A Dubai-based mom recently won the title of Mrs. Tourism Globe 2024 at an international pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand.
MJ Traya, 38, previously competed in a local pageant in Abu Dhabi and won as Mrs. Philippines UAE 2nd Runner-Up. She was also appointed as Mrs. Tourism Philippines 2024.
In an exclusive interview with 102.7 Star FM Manila, the Cebuana beauty queen admits that her entry to pageantry was unexpected, but she has always been proud to represent the country.
“Criminology student nga ako so hindi ako babae gumalaw talaga. All I have to do is fight for my country. Yun ang nasa isip ko talaga, kase dala-dala ko yung pride ng mga Filipino,” she shares.
Traya tells Star FM that her early life in the Philippines was “very poor” and this instance made her dream big.
“Mahirap na mahirap kami. So yun yung advocacy ko na bigyan ng courage lahat especially yung mga tao na gusto nilang mangarap pero hindi nila alam kung paano. I’m here to help, I’m here to be a voice,” she adds.
Traya is currently living as an OFW and businesswoman in Dubai. She has 3 sons.
Aside from her role as a mom and CEO of her own business, she wishes to focus on her charity work as Mrs. Tourism Globe 2024.