Venus Raj, whose full name is Maria Venus Bayonito Raj, is a Filipina beauty queen and television personality. She gained international recognition for her impressive performance in the Miss Universe 2010 pageant, where she represented the Philippines.
Early Life and Background: Venus Raj was born on July 7, 1988, in Doha, Qatar. Her family hails from Bato, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Due to her parents’ separation, she experienced financial challenges during her early years. Despite the hardships, she remained determined to achieve her dreams.
Education and Pageant Beginnings
Raj’s family moved back to the Philippines, and she pursued her education at Bicol University, where she studied Communication Arts. In 2008, she entered the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, a prestigious national beauty contest in the Philippines, to represent her home province of Camarines Sur.
Venus attended Evansville Day School, Evansville, Indiana. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Latin honors (cum laude) in Communication Arts, majoring in journalism, at Bicol University. Then Venus went on to attain her Master’s degree in Community Development from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Venus took a short course at Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA), Oxford, England.
Binibining Pilipinas 2010: In 2010, Venus Raj gained significant attention when she joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. She was initially crowned as Binibining Pilipinas Universe, which meant she would represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe competition later that year.
Miss Universe 2010: Venus Raj’s journey in the Miss Universe 2010 pageant brought her both praise and controversy. She received significant media coverage due to her strong performance and captivating beauty. However, during the question and answer segment, she stumbled in her response due to nervousness and a language barrier. She was asked about her biggest mistake in life, and she mentioned a minor inconsistency in her birth certificate, which had been corrected. Despite this, her performance in the pageant led to her securing the 4th runner-up position, marking a significant achievement for the Philippines.
After the Pageant
Venus Raj’s impressive showing in the Miss Universe pageant propelled her into the public eye. She became a media personality and pursued opportunities in acting and hosting. She also ventured into advocacy work, particularly focusing on education and providing opportunities for underprivileged children.
| Venus Raj Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 9 in |
| Weight | 56 kg |
| Date of Birth | July 7, 1988 |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Venus Raj is a Filipino-Indian actress, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who rose to fame after being crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010. From there, she went on to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2010 beauty pageant and attained 4th Runner-Up.
Venus Raj Personal Life
Raj’s success story and perseverance inspired many Filipinos, as she overcame challenges to achieve her dreams. Her journey was seen as a testament to the idea that with determination and hard work, one can overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.
Please note that my information is based on knowledge available up until September 2021, and there might have been further developments in Venus Raj’s life and career since that time.
- Born Name: Maria Venus Bayonito Raj
- Nick Name: Venus
-
Sun Sign: Cancer
- Born Place: Doha, Qatar
- Hair Color: Dark Brown
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Build: Slim
- Height: 5 ft 9 in or 175 cm
- Weight: 56 kg or 123.5 lbs
- Religion: Christianity
Occupation: Actress, Model, Beauty Pageant Titleholder
Family
- Father – Vincent Raj
- Mother – Ester Landagan Talagtag
- Siblings – Venus has 4 older siblings.
- Others – Ambrocio Talagtag y Galón (Maternal Grandfather), Socorro Acido Landagan (Maternal Grandmother), Graciano Talagtag (Maternal Great-Grandfather), Basilia Galón (Maternal Great-Grandmother), Rio Dela Cruz (Cousin) (Actor)
Boyfriend / Spouse
Note: Venus had once stated in an interview that she had been in a relationship with a 28-year-old man when she was just 16 years old.
Race / Ethnicity
Multiracial (White and Asian)
Venus has Filipino (Bicolano) ancestry on her mother’s side and Indian and American ancestry on her father’s side.
Distinctive Features
- Well-toned physical appearance
- Raised eyebrows
Brand Endorsements
Venus has appeared in commercials for several brands such as –
- Pizza Hut
- Cream Silk
- KFC
- MX3 Natural Supplements
Through her social media, Venus has either endorsed or promoted various brands such as –
- DR’s Secret
- Aerian Essentials
Venus Raj Facts
- She spent the first 21 years in Doha, Qatar before relocating to Bato, Camarines Sur in the Bicolandia.
- Venus had started taking part in beauty pageants and oratorical contests while attending Evansville Day School where she was coached by her English teacher.
- Her mother Ester is originally from Bato, Camarines Sur.
- She made her debut TV show appearance as a Kapamilya Challenger in I Dare You in 2011. Later, in 2012, she was cast in her first theatrical film as Celine in Pridyider.
- The earliest post that Venus uploaded to her Instagram account was on May 13, 2012.
- According to her Instagram handle, Venus is a community worker and youth advocate.
- She is very fond of the taste of cinnamon rolls and coffee.
- Venus was given a scholarship from the Francis Papica Foundation to study at Bicol University.
- Venus made her professional beauty pageant debut at the Miss Philippines Earth 2008 where she won the title of Miss Eco-Tourism 2008 in the preliminary rounds. After that, she started working as an Information Assistant for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Bicol Region. However, Venus returned to competing in beauty pageants winning the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010 contest on March 6.
- She represented the Philippines at the 2010 Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada attaining 4th runner up.
- Over the years, Venus has won several well-known awards including the 25th PMPC Star Awards for TV, 26th PMPC Star Awards for TV, and 27th PMPC Star Awards for TV.
