Venus Raj: "No matter how poor you are, it's not a reason to give up"

By Yong Chavez
www.FilipinOnline.com


Miss Philippines-Universe Venus Raj, 22, is an interviewer's dream. She's open, smart, and gracious.

In the extended version of my one-on-one interview with her in Hollywood, Raj, talked about her plans after Miss Universe (politics, journalism, showbiz) and the childhood trauma that still affects her to this day. She also shared the challenges she faced being born out of wedlock as well as her desire now to inspire other Filipino children with similar background to believe that their dreams can come true. Venus also talked about the P-Noy policy she admires most, and her love life and celebrity crushes (JLC!).

And even though, she has experienced losses in life - one of them, an ill-advised run as a councilor in her town when she was a teenager, an experience that she says gave her valuable lessons - in the interview, she shows what many Filipinos already know: Venus Raj is a winner.

Below is the news report I did for Balitang America. My story about her also appeared on TV Patrol.