Mary Candice Ramos of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, came to limelight after winning the Miss Global Philippines 2015 last Sept. 5, 2015 at the Newport Theater of Performing Arts, Resorts World Manila in Pasay City where she bested among twenty one other hopefuls.

In this exclusive interview, the 28-year-old BS Tourism Management graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP), Ramos instantly became a proud Tourism Ambassador promoting Philippine heritage and its world-class destinations here and abroad—fulfilling the Miss Global Philippines Foundation, Inc.’s mission.

The organization believes that a beauty pageant is an effective platform to showcase what the Philippines has to offer. Exuding beauty and charm, the eventual winners of the pageant will embody the hospitality of the Filipinos known all over the world in helping the government strengthen its tourism campaign. Moreover, the pageant embraces both single and single mothers who possess not just beauty, but also the passion to serve and the commitment to make a difference for the Philippines and its people.

There is a thin line separating dream from reality. Candice has always dreamt of donning the crown of a beauty queen. This is not the first time that Ramos joined a national beauty pageant. In 2012, she was Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism, the 5th placer in the Miss Earth Philippines beauty contest. Well, all that changed when she was crowned as the Miss Global Philippines 2015 and finished 4th place after competing with 50 foreign delegates for the Miss Global International title last October 22, 2015.

After going through a rigorous process of the 2015 Miss Global finale competition that included a picture casting, phone interview and Facebook voting, Candice’s dream came to pass as she clinched the crown. Ramos, who measures 33-24-38 and stands 5’7-1/2”, exuded elegance, poise, talent, intelligence and beauty during the competition.

“Pageantry creates discipline. I have to read a lot so that I would know what’s happening around me, in my country whether national issues, history and legend political icons, I have to know them. Competing in local pageant is very tight because a lot of girls are eyeing for the title and most of us are trained from different modeling and personality development schools. In international pageant on the other hand, you get to know different women raised in different cultures. You get to see some things that are alien to you. However, you will learn how to be culturally sensitive.”

For Candice, she is very thankful and enjoying the blessings in her life now as the reigning Miss Global Philippines holding a certain goal of encouraging youth not to be afraid of discovering things. “Your preferences doesn’t really define who you are as a whole.  Do not worry on what other people would tell you and what the society dictates you because you own your life.  You are the captain of your soul. Enjoy life. We are all here in this world to be happy.”

Read more interesting stories about Candice soon as she will be on the cover and fashion spreads of a well renowned glossy magazine on its next issue. Please grab a copy!