“Successful women are called exceptional because there WAS an idea that they did not have what it takes to get there. I envision a society where this exception is the new standard.” – Jerelleen Rodriguez

No one should be put down just because of their gender. Let us continue to lead and push forward in this direction. Together, let us break away from stereotypes and stand for inclusivity, equality, and diversity.

To say that Miss World Philippines 2018 Candidate No. 19 Jerelleen Rodriguez is an achiever would be an understatement. She continues to fluorish in three (3) different disciplines – teaching, accountancy and law. And she fulfills the demands of each with the grace and humility of a true Professional.

Read my online Q&A with the “Profesora” below:

1. What sets you apart from the 39 other candidates of MWP?

“I’ve only entered the world of pageantry this year and I can say that the best experience I had was having to meet ladies from different walks of life, all equally amazing in different ways. I would sometimes stare at awe and just start [low-key] fangirling on my co-candidates. But in the sea of beautiful, intelligent, and powerful ladies, what sets me apart is how deeply rooted I am in the service to my country as a way of giving back for what it has given me. I have been giving back by way of teaching to students from every region of the country who take my classes in UP, with the hope that they will excel, replicate or even exceed my accomplishments and hopefully, give back to their respective communities. As a beauty queen, representing my community, and hopefully, the Philippines, is going as far as I can go in espousing the values of honor and excellence, and to give back every accomplishment to the Filipino people as they are the reason (as an iskolar ng bayan) for getting where I am today.”

2. You are into several disciplines from the academe to the fields of Accountancy and Law. How have these specializations helped form the character in becoming the person that you are right now?

“The greatest lesson I learned from getting my degree and pursuing more in the academe is discipline and commitment. I spent hours reviewing and practicing exercises for my exams. I answer any exam booklet I could get my hands on. Once I finished everything, I’ll do it again. This time, with a different approach. So that no matter how the examiners phrase the problem, I will be able to answer it. This is the same discipline I’ve been applying now. The discipline of continuously practicing and the commitment to achieving my goal is what keeps me focused. I once thought of Accountancy as something that is not for me. I failed some of my major exams even if I thought I did all I could. But then i started thinking that what if it is really for me and I just didn’t do enough. So I committed myself into always giving my all. Until the system actually kicks me out, I will stay, I will fight, I will win.”

3. What good will it do the Miss World Philippines Organization if you win one of the titles on October 7?

“The best thing that the Miss World Philippines Organization has done for me is that I learned to accept myself. I learned to know that I am strong without any titles; that if you strip off the profesora, the CPA, the beauty queen, I will still be strong and beautiful as Jerelleen Alix Rodriguez. And this is what I want to share with everyone else. Right now, I know I can stand up for my self, but with a crown, it gives me the power to stand up for others. Miss World Philippines Organization will be able to get a testament of how they changed one girl’s life, and transformed her into a queen.“