philippines Earth contest started, so did my liking for children. When we go to their classrooms and introduce ourselves you could just see the glow in their eyes,” she shared.

“This made me realize just how fragile they can be and you could see how their youth can change how people view the environment. Now I love kids!” she added.

“I was more into movies but recently after reading in front of children I realized how fun it can be. A lot has changed since I joined Miss Philippines Earth,” she said.

Artajos was among the readers during the first day of the Read-Along Festival, an annual event by the Inquirer Read-Along team. Other readers included Inquirer president and CEO Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez, actress Lotlot de Leon, and professional storytellers Rich Rodriguez and Posh Develos of Ang Pinoy Storytellers and Dyali Justo of Adarna House.

Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Artajos and Read-Along ambassador Cathy Untalan-Vital read the book “Tanya Ang Uwak Na Gustong Pumuti” during the 6th Read-Along Festival on Friday. —PHOTOS BY ALEXIS CORPUZ

Artajos reads to children during the opening session of the Read-Along Festival.