For Aizha Veronica Loyal, that line was just another cliché until recently, when she realized that her long-time dream is finally happening. Born and raised in Baguio with family roots in Pangasinan, Aizha has always dreamed of becoming a beauty queen and being able to represent the Philippines in an international pageant. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy but she was willing to try anyway.
In 2019, just before the pandemic, Aizha joined Miss Teen International Philippines, a national pageant that sends the winner to India for Miss Teen International. She was only 16 years old.
She remembers submitting her application online and finally getting a call for a final screening in Manila. She was excited and hopeful because she was a step closer to her dream. She represented Baguio and gave her best but it was a tough competition. She didn’t win but she learned one important lesson- to never give up on a dream.
And she didn’t. She studied, prepared herself, and tried her luck in the pageant again. Last year, she won as Miss Baguio Kalikasan 2022, and recently, Miss Hundred Islands Environment 2023. Little did she know that just a month after her competition in Pangasinan, she would receive a call that would set her dreams into motion.
Miss Teen International Philippines (MTIP), headed by National Director Charlotte Dianco recently acquired the Miss Top Model International franchise from Peru and was looking for a candidate to be appointed as a representative to the international competition. Aizha’s name was submitted by Philippine Fashion and Events Group for screening and after a series of interviews, she was finally approved. And now she is preparing for the MISS TOP MODEL INTERNATIONAL which will be held in Lima, Peru from June 5 to 12, 2023.
According to Aizha, she is still overwhelmed by the turn of events. She explained during the official photo shoot at FAB MANILA STUDIO, even her parents couldn’t believe that she would be competing in South America. She admits that she is nervous but she is extremely happy and excited to finally raise the Philippine Flag in an international beauty pageant.
For more updates about Aizha’s journey and all the other teen queens from MTIP who will be competing this year, please follow: www.facebook.com/MissTeenInternationalPhilippines and www.instagram.com/missteeninternationalph.