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‘You know, the world is not always kind, but we can be kind. That's the most important part of it,’ says Baguio City’s Krishnah Gravidez, sharing her 'Beauty with a Purpose' project ahead of the Miss World 2025 pageant
MANILA, Philippines – Once on the receiving end of cruelty, Miss World Philippines Krishnah Gravidez vowed to be kind to others, and to encourage the world to do the same as she steps on the international pageant stage.
As she represents the Philippines at the Miss World 2025 pageant, the 72nd edition of the longest-running international beauty contest set on May 31, the Filipino queen hopes to tell a story of hope, faith, and empowerment.
A day before her May 6 departure to India for the international pageant, Gravidez discussed her preparations, as well as her nonprofit charity organization Color the World with Kindness.
“This initiative started in August 2022, three years ago. And at the time it was just simply to pay forward the kindness that we’ve received,” the stunner from Baguio City told the media at the Savoy Hotel Manila in Pasay City on Monday, May 5.
In time, the organization grew and became a youth-driven initiative, she said, recruiting volunteers, partnering with other groups, and expanding their reach and the scope of their assistance.
“We’ve worked with different organizations that promote youth welfare, youth empowerment, education, and animal welfare. But just last year, we decided to have our own initiative,” Gravidez shared.
Color the World with Kindness has helped rebuild and repaint several day-care centers in Barangay Irisan in Baguio City. “They cater to over 400 children, and there are only six teachers in that community,” she revealed.
“We went from house to house to identify the most vulnerable mothers and families. And I’m very proud that we’ve been able to give small business packages that they are now working on, so that they can provide for their children, with a more sustainable income for them,” the beauty queen added.
Gravidez also shared that her organization has completely renovated the home of a female house helper who was abandoned by her husband and is raising three children all on her own.
“Now I can say that they are comfortably dreaming in that space that we rebuilt and renovated,” she said.
“So those are the stories that I want to show to the world. I want to show that nurturing spaces are nurturing spaces and dreams for the children,” she said, sharing that the initiative will be her “Beauty with a Purpose” project for the Miss World pageant.
Gravidez developed this desire to spread kindness to as many people as she can after encountering cruelty as a young lady working as a service crew member of a fast-food joint.
“I was working while juggling my studies at the same time. And at that time, I felt like I was so little, because there was a certain customer who was a little bit harsh to me. And then, naisip ko sa sarili ko na, ‘o hanggang diyan ka na lang’(I thought to myself, ‘you’re stuck there’),” she shared.
“But I made sure to keep the faith in myself. I was very confident with my potential as a person, I pursued. And that led me here today,” Gravidez added.
“You know, the world is not always kind, but we can be kind. That’s the most important part of it,” continued Gravidez, who also shared that she has sought advice from 2013 Miss World Megan Young.
Even as an international pageant powerhouse, the Philippines has been struggling with the Miss World competition, with fewer placements recorded, and with Young posting the country’s lone victory.
“I approached her right after I was crowned as Miss World [Philippines]. I asked her if she can have some time with me so we can just bond and just talk,” Gravidez said.
They covered a lot of bases, she added, and Young would message her from time to time to check up on her preparations.
But the 2013 winner ultimately told her, “don’t be afraid to be yourself. Don’t be afraid to show who you really are,” she shared.
“You should never be afraid to embrace yourself, to embrace who you are. And you should never forget your values as a person,” Gravidez quoted Young as saying.
She also enjoys the support of 2020 Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo, who has imparted several pieces of advice. Both ladies were raised by a single mother, and the two of them now also provide for their respective families.
Gravidez is competing against more than 100 candidates from around the world for the Miss World crown currently held by Czech beauty Krystyna Pyszkova.
The delegates are expected to arrive in Telangana, India, around this time, with the final competition set to take place at HITEX (Hyderabad International Convention and Exhbition Center) in Hyderabad on May 31. – Rappler.com
